As confirmed by Jawazat people who cancel their exit and re-entry Visas, the Fee they have paid will not be reimbursed.

Jawazat stated that it is also not possible to modify the visas for exit or re-entry for the beneficiary. It is only possible to cancel by the employer’s Absher platform.

The fees for exit and re-entry visas cannot be reimbursed even in case of their cancellation, regardless of whether you have issued the same visa. Jawazat has confirmed.

It is interesting to note that Jawazat earlier had declared that workers’ final-exit visas are not able to be cancelled in their period of probation.

The Jawazat has reiterated that it’s not permitted to convert visitor visas into residence permissions (iqama).

Residents are able to travel outside of the Kingdom with an approved visa as well as an acceptable travel document in addition to the necessity of complying with the entry requirements of the country they are traveling to.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has allowed residents to travel into the kingdom regardless of immunization status.

It is mandatory to carry insurance in order to enter the Kingdom on any type of visas for visiting to cover the cost of treatment in the event that someone is infected by coronavirus. This includes the need for a visa to visit Umrah and tourism, throughout the visit to Saudi Arabia, when the visa is extended or after exit, and multiple-entry.

Jawazat said that the residents can travel out of the Kingdom without having a valid visa as well as an official travel document that is valid, in addition to the necessity of observing the entry requirements of the country in which the traveler is planning to go.

Requirements for Temporary trips outside KSA

Furthermore the Jawazat has earlier urged residents and citizens to make certain to update their post details registered in the “Absher” system and the “Muqeem” portal to facilitate the transfer of notices and documents of the person and their dependents that are issued by the Directorate through”SPL”, the Saudi Post, “SPL”.

It is interesting to note to note that General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has earlier issued an advisory directed to every airline operating within the airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including private aviation, with regards to changing the travel procedure for travel to and from the Kingdom.

Maj. Gen.Khaled Al-Sikhan Maj. Gen. Khaled Al-Sikhan, assistant director-general of General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) for technical affairs stated that the electronic passport marks a turning stage in the transition of the passport that can be read to the electronic version.

New Electronic – Passport launched in Saudi Arabia

The New electronic passport in KSA has been developed with the latest security standards, according to Al-Sikhan the passport, noting that it’s compatible with International Civil Aviation Organization requirements.

The brand new Saudi electronic passport distinguished by the changes to its information and contents, including the change in its external color as well as an upgrade to security features. It also includes encryption to ensure the security of data.

Al-Sikhan also said that the digital passport’s data card includes details about the passport holder as well as three photos using various technology, as well as the capability of digitally authenticating the passport using digital portals.

The Kingdom’s identity has been incorporated into all the pages of the passport’s electronic version by making drawings of all essential tourist destinations in the Kingdom.

Citizens can now apply for the new passport using the normal method of requesting one until the current passport is halted during the transitional phase.

Note: Family Visit Visa can be extended only for 6 months (180 days) and not more than that.

بإمكانك تمديد تأشيرة الزيارة العائلية عبر منصة #أبشر حتى 180 يوم من تاريخ الدخول

Also Read: Family Visit VISA Extension through Ministry of Interior 

This will help expatriates and save their time when they wanted to extend their Family Visit VISA instead of going to Jawazat office.

You can visit the family visa to extend the cross – platform # Absher up to 180 days

• Extension of Visit VISA can only be applied before 7 days or less
• If its already expired then the extension must be done within 3 days
• Entry Date of Visit visa applicant shall not exceed more than 6 months (i.e 180 days)

Procedure for Extending Family Visit Visa Through Absher:

Login to your Absher Account (Absher.sa)

Go To >> My service
Then >> General Service
Select >> Passports
Then >> Tawasul Service

In the Next page,

Select > Sector: تأشيرة زيارة
Select > Service: تمديد تأشيرة الزيارة العائلية
Request Description: Explain the problem

Message Sample:

I hereby declare that my family will be leaving Saudi Arabia within a period of two weeks Please extend my family visit visa Thank you

Helpful Tip: Don’t use any special character Like (. * – @ _ = +\ )

Attach the following documents with the Tawasul request

1) Passport Information Page copy (Both Sides).
2) Stamped Visa Page Copy (Both Side).
3) Screenshot of Visa Expiry Page.
4) Declaration Form Download Sample

Helpful Tip: Only PDF and PNG formats can be uploaded.
Helpful Tip: You can send a request separate for every family member or Mention all members in a single request.

After Submitting the request, your family visit visa will be extended for a period of two weeks within which they have to leave Saudi Arabia.

As per the sources, Jawazat said that people who have left the Kingdom on Exit & Re-Entry visas and didn’t return to Saudi Arabia or failed to return before the expiry date of Visa will be barred or banned from entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a period of three years.

Exit Re-entry visas cannot be converted to Final Exit

Though, there will be exemptions for Expats in the case of dependents as well as people who have obtained a new visa from their previous employer.

