Last updated: 3 November 2026
The Absher expatriate passport update lets you add your renewed passport to your iqama record online, without a Jawazat visit. Log in to Absher, open My Services, then Passport Services, then Resident Services, choose Update Resident’s Passport Information, upload a clear image of the new passport and pay SAR 60 (SAR 69 with VAT). It only works when the old passport has 12 months or less left, once every five years, with no traffic violations and no absence from work report.
Many expats in Saudi Arabia renew their passport at their embassy and then wonder why the new number does not show on Absher or Muqeem. The answer is that the embassy does not update the Saudi system for you. You, your family head or your employer has to do it. This guide covers all three routes, the exact rules, what to do when Absher refuses the update, and the cases where you still need to go to Jawazat.
Who Can Do the Absher Passport Update
Absher has two separate services for this, and companies have a third route on Absher Business. Pick the one that matches your situation:
| Whose passport | Who does the update | Where | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own (resident aged over 18) | You | Absher Individuals: Updating Resident’s Passport Information | SAR 60 + VAT = SAR 69 |
| Wife, children or other dependents | The head of the family | Absher Individuals: Family Member Services, Update Passport Information | Not listed on the card; shown on screen |
| Your house driver or domestic worker | You, as the sponsor | Absher Individuals: Employee Services, Update Passport Information | Not listed on the card; shown on screen |
| A company worker | The employer or its authorised representative | Absher Business: My Business Services, Update Information | Shown on screen |
First renew the passport itself. Absher’s FAQ says a resident renews the passport at his or her own country’s embassy in the Kingdom and then updates the details through Absher. For the renewal step, see our guides to the Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah and the Indian passport renewal fee in Saudi Arabia.
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Absher Expatriate Passport Update Rules
These are the terms on the official Absher service card for updating a resident’s own passport. The card for family members and domestic workers lists the same limits.
- Once every five years: the online update can be used only once every five years per person.
- Over 18: the resident must be over 18 years old to update his or her own passport. Younger family members are updated by the head of the family.
- 12-month window: the update is refused if the current passport on record is still valid for more than 12 months.
- No traffic violations: there must be no traffic violations on the record of the person whose new passport is being registered.
- Not absent from work: the person must not be registered as absent from work (huroob).
- Fee paid: SAR 60 for the resident service, available 24 hours a day on the Absher platform.
Check the two blockers before you start. Look up and pay any fines with our Saudi traffic violations guide, and if you think an absence report was filed against you, read our huroob guide first, because the update will not go through until it is cleared.
How to Update Your Passport in Absher Step by Step
You need an active Absher account. If you have not registered or your account is not activated yet, follow our Absher registration guide. Then:
- Log in to Absher Individuals with your iqama number and password, or through the Nafath app.
- Open My Services, then Passport Services, then Resident Services.
- Choose Update Resident’s Passport Information.
- Upload a clear image of the data page of your renewed passport. When the service launched in April 2025, Jawazat said the system reads the passport number and expiry date from the image.
- Confirm the declarations: that your previous passport was not lost and that there is no absence from work report against you.
- Pay the SAR 69 (SAR 60 plus VAT) with Apple Pay, mada or SADAD, and submit.
Take a careful photo. Use daylight, keep the whole data page in frame and avoid glare on the photo and the machine-readable lines at the bottom. A blurred image is the easiest way to waste a try.
Absher Passport Update for Family Members and Domestic Workers
The head of the family or the sponsor does this from his or her own Absher account. The Absher service card says only the employer, or an authorised representative where authorisation is granted, can update the beneficiary’s passport.
- Dependents: log in, open Family Member Services, choose Update Passport Information, select the family member, enter the new passport details, verify them and confirm.
- Domestic workers: log in, open Employee Services, choose Update Passport Information, select the worker, enter the new passport details, verify them and confirm.
Based on real expat experience in KSA, the family case causes the most trouble. If your children were listed on your old passport and have now been issued their own passports, the online service will not work. Jawazat said in April 2025 that this case needs an office visit.
Employer Route: Absher Business
If you work for a company, you do not have to do it yourself. On 9 September 2026 the General Directorate of Passports posted a three-step explanation for employers, reported by Ajel:
- Log in to the Absher Business website.
