The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has made fingerprinting mandatory for the issuance of new residence permit (iqama) and final exit for all expatriate women.
Earlier, biometric data was mandatory for expatriate women only for obtaining a work permit, and it was optional for all other women.
Maj. Gen. Suleiman Al-Yahya, director general of passports, said that fingerprinting system for all passport services will be introduced for expatriate women in phases, and in the first phase this will be applicable to issuance of new iqama and a final exit.
