The department said those who lose their ID and family cards for the first time would be warned and asked to sign a pledge to keep their identification safe and not be negligent.

If they lose their cards the second time they will be fined SR100, the third time SR300 and then SR1,000 for the fourth and subsequent times.

The department, however, said those who lose their ID in fires, accidents, theft and emergency situations and if they provide authenticated proof from the police would be exempt from fines.

Meanwhile, the department’s director of electronic services Turki bin Abdullah Al-Aiyayed said paperwork that amounted to more than a million pieces were electronically processed since the service was introduced last November.

He said all customers should register their requests for appointments on the website (moi.gov.sa), specifying the type of service they are seeking.

“They will immediately get an automated response telling them the date and hour they should be at the department,” he said.