TUNIS — The Saudi Visa Bio application for self-registration of biometric data for pilgrims and Umrah performers via smartphones enables applicants of Hajj and Umrah visas in Tunisia to register their biometric data from their places through smartphones without the need to visit the visa issuance centers, where they can issue visas electronically.

The application, whose third phase was launched in Tunisia, saw the participation of the Ministries of Interior; Hajj and Umrah; Tourism; and Communications and Information Technology; as well as Presidency of State Security, National Cybersecurity Authority, Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), Digital Government Authority, and several Hajj and Umrah offices in the presence of top officials.

They are Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Sager, Tunisian Minister of Religious Affairs Dr. Ibrahim Al-Chaibi, and Director of Hajj and Umrah at the Tunisian Ministry of Religious Affairs Suad Al-Gharibi, who were present at the launch.

Pilgrims and Umrah performers, upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia, will only have to match their data without the need for re-registering their biometric data, which will facilitate their entry through border crossings.

This is part of the generous Royal directives by the wise leadership to facilitate procedures for pilgrims and Umrah performers and upon follow-up of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the first country to use registering biometric data for visa applicants via smartphones. — SPA