| New Rules in Visa Application to Saudi Arabia |
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that all foreigners to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for the purposes of visit, pilgrimage to Mecca and work would now be subjected to fingerprinting and full-face digital photographs.
Starting next year, the same procedure would also be required to all Filipinos to apply for a visa in the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the country. The exact date when the new visa issuance system will start is yet to be given.
According to the Saudi Embassy, the new requirement aims to strengthen its security, prevent identity theft, and combat terrorism.
The new rules initially caused delays and resulted to long lines at the airports and other entry points for foreign passengers who are required to have their fingerprints and full-face photos taken. To solve this problem, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked for tenders from specialized international firms to set up a network of centers to provide biometric services to people applying for visas to the kingdom.
The Ministry expects that with the new biometric system, foreigners would not have to deal with long lines and delays at airports.
In lieu with this, the passport department of KSA advised all foreign workers to immediately register their biometric data so they can have their re-entry visas stamped on time and without difficulty. The department also informed that fingerprinting is not required for the family members of Iqama holders, unless the
family member is also working.
Any decorations or a marking on the face and fingertips of applicants such as tattoo, cuts, or bruises is not encouraged.
There are three fingerprinting centers in Jeddah: Dalah Street
The three centers can accommodate 2,000 people a day but work in two shifts: from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mobile fingerprinting centers will also be available for hospitals and large companies with more than 600 foreign workers.
