The newly appointed head of the Kingdom's Passport Department has promised to speed up services by sorting out the department's online services and staffing issues.

Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Yahya said the department's Abshir online system has some deficiencies. If this was sorted out there would be less overcrowding at the department's offices around the country, he said.

Citizens can use the Abshir system for sponsorship transfers, exit and reentry visas, iqamas renewals and other services.

"There are new regulations which will streamline and speed up the process, and eliminate any kind of

or favoritism," Al-Yahya was quoted as saying by the local media on Wednesday.

He said the second phase of the correction phase for violators of the country's labor and residency laws has begun. Those who were not able to complete their documentation in time would be treated in a humane manner, he said.

Al-Yahya thanked the country's leadership for entrusting him with the new responsibility. He said the first thing he did was to begin streamlining work procedures to meet the demands of citizens and expatriates.

There was also a plan in place to increase staffing and working hours at passport offices in Jeddah and Riyadh. Al-Yahya said the passport department was working with several ministries and government agencies to help rectify the country's labor market.

Minister of Interior Prince Muhammad bin Naif appointed Al-Yahya as the new passport chief on Tuesday, replacing Lt. Gen. Salem Al-Belaihid.

Al-Yahya was the commander of the Center for Command and Control at the ministry.