How to check for a travel ban or an open case in Saudi Arabia
If you live in Saudi Arabia and can sign in, check Absher and Najiz. They are the usual official places to look for a travel ban or a case. Each shows different records, so check both. If you are abroad or cannot sign in, a Saudi lawyer holding your power of attorney can usually check for you.
Published by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations · Last updated
General information about Saudi law — not advice on your situation.
At a glance
- Who this is for
- Foreigners who want to know if a travel ban or a case is open under their name. This includes people living in Saudi Arabia, former residents and anyone planning to go back.
- Can it be handled from outside Saudi Arabia?
- Yes. Usually, through a Saudi lawyer holding your power of attorney, because Najiz needs a Saudi sign-in.
- What usually decides the route
- Whether you can still sign in to Absher and Najiz, and where you are now.
- What you usually need first
- Your name as it appears in your passport, and what you know: an old employer, a loan, a message you received. No ID copies yet.
- First step with us
- Tell us where you are now and what you want to check, by WhatsApp, a call or email.
- Working languages
- Arabic and English
Can’t access Absher or Najiz from abroad? We can check through a power of attorney.
Can you check for a travel ban or a case without being in Saudi Arabia?
Usually, yes. A Saudi lawyer who holds your power of attorney can check for you, so you do not need to travel or sign in yourself. You sign the power of attorney in your own country.
The reason is the sign-in. To sign in, Najiz uses Nafath, the Saudi government’s login app. Nafath needs a Saudi digital identity, which is linked to an ID issued in Saudi Arabia. Absher also needs a Saudi online account. So a person abroad, or anyone without a working account, usually checks through a lawyer.
If you used to live in Saudi Arabia and are not sure whether your account still works, a lawyer can check for you instead.
A power of attorney is a document that lets someone, such as a lawyer, act for you. If you sign it abroad, it usually needs an apostille or legalisation before Saudi offices accept it. Which one you need depends on your country.
What is the difference between a travel ban and an open case in Saudi Arabia?
A travel ban is an order that stops you from leaving Saudi Arabia. An open case is a court case or an enforcement file that has not ended. The two are often linked, so check for both.
A travel ban is usually linked to an enforcement file, an open case or an investigation. An enforcement file is a file at the Enforcement Court, the court that enforces judgments and other enforceable documents. An unpaid loan, for example, can lead to an enforcement file. A travel ban can then follow from that file.
So finding one often means looking for the other. If you find a ban, look for the file behind it. If you find a case, ask a lawyer whether it has led to a ban.
A travel ban usually ends when the problem behind it is dealt with. Our page on how travel bans end in Saudi Arabia explains the causes and the steps. The new Enforcement Law applies from 28 October 2026 and changes when a ban can be used in an enforcement file.
What do Absher and Najiz show about travel bans and cases?
Absher and Najiz show different records, so check both of these 2 platforms. Absher is the Ministry of Interior’s platform for IDs, visas and some personal records. According to the Ministry of Justice, Najiz is its platform for court cases, enforcement files and powers of attorney. A travel ban is usually linked to a court case or an enforcement file, so Najiz often shows the file behind a ban. Both need a Saudi sign-in. If you are abroad, a lawyer holding your power of attorney can usually check for you.
- Absher shows records the Ministry of Interior holds about you, such as your ID and visa details.
- Najiz shows court cases and enforcement files under your name.
Look for the enquiry services in your account. Menu names change from time to time, so we do not list them here. If what you see is unclear, write down the wording and any file number. Then ask a lawyer what it means.
To sign in, residents usually use Nafath. They set it up with their iqama (the residence permit of a foreigner living in Saudi Arabia). The ministries’ own sites are linked under Official sources below.
How do you know if there is a case against you in Saudi Arabia?
Check Najiz, the Ministry of Justice platform where court cases are usually filed and tracked. You sign in through Nafath. If you cannot sign in, a lawyer can check for you with a power of attorney.
A notice about a case may come as a text message (SMS), or appear in your Najiz account. Keep every notice and message, and write down when each one arrived. Do not ignore a notice because it is in Arabic or hard to follow. Ask a lawyer to read it with you.
The matter may be criminal, such as a complaint to the police. If so, speak to a lawyer before you give a formal statement to the police or investigators. Criminal matters usually go from the police to the Public Prosecution, the authority that investigates crimes. Our guide to the criminal process explains the stages in order.
If a case was filed after you left Saudi Arabia, see what you can do about a case filed after you left.
Can you find out why you have a travel ban in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, a lawyer can help you find out, and it is the most useful thing to know. The cause decides what can be done next.
