There is a new requirement for all foreign workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) who wish to obtain their iqama or residency permits. The government of KSA now implements mandatory fingerprinting for all expatriates or foreign workers.

The additional rule was deemed necessary to prevent and fight falsification of documents and possible entry of unscrupulous individuals in KSA. Fingerprinting systems were already installed in Makkah, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Abha, Al-Ahsa, Taif and Unaizah in Qassim Province.

All applications for iqama without fingerprints will not be accepted according to the director general of the Passport Department, Major General Salim Al-Belaihed.

Director General General Salim Al-Belaihed said, “Fingerprinting will be required for issuing new iqamas (resident permits), changing professions and transferring sponsorships."

Al-Belaihed also reminded Saudi employers to ensure that the fingerprints of their workers are taken during the residency permit application to avoid unnecessary delays.

The passport chief said, “It is easier to introduce the system in small cities where the number of expatriates is much smaller compared to big cities like Riyadh and Jeddah.

An estimate of 223, 459 OFWs are working in Saudi Arabia according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) statistics in 2006.