In Saudi Arabia, the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) stipulates the controls that must be met when changing the photo of the person in the iqama (resident identity).

From the official Jawazat Twitter account, this was a response to the question: "Peace be upon you.". "I would like to change the picture in the identity of a resident expat. How can I do that or what am I capable of?"”

In response to a tweet, Saudi Jawazat said, "The procedure takes place after the Passport Department reviews the passport, which means the passport of an applicant must be valid and the photo in the passport should be recent with the head uncovered."

Procedure to change Iqama picture :

1. Book an appointment with Jawazat under the 'Resident Services' category

2. Visit the counter at Jawazat with a camera

3. Please provide your Iqama and describe your issue

4. Verify your fingerprint at the counter.

5. Your picture will be taken and updated by the officer.

6. You can now go to another counter to print your iqama with the new image.

Stages of issuing Electronic Passport in Saudi Arabia :

Jawazat described the stages of issuing electronic passports and identified them in three stages.

* It is initially issued in three administrative regions: Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern Province.

* The electronic passport is issued in all regions of the Saudi Arabian passport department in the second stage.

* The e-passport is issued through Absher in the third stage.

During the first two stages, a limited number of passports are issued according to the appointment priority.

Even after the adoption of the new e-passport, the old passports whose validity has not expired are still valid. Currently, citizens can either use their old passports or replace them with e-passports. It can be used at all ports of the Kingdom, whether by air, land, or sea.