A travel ban is usually linked to an enforcement file, an open case or an investigation. Problems linked to your job or employer can also play a part. Each cause leads to different steps, so the first task is to find the file behind the ban.
If you were stopped at the airport, write down the authority and any file number you were given. A lawyer can use these details to look for the file. Once the cause is clear, a lawyer can explain the steps that apply to you.
What should you do if you find a travel ban or a case in Saudi Arabia?
Do not ignore it, and do not plan travel until it is dealt with. Talk to a lawyer about the file behind it, because that file decides what can be done.
Leaving Saudi Arabia does not end the problem. The case or debt stays open after you leave. Note what you saw and the date you checked, so you can tell a lawyer exactly what the platform showed.
Planning to come back for work, a visit or Umrah (a Muslim pilgrimage)? Check whether anything is still open against you before you book.
If a court, the police or the Public Prosecution has sent you a notice, read our first steps for urgent legal situations. If someone you know has been detained, read what the family can do.
How checking for a travel ban or a case through a lawyer usually works
- Tell us where you are now and what you want to check. A few lines are enough. Don’t send documents or ID numbers yet.
- Get our answer on what we can check, and on what terms. We tell you what we need from you and how fees are agreed.
- Sign the engagement letter. This is the written agreement between you and the firm. Work starts only after it is signed. See how we work with clients outside Saudi Arabia.
- Sign a power of attorney. If you are abroad, you sign it in your own country and have it certified there. Where a lawyer helps: drafting the text and telling you which stamps it needs.
- Let us check for a case, an enforcement file or a travel ban under your name. We use the power of attorney for this, not your login.
- Hear what we found and what it is linked to. Then decide the next step with us, such as dealing with the file behind a ban.
Absher, Najiz or a lawyer: which way of checking fits you?
Whether you can sign in usually decides it. If you can, start with Absher and Najiz, and check both. If you cannot, or you are abroad, a lawyer holding your power of attorney can usually check for you.
| Way to check | Who can usually use it | What you need | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absher | You, if you hold a Saudi ID and an Absher account | Your own sign-in | Shows Ministry of Interior records about you. Menu names change, so look for the enquiry services in your account. |
| Najiz | You, if you can sign in through Nafath | The Nafath app on your phone | Shows court cases and enforcement files under your name. |
| A Saudi lawyer holding your power of attorney | You, wherever you are, including abroad | A signed and certified power of attorney | The lawyer checks for you. See power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroad for the steps. |
What to prepare before you ask a lawyer to check
Keep these ready, but don’t send them yet:
- your full name exactly as it appears in your passport;
- your iqama number, if you had one;
- when you lived in Saudi Arabia, and when you left;
- the name of your last employer there;
- any loan, credit card or phone contract you had there;
- any notice, text message or call about a case: who it came from and when;
- where you are now, and whether you can still sign in to Absher or Najiz.
Never share your Absher or Nafath password, or the one-time codes sent to your phone, with anyone. A lawyer acts for you through a power of attorney, not through your login.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if I have a travel ban in Saudi Arabia?
If you can sign in, check Absher and Najiz, because each shows different records. If you cannot sign in, or you are abroad, a Saudi lawyer holding your power of attorney can usually check for you.
Can I check for a travel ban in KSA without Absher?
Partly. Najiz shows court cases and enforcement files under your name, which are the usual causes of a ban. You sign in to Najiz through Nafath. If you cannot use either platform, a lawyer can usually check for you through a power of attorney.
Should I check for a travel ban before I travel?
Yes, if anything could still be open under your name, such as an unpaid loan, a dispute or a problem with an employer. Check before you book a flight. That way you can deal with any open case or ban before you plan to travel.
Does leaving Saudi Arabia close a case or a ban?
No. The case or debt stays open after you leave. Our page on a case filed against you after you left Saudi Arabia explains what you can do from abroad.
Should I give someone my Absher or Nafath login so they can check for me?
No. Do not share your password or one-time codes with anyone, including a lawyer or an employer. A lawyer acts for you through a power of attorney, not through your login.
Official sources
This page draws on 3 official sources. Each line shows who publishes it, its language and, where recorded, the date we last checked it.
- Ministry of Interior · Absher (Ministry of Interior e-services) Pending verification
- Ministry of Justice · Najiz (Ministry of Justice e-services) (in Arabic) · checked
- Ministry of Justice · Ministry of Justice (MOJ) (in Arabic) · checked
What usually comes next
General information about Saudi law, not advice on your situation. Contacting us does not create a lawyer–client relationship until an engagement letter is signed.