RIYADH, 15 November — Saudi Arabia started issuing passports with electronic barcodes yesterday in the Riyadh region.
The publication of the new passport, which has been designed after a long period of research, was announced by Brig. Saleh Al-Khodairy, director of the Passports Department in the Riyadh region.
Under the new rules, all Saudis will be issued with their own passports. Previously, they were only given to the heads of families.
Al-Khodairy added that the passports with electronic barcodes will be issued to all new applicants and those who are renewing those that have reached their expiry date.
“The number of family members included on a single passport should not exceed four. If children are included in the father’s passport, they should be no older than six when it is issued,” the director said.
Last month, a top Saudi security official complained that a number of Saudi citizens had lost their passports overseas which could have been used by criminals.
“Those who have sold their passports have sold their conscience and their homeland for a handful of coins, without thinking about themselves, their families or the security of the nation,” Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Sajeeni, director-general of the Passport Department, said.
“I regret to have to admit this for the first time, but it is the truth,” Sajeeni said. “It is obvious that a lost, stolen or sold passport can be used to facilitate illicit activities.”
Sajeeni said those proven to have sold their passports would receive “severe punishment”. The penalties for those found guilty of this crime includes jail, a fine and a ban on traveling abroad, he added.
