Validity of Saudi passports to be extended to 10 years

RIYADH: Maj. Gen. Suleiman Al-Yahya, director general of passports, confirmed that the decision to extend the validity of the Saudi passport is imminent, stressing the importance of embracing the technological means to benefit from the services of passport departments across the Kingdom, a local newspaper reported.
Al-Yahya noted that the Passport Directorate provides everything possible to serve citizens and residents, easily and quickly, asserting the ability of the Passport Directorate to cooperate with the postal service to reach beneficiaries regardless of their locations.
The director general was speaking during the annual meeting of the directors of passport departments in the regions. He said the directorate works according to a plan based on the comments and suggestions gathered during the past years to boost the work performance in general.
He revealed the directorate is ready to provide all services in the event new border crossings are opened.
“Our work is interactive, and departments that face more pressures and crowding are supported by staff from other less-crowded facilities as is the case at some border crossings,” he explained.
Speaking on the affairs and issues of expatriates he said: “The directorate always reviews and studies the need to develop the work and services provided for expats and to understand the problems they face, and the actions that help in completing the procedures in accordance with the directions of the royal court.”
He alluded to the decision soon to be issued concerning extending the validity period of the Saudi passport for citizens above 20 years of age for ten years, and for five years for citizens less than 20 years of age, as currently is the case.