New Absher Civil Affairs E-Services Cut Office Visits

Saudi digital government platforms have rolled out a batch of updated services for civil affairs and municipal transactions, aiming to let residents and citizens complete more requests online and reduce in-person visits to government offices.

On Absher, the Ministry of Interior's Civil Affairs sector has launched several new electronic services. Users can now submit a request to change a citizen's first name, request delivery of death certificates to beneficiaries, issue replacements for lost or damaged death certificates, and update data on existing birth certificates. The goal is to make these requests end-to-end online, with documents delivered by courier or to the home where applicable.

The services are available through the Absher Individuals web portal and mobile app, with sign-in via Nafath, the national single sign-on digital identity. The typical flow is straightforward: log in, select Civil Affairs, choose the specific service, complete the electronic form, upload supporting documents such as ID scans and existing certificates, confirm your mobile number and approve the request. Any applicable fees can be paid via SADAD, Mada or credit card, and applicants can track the request status and receive notifications when it is approved and dispatched.

Registration and use of the Absher platform remains free of charge, though government fees for ID cards, passports and civil status certificates are charged separately. National ID cards for adult Saudis are typically valid for 10 years, while Saudi passports carry standard 5-year or 10-year validity. Birth and death certificates remain permanent civil status records, with replacements issued when documents are lost, damaged or need updating.

Municipal services on one platform

On the municipal side, Balady has been adopted as the unified platform for municipal services, bringing together 22 legacy platforms across the municipal, rural and housing sector. The consolidation is intended to simplify digital access and cut the need for office visits, allowing residents to handle municipal transactions through a single channel.

The updates matter for the community because they save time and travel, particularly for common but essential paperwork tied to family records, identity documents and local permits.

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