The Jawazat has stated that the validity period of the Exit & Re-Entry visa is calculated from the date of exit from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The sources said domestic workers who have failed to return to the Saudi Arabia will be automatically removed from the Jawazat’s Absher system, 6 months after the expiry of the validity of their exit & Re-Entry visa.

They will be removed from the system 30 days after the expiry of the visa if their failure to return is communicated through the “Tawasul” messaging and requests service on the Absher platform for electronic services.

The notification sent to Jawazat about a domestic worker’s absence from work can be canceled within 15 days from the date of the notification through the “Tawasul” service on Absher, the sources added.

Important things of Passport for Travelling outside Saudi

Here are the Important Points to remember if Travelling outside the Kingdom

1. The passport data should be clear and readable and its holders photo must be clear.

2. At least 6 months validity required when traveling to other countries and 3 months validity required when the passport holder traveling to Arab countries.

3. Make sure of the requirements of the destination country to travel in case it requires entry visa.

4. Ensure the health requirements are met of the destination country.

5. Passport must not be damaged at the time of travel.

6. Take necessary travel permits issued before the the time of travel.

– The Jawazat earlier clarified that in case of non-departure within 60 days of final exit visa validity, a fine of 1000 riyals will be imposed for canceling the final exit and iqama should be valid to be able to complete the procedure.

New Absher E-Services Launched

This included the electronic card service for expats identity (Iqama) on the Absher Afrad (individuals) application to enable them to keep the e-copy of residency permit (iqama) on smartphones and show it whereever applicable

Read Article: What is Digital Iqama?

This includes the beneficiaries’ communication service with Jawazat to implement services that are not available earlier electronically over internet and was only available while going personally to Jawazat offices, and the registration service for citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, visitors, and dependents on the Absher platform with entering the border number or iqama number.

Read Article: New E-Services Added to Absher Individuals

Four Conditions for Expats to Travel from KSA (Saudi Arabia)

– Valid Visa
– Reservation through Airline or other Carriers (Means of Travel)
– Valid Travel document
– Compliance with Entry Rules of Other Country

Jawazat has made made it important to all the residents & expatriates who are willing to travel from other countries to Saudi Arabia (KSA) will have to go through institutional quarantine procedures, where no suspension of travel is in force.

There is an exemption for this, for the previously announced categories related to institutional quarantine, with a condition that they should abide by the precautionary measures announced by the (MOH) Ministry of Health.

Among those are citizens (including Men & Women) who arrive through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia airports, and they also include female citizens, citizen’s non-Saudi wife (Expat), female citizen’s non-Saudi husband (Expat), female citizen’s sons and daughters, and the domestic workers accompanying any of the aforementioned categories.

There is also exemption from institutional quarantine for unvaccinated (Who are not yet immunized) domestic workers accompanying an immune resident, as well as those who have taken vaccination, any official delegations, those who hold a diplomatic visa (diplomats), diplomats and their families residing with them, in addition to airline crew, and those associated with health supply chains based on the considerations made by the Ministry of Health.

As for those coming via land and seaways, including male and female citizens; wife of citizen; husband of female citizen; sons and daughters of female citizen; domestic workers accompanying any of the aforementioned categories; those whose health condition appears vaccinated and their companions under the age of 18.

The categories also include those who hold a diplomatic visa, diplomats and their families residing with them, crew of marine ships, truck drivers and their assistants through all ports, and those who are associated with health supply chains based on the considerations made by the (MOH) Ministry of Health.

This rule of registering vaccination status online is applied to

• Holders of All kinds of New Visas.
• Residents and their companions (unvaccinated and vaccinated/immunized)
• GCC (Gulf cooperation Council) Citizens

The Saudi Press Agency stated that the registration of vaccination status online will expedite the immigration process and will minimize the passengers waiting time at the their points of entry in the Kingdom.

It is must for all the passengers coming to Saudi Arabia to follow the precautionary measures and should check that they have completed the all the necessary formalities to avoid undue hardships or any adverse situation arising due to negligence.

The Saudi Arabian government is making all the best efforts to control the spread of Covid-19 and its variants.

Read also:

https://saudiexpatriate.com/gaca-circular-to-all-airlines-in-saudi-arabia/

Jawazat in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has clarified that failure to leave the kingdom within the validity period will incur a fine of SR 1000 on the expat in Saudi Arabia.

Fine of SR 1000 for Staying after Final Exit Visa

The Final Exit Visa will be having a validity of 60 days for an expat to leave the kingdom after completing all his formalities from the exiting company with full and final settlement, in event of failure of leaving Saudi to cancel the visa SR 1000 will be imposed

For Final Exit Visa cancellation, Iqama is required.

** Note ** : Iqama should also be valid, if Iqama is not valid after the Final Exit Visa expiry then additional fines of not renewing Iqama will be levied.

There are many expatriates who have faced this issue and are facing in the kingdom. I urged all my expat brothers and sisters to leave the kingdom within the validity of Final Exit Visa to avoid consequences and fines.