The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) in Saudi Arabia has introduced a new electronic service that enables Saudi citizens, specifically those who are heads of families, to apply for a Saudi passport for adopted family members via the Absher platform, a digital service portal managed by the Ministry of Interior.

The Jawazat outlined the steps required to utilize this new service, which involve logging into the Absher platform, selecting family member services, navigating to the application for the foster families program, completing the necessary data, agreeing to a declaration and pledge, and finally submitting the application.

The primary objective of this service is to simplify the passport issuance process for adopted children, enhancing the efficiency of administrative procedures.

The Jawazat encouraged eligible citizens to access the Absher platform to take advantage of this service.

In accordance with regulations governing adoption in Saudi Arabia, families wishing to adopt a child must meet several criteria.

Applicants must be Saudi nationals, and families should consist of a married couple.

It is stipulated that the wife’s age should not exceed 50 years for the adoption to be considered.

In certain circumstances, adoption by a single woman may be permissible.

Furthermore, prospective adoptive families are required to undergo a medical examination to confirm that all members are free from contagious and infectious diseases.

Additionally, the number of children in the household under the age of six cannot exceed three.

The families must also demonstrate a track record of good conduct, and their capability to provide adequate social, psychological, and economic care for the child must be established through a social research evaluation.