Saudi Arabia Extends Validity of Iqama, Re-Entry Visas for Expats

Saudi Arabia has expanded the duration of expired Iqama (residency permit), departure and re-entry visas for expatriates outside the Kingdom for a span of three months without any charge.

The Iqama of expatriates inside the Kingdom, as well as the visa of tourists to the Kingdom whose validity expires after the time of suspension of entry and departure from the Kingdom, will also be extended for three months without charge, notes the Saudi Gazette.

The validity of the final exit visas, as well as the exit and re-entry visas provided for expatriates who are in the Kingdom but have not been used during the lock-down era, will be extended for a maximum of three months without any payments, the Saudi Press Agency announced citing an official source at the Ministry of the Interior.

The Ministry's source claimed that such steps were taken as part of the continuing initiatives of the Saudi Government to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on individuals as well as on private sector institutions and developers, economic activities in the Kingdom, despite the implementation of protective measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The beneficiaries of the King's order are those expatriates who are outside the Kingdom on departure and re-entry visas, which expired after the lock-down period and after the lock-down has been lifted.

Such expatriates are not in a condition to travel to the Kingdom because of the implementation of the closure of the foreign flight service and the indefinite prohibition on the Kingdom 's entry and departure.

The beneficiaries often involve those expatriates that are already in the Kingdom since the issuance of a final departure or re-entry visa but who have not been allowed to fly owing to the suspension of entry and exit from the Kingdom.