The National Travelers Security Center is a national center specializing in aviation, maritime, and land travel security both within and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was established by the Presidency of State Security in 2017.
The National Travelers Security Center's mandate
The center specializes in aviation, maritime, and land security both within and outside the Kingdom. Its mandate includes travel security, cargo security (freight transportation), and the security of travel permits and visas to and from the Kingdom, including its airspace and territories. This is achieved through the collection of information and standardized pre-processing of data for passengers, cargo, and visa applicants data, and utilizing this information in the field of travel security and services for travelers.
The National Travelers Security Center's responsibilities
- Travel eligibility services: The center provides a risk assessment and eligibility evaluation service for applicants seeking visas or travel permits to the Kingdom and through its airspace and the like. It also enables the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant entities to access the results.
- Travel facilitation programs: The service specializes in proposing programs to facilitate travel to and from the Kingdom, in coordination with the relevant entities.
- Passenger and cargo security: The center collects advance information about travelers to ensure security and safety, establishes electronic connections with service providers for the passenger registration system, and develops national databases and technical systems for passenger security. It also creates and manages a national passenger security risk register, analyzes related risks, and coordinates with relevant government and private entities. This aims to ensure traveler security, facilitate proactive planning during the entry and exit of travelers or cargo, and make decisions regarding travel or transportation movement in the event of related risks.
- Organizational and executive tasks: This involves requesting the nomination and participation of representatives from government or private entities to work at the center, supervising their work, and distributing tasks, roles, and responsibilities within the center's scope of competencies. The center ensures the implementation of laws, instructions, and policies to protect the privacy and confidentiality of personal data to meet information security standards. It engages with travel and shipping service providers to achieve its objectives, monitors compliance with traveler security requirements, addresses violations, and applies penalties. Additionally, it establishes or contributes to companies related to the center’s mandate and responsibilities.
International representation and cooperation: Representing the Kingdom domestically and internationally, the center works to achieve compliance with international requirements. It coordinates with relevant government and private entities, and engages in international cooperation to facilitate the travel of Saudi citizens and cargo to other countries, as well as the travel of non-Saudis to and from the Kingdom. Additionally, the center participates in internal and external activities and events.
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