# What is Absher?

Absher is the Saudi Ministry of Interior's online platform and app where residents and citizens handle ID and visa services and check some personal records.

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

- **In Arabic:** أبشر
- **Said as:** Abshir (AB-sher)
- **Official channel:** absher.sa (website and app), Ministry of Interior
- **Can you use it from abroad?:** Only if you already have an Absher account, which is linked to a Saudi ID such as an iqama. From abroad, a lawyer can often check for you with a power of attorney.


## Why does Absher matter if you are a foreigner?

If you live in Saudi Arabia, Absher is where many of your ID and visa matters are handled. Most of them are linked to your [iqama](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/iqama/), the residence permit of a foreigner living in Saudi Arabia.

Absher is also one of the two usual places to check for a [travel ban](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/travel-ban/). A travel ban is an order that stops a person from leaving Saudi Arabia. The other place is [Najiz](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/najiz/), the Ministry of Justice's platform for court cases and enforcement files. Each shows different records, so check both.

## Where will you meet Absher?

You meet it mostly when you need to know whether anything stops you from leaving Saudi Arabia. These pages explain what to do:

- [How to check for a travel ban or an open case in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/check-for-a-travel-ban-or-case/) — where to look, and what to do if you cannot sign in.
- [Facing a case, an arrest or a travel ban in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/) — first steps, in Saudi Arabia or outside it.
- [How travel bans end in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/cases-arrests-travel-bans/how-travel-bans-end/) — a ban usually ends once its cause is dealt with.

## Can you use Absher from outside Saudi Arabia?

Only if you already have an Absher account, which is linked to a Saudi ID such as an iqama. If you have left Saudi Arabia, you may not be able to sign in any more.

If you cannot use Absher, a Saudi lawyer can often check for a travel ban or a case for you. The lawyer needs a [power of attorney](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/power-of-attorney/), a signed document that lets them act in your name. You can usually sign it in your own country, without travelling. See [power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroad](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/power-of-attorney/).


## Frequently asked questions

### Can I check for a travel ban on Absher?

Check both Absher and Najiz, if you can sign in. Absher is the Ministry of Interior's platform for IDs, visas and some status enquiries. Najiz is the Ministry of Justice's platform for cases and enforcement, and a travel ban is usually linked to an enforcement file, an open case or an investigation. If you cannot sign in, a lawyer can check for you with a power of attorney. See [how to check for a travel ban or an open case](/cases-arrests-travel-bans/check-for-a-travel-ban-or-case/).

### Can I use Absher if I do not have an iqama or a Saudi ID?

Usually not. Absher is the Ministry of Interior's e-services platform for residents and citizens, and most government e-services ask for an iqama, the residence permit of a non-Saudi living in Saudi Arabia. If you have no Saudi ID, a Saudi lawyer can usually act for you instead, with a power of attorney. One given abroad usually has to be certified before Saudi bodies accept it.

### Can someone else sign in to Absher for me?

No. Never give your Absher password, or the codes sent to your phone, to anyone, including a lawyer, an agent or an employer. Anyone with your login can act in your name. A lawyer acts for you within what your power of attorney allows, not with your login.

## Official sources

- Ministry of Interior: [Absher (Ministry of Interior e-services)](https://absher.sa/)

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.

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Saudi Law is operated by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations, licensed in Saudi Arabia. https://saudilaw.co/glossary/absher/