- Open My Business Services.
- Select Update Information and update the worker’s passport details.
In practice, send HR a clear copy of the new passport and ask them to update it. It is worth asking, because your passport details also flow into reports such as the Muqeem print that embassies and visa centres ask for.
When You Still Need to Visit Jawazat
Absher cannot handle every case online. According to Jawazat’s announcement when the service launched, you need to go in person when:
- you hold another passport as well;
- your previous passport was lost, so the loss has to be reported and the details updated at the office;
- family members were listed on the old passport and have since been issued their own passports.
You will also need an office visit if you already used the online update in the last five years. Book a Passports appointment through Absher (Appointments, then Passports). If you are in the capital, our list of Jawazat offices in Riyadh shows where to go.
Common Absher Passport Update Problems
| Problem | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Absher refuses the update | The old passport still has more than 12 months of validity | Wait until it is inside the 12-month window |
| Blocked by violations | Unpaid traffic fines on the iqama | Pay the fines, then try again |
| Service not available for you | You are registered as absent from work, or you are under 18 | Clear the absence report; minors are updated by the family head |
| Already used the service | The online update is once every five years | Book a Jawazat appointment |
| Details read wrongly from the image | Blurred or cropped photo | Retake a clear photo of the full data page before paying |
| Anything else | Record or transfer problem | Raise a request through Tawasul: My Services, Services, Passports, Tawasul |
Why the Passport Update Matters
Your iqama record holds your passport number. Exit re-entry and final exit visas, the Muqeem report and many checks by banks and visa centres use that record. Updating it soon after you collect the new passport saves trouble later, especially before you travel. Plan the update before you apply for an exit re-entry visa, and if you are leaving for good, see the final exit visa guide. For other passport and iqama charges, see Saudi Jawazat fees 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Absher expatriate passport update cost?
Absher lists the fee for updating your own passport as SAR 60. With 15% VAT you pay SAR 69. You can pay with Apple Pay, mada or SADAD. The service card for updating family members’ or domestic workers’ passports does not list a fee, so check the amount shown on screen before you confirm.
When can I update my new passport in Absher?
Only when your current passport on record has 12 months or less of validity left. If it still has more than 12 months, Absher will not accept the update. In practice most people renew their passport close to expiry, so the window is usually open by the time the new passport arrives from the embassy.
Can I update my passport in Absher more than once?
No. The Absher terms allow a passport update only once every five years through the platform. If you already used the online service within the last five years, for example after losing a passport, you will need to visit a Jawazat office for the new update. Book the visit through Absher Appointments.
Can I update my wife’s or children’s passport in Absher?
Yes. The head of the family updates dependents’ passports from his or her own Absher account under Family Member Services, then Update Passport Information. The same rules apply: once every five years, 12 months or less left on the old passport, and no traffic violations on the person’s record. If the children were listed on the old passport and now have their own passports, visit Jawazat instead.
Why does Absher not let me update my passport?
The most common reasons are that your old passport still has more than 12 months of validity, you have unpaid traffic violations, you are registered as absent from work (huroob), or you already used the service in the last five years. Pay any fines first, wait until you are inside the 12-month window, or ask Jawazat through Tawasul.
Can my employer update my passport instead of me?
Yes. In September 2026 the General Directorate of Passports explained that business owners or their authorised representatives can update a worker’s passport information on Absher Business, under My Business Services, then Update Information. Many company workers simply send the new passport copy to HR, who complete it from the company account.
What if my old passport was lost?
The online update is not meant for lost passports. When you use the service you confirm that the previous passport was not lost. If it was lost, report the loss and update your details in person at a Jawazat office. Making a false declaration on Absher can lead to legal action.
Sources: Absher Services Guide (Updating Resident’s Passport Information, card updated 22 October 2025; Update Passport Information, card updated 30 July 2025) and Absher FAQ, read November 2026; General Directorate of Passports announcement of April 2025 as reported by Okaz and Khaleej Times; General Directorate of Passports post of 9 September 2026 as reported by Ajel.