# 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 2026-10-19. 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.


**Urgent:** **stopped from leaving Saudi Arabia?**

If this is happening now:

1. Ask which authority or file the stop is linked to, and write down what you are told.
2. Keep every notice, text message (SMS) and paper you are given, and note when each one arrived.
3. If you can sign in, check Absher and Najiz for a case or an enforcement file under your name.

## 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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/najiz/) uses [Nafath](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/), 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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/apostille/) or legalisation before Saudi offices accept it. Which one you need depends on your country.

- [Power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroad](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/power-of-attorney/)
- [Apostille or legalisation? Documents for Saudi Arabia by country](https://saudilaw.co/documents-from-abroad/)

## 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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/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](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/how-travel-bans-end/) explains the causes and the steps. [The new Enforcement Law](https://saudilaw.co/whats-changed/) 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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/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](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/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](https://saudilaw.co/guides/criminal-process-explained/) 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](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/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](https://saudilaw.co/urgent/). If someone you know has been detained, read [what the family can do](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/someone-detained/).

## How checking for a travel ban or a case through a lawyer usually works

1. **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.
2. **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.
3. **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](https://saudilaw.co/how-we-work/).
4. **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.
5. **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.
6. **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.

Contact: WhatsApp or phone +966 54 797 7285 · email office@raedlawyer.com · undefined

## 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.

**Ways to check for a travel ban or a case in Saudi Arabia**

| 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](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/power-of-attorney/) 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 live in Saudi Arabia and can sign in, check both Absher and Najiz, because each shows different records. Absher is the Ministry of Interior's platform, and Najiz is the Ministry of Justice's platform for court cases and enforcement files. If you are abroad or cannot sign in, a lawyer can usually check for you under a power of attorney.

### Can I check a Saudi travel ban online by passport number?

Use only the official platforms. Signing in to Najiz needs a Saudi online account through Nafath, which residents usually set up with their iqama. If you no longer have access, for example because you have left, a lawyer can usually check for you under a power of attorney. Be wary of websites or agents that offer a check for a fee, and don't send them your ID details.

### 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, the national sign-in app. Najiz does not show everything Absher shows, so it is not a full check on its own. 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 or pay for a visa. Checking first gives you time to deal with any open case or ban before you plan to travel, rather than after you are stopped.

### Does leaving Saudi Arabia close a case or a ban?

No. The case or debt stays open after you leave. So before you plan to come back for work, a visit or Umrah, check whether anything is still open against you. Our page on [a case filed against you after you left Saudi Arabia](/from-abroad/case-filed-after-you-left/) explains what you can do from abroad.

### Should I give someone my Absher or Nafath login so they can check for me?

No. Keep your password and one-time codes to yourself, whoever asks. Najiz needs a Saudi digital identity, so clients abroad usually act through a Saudi lawyer under a power of attorney. The lawyer acts for you through that document, not through your account. If someone asks for your codes to check for a ban, treat it as a warning sign.

## Official sources

- Ministry of Interior: [Absher (Ministry of Interior e-services)](https://absher.sa/)
- Ministry of Justice: [Najiz (Ministry of Justice e-services)](https://najiz.sa/applications/landing) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Ministry of Justice: [Ministry of Justice (MOJ)](https://www.moj.gov.sa/) (checked 2026-10-19)

General information about Saudi law, not legal advice on your situation. For your own case, speak to a licensed lawyer. Contacting us does not create a lawyer–client relationship until an engagement letter is signed.

---
Saudi Law is operated by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations, licensed in Saudi Arabia. https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/check-for-a-travel-ban-or-case/