Saudi- Magnetic ID cards for some tribes

(MENAFN- Arab News) The General Directorate of Passports has started distributing magnetized cards to some displaced tribes especially those in the Northern Border regions. The cards are being issued from the directorate's branch office in Hafr Al-Batin for about a week.

Sources said the passport branch in Hafr Al-Batin started renewing the ID cards replacing the old ones with magnetized cards that are valid for five years. He said that people whose ID cards expired in October are eligible for the renewals.

Sources quoted in the local media said that conditions for issuing magnetized ID cards include fingerprinting to verify identities and online renewal of applications through the Abshir system.

The issuance of these cards will not affect the process of other documents with other government agencies. Renewals will be done according to the system and dates defined by the Ministry of Interior.

In another development the directorate has issued instructions to its branches in the cities and governorates to refrain from receiving old residency cards saying that the renewed cards will be delivered without the need to turn in the expired card. It also said that the delivery will be completed following the payment of fees and registering the applicant's data on the Passport Department's website.

The Passport Department intends to introduce four new services through Abshir website which will cover the following: Those who have left the country on a final exit visa; registration of an employee absconding from his employer; transferring sponsorship and issuing a residency visa for a three-month trial period to facilitate the legal movement of expatriates in the Kingdom.

These services will be put to test before their official implementation.

The registration of expatriate women's fingerprints will be needed for applying for a visa issuing a final exit visa transferring services and amending professions the sources said.