RIYADH — The Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat) has categorically stated that it would not send any text messages to head of the family in the event of the travel of a woman who attained the legal age of 21 years. In a statement, the Jawazat has denied what is being circulated about sending text messages on the mobile phone of the head of the family when the woman above the age of 21 is traveling. "The passport information, including destination, when issued is available on the Absher portal only for the owner of the passport and no other person is allowed to get access to it. Saudi women, with a national ID, can travel to GCC countries without any permission," the Jawazat said while emphasizing that permission is required only for women under the age of 21 and that the validity of ID should not be less than three months when traveling. Women who want to obtain or renew their passports can contact the Department of Passports after securing an appointment for availing of the service, the Jawazat statement said while stressing that the service will be activated electronically via Absher. The Ministry of Interior recently announced that the Jawazat and Civil Status departments and their branches in all regions of the Kingdom have started implementing the amendments made in the Civil Status and Travel Documents Regulations with regard to allowing adult Saudi women to travel without permission of their male guardian.
