KSA Expats Blog
Practical Saudi guides, news updates and explainers for expats living and working in the Kingdom.
Absher Travel: Step-by-Step Guide for Saudi-Bahrain Border Crossing
If you’re planning to cross the King Fahd Causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, there’s good news: you can now handle almost everything digitally before you even reach…
How to Register and Activate Your Absher Account: 2026 Guide
If you’re living or working in Saudi Arabia, creating an Absher account isn’t just helpful—it’s practically essential. This government platform has become the digital backbone for accessing over…
How to Renew a Driving License in Saudi Arabia
Renewing your Saudi driving license is a simple online process that can be completed through the Absher platform. However, certain conditions and payments must be fulfilled first. This…
How to Authorize Someone to Drive Your Vehicle via Absher in Saudi Arabia
If you’re a vehicle owner in Saudi Arabia and want to authorize someone else—whether a Saudi citizen or a resident—to drive your car, you can easily do it…
How to Issue Iqama for a Dependent Using Absher
The Absher platform in Saudi Arabia now offers a convenient service that allows a resident head of household to issue an Iqama (residence permit) for a dependent family…
Expired Visit Visas Can Now Be Extended for Final Departure: Jawazat
The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has announced a new initiative allowing holders of expired visit visas in Saudi Arabia to extend their visas for the purpose of…
How to Update Passport Info on Absher Without Visiting Jawazat in 2025
If you’re an expat living in Saudi Arabia and you’ve recently renewed your passport, there’s good news. You no longer need to visit the Jawazat (General Directorate of…
Exit/Re-Entry Visa Renewal Fee for Those on Vacation Has Been Doubled
A new regulation has come into effect in Saudi Arabia, doubling the fee for renewing the exit/re-entry visa of expatriates who are outside the Kingdom. Previously, the renewal…
Jawazat: Final Exit Visa Requires 30-Day Iqama Validity
The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has clarified the rules for issuing final exit visas to expatriates in Saudi Arabia. A minimum of 30 days of validity on…
Iqama Renewal for Dependents and Domestic Workers Possible from Abroad
The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has announced that expatriates’ dependents and domestic workers outside Saudi Arabia can now renew their residency permits (Iqama) through the online platforms…
New Fees for Iqama and Visa Services on Absher
The Absher Business platform has introduced new fees for residency and visa-related services provided to establishments, effective January 1, 2025. These charges apply to specific services and are…
Absher Launches New Service to Report Absconding Visit Visa Holders
The Ministry of Interior’s Absher platform has introduced a new service that enables residents to report cases of visit visa holders absconding after their visas have expired. This…