SAUDI: Biometric Registration-Must For All Expats And Children 6 Years Above

The Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat) has been implementing a new rule that affects not only workers but also dependents. 

Bio-metric finger print enrollment has long been implemented on workers in the Kingdom but according to the new directive, it is mandatory for dependents of expatriates, including women and children above the age of six, to have their fingerprints taken at its offices across the Kingdom. Without biometric registration, government services even passport services for expatriates cannot be processed, residency permits will be denied, as well as renewal of iqama and exit re-entry visa and according to sms messages from telecom companies you needed it so you can use mobile services, else your account could be suspended. 
Below images are screenshot from a Saudi Gazette News and STC and Mobily Networks requesting for fingerprint or "basma"

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It is  announced that passport services will be stopped for expatriate residents who fail to register their biometric.

 Likewise the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), the Ministry of Interior, and the security agencies also has been reminding subscribers to register their biometric fingerprints in a mobile SIM information system as a national security measure.

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For those who have not registered their finger print yet, you may visit the nearest JAWAZAT Office.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE BIOMETRIC ALREADY?

To verify if you have record or your biometric already, you may visit the Ministry of Interior website and log-in.

 Then check on the "Public Query Finger Print Enrollment" tab if your status says updated. 

HOW DO I REGISTER MY BIOMETRIC?

In order to register your biometric you may visit any JAWAZAT Office, we did ours in Serafi Mall. Don't forget to bring your Iqama and passport just in case they ask for both documents. 

HOW AND WHERE TO HAVE FINGERPRINT?
CHECK HERE FOR THE LIST OF  JAWAZAT OFFICE WHERE YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR FINGER PRINT


©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO

SAUDI ARABIA SIMCARD USERS REQUIRED TO HAVE FINGERPRINT ACCORDING TO REPORT

ArabNews, Saudi Arabia's leading English newspaper reports that the Communications and Information Technology Commission has said that the country’s security agencies would enforce the new regulation requiring all telecommunication subscribers to register their fingerprints. This is for insurance or for safety concern, because some individuals have abused, many others had a problem concerning being batugan,

The same report said that fingerprints would not be required for recharging of credit or reload and that this was a new law related only to identification of all subscribers, including visitors, Gulf citizens and Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

IMAGE FROM DAILYMAIL.UK

The first phase of the decision will include new customers, and will require that fingerprints be provided on special devices to obtain a SIM card. The devices will be linked to the National Information Center to ensure the identities of SIM owners are accurate. 

The decision was based on the Ministry of Interior’s request to ensure information of SIM cardholders are protected, and to prevent people from obtaining mobile phones with fraudulent identification cards.

IMAGE FROM PCADVISOR.CO
The CITC had previously put in place strict requirements to obtain pre-paid SIM cards, including a written contract requiring an applicant’s full name, national identity number, nationality, phone number, details about the service requested, date and signature.

ArabNews continued that the CITC decision was announced last year, but implementation was delayed because some mobile service operators in the Kingdom required time to obtain fingerprint registration devices from abroad. The new measure was introduced because the current system was not working, according to reports.

Read also: 

Fingerprint to be recorded for issuance of mobile SIM

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO