After Jan 21, ‘no fingerprint, no iqama’ in Saudi

Filipinos living or working in Saudi Arabia may have until Jan. 21, 2015 to register their fingerprints if they want to be issued new or renewed iqamas or residency permits, a Saudi news site reported.

The Kingdom's passport department said it will not issue new or renew residence permits unless foreign workers and dependents over 15 have registered their fingerprints, Arab News reported.

“We have carried out this assignment systematically and gradually, by aligning the issue of iqamas for newcomers at the airports with the registration of their fingerprints,” Arab News quoted Maj. Ahmad Fahd Al-Luhaidan, spokesman of the department, as saying.

He said those who fail to comply by Jan. 21 risk having access to online passport and other services cut off.

Also, he said the department introduced the measures gradually over the past three years to avoid disrupting citizens and expatriates' lives.

Al-Luhaidan said the department has set up passport offices in major cities and towns as well as deployed mobile units.

The report also noted the fingerprinting of female employees was first introduced on March 31, 2012.

He said residents can check if they have registered their fingerprints on www.gdp.gov.sa

Last Sunday, Al-Luhaidan said the department linked fingerprint registration with three services including the issue of re-entry visas, change of profession, and information transfers.

On Tuesday, the department sent text messages to citizens reminding them on what they need to do. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News

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