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Exit, re-entry visas to be issued online Muhammad Humaidan | Arab News Saturday 16 January 2010 (30 Muharram 1431) JEDDAH: The Passport Department has launched a service to enable exit and re-entry visas to be issued online. Director-General of the department Maj. Gen. Salim Al-Belaihed said on Friday this was one of the new Internet-based services being introduced for both Saudis and expatriates. Although the department’s website (www.gdp.gov.sa) is in Arabic, there is an option to display forms and instructions on how to complete them in English. “All who wish to benefit from these services can simply fill in forms through registering on the website,” Al-Belaihed said, adding forms could be completed without needing to visit the centers. An initial one-off registration, however, needs to be completed and delivered to a local passport office. Apart from the basic information section, the Ishaar services could be used for notifications regarding a passport. The Muqueem services are for companies and institutions that need to complete paperwork regarding their employees, while there is a separate section for individuals. There is also an eGate section that offers an electronic card for easy entrance and exit at Saudi airports. The service, open to all, provides a card containing important details including iris and fingerprint scans. A new card for one year is SR300, with renewals costing SR270. A new card for two years costs SR550 and renewed for SR540. The final section on the website offers the issuance of the exit and re-entry visa for dependents via mobile phone messages. This service, according to the Passport Department, is one of the most important services provided by Ishaar to all segments of society. To enable this users have to register for Ishaar services to obtain the security code and link a mobile phone number to an ID number. Once the code is activated the visa can be obtained after paying SR200 through the regular channels. The website also provides short code numbers for both STC and Mobily users to ascertain whether there are any traffic violations, fingerprint requirements are met and also the validity of the iqama (residence permit). There is also a short code and a series of instructions if there is a need to cancel the visa. After ensuring all the conditions for issuance are met, an SMS message would be sent to the applicant containing the dependants’ information for verification. Once that has been confirmed the visa would be issued. The visa can be then printed from the website http://sms.evisa.com.sa by entering the visa number and confirmation number that has been sent to the mobile.
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