Saudi Exit/Re-Entry Visa 2024: Everything You Need to Know

This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated March 2024

A Saudi exit/re-entry visa is essential for beneficiaries with family members or domestic workers outside KSA and employees wishing to leave Saudi Arabia and return to the Kingdom within a stipulated time.

Please keep reading to learn more about Saudi Arabia’s exit/re-entry visa conditions, requirements, status check, price, extension and more.

 

Saudi exit/re-entry visas latest news

The General Directorate of Passports in Riyadh has lifted the three-year ban on expatriates who failed to return before the expiry of their exit and reentry visas. The decision, effective from January 16, follows businessmen’s demands and overturns the Council of Ministers’ previous ruling. The businessmen argued that the ban caused financial losses.

The Jawazat reemphasized conditions for exit and reentry visas, including settling traffic fines, having no visa violations, a valid visa absence, the individual’s presence in the Kingdom, a passport validity of 90 days, and fingerprint capture for visa issuance.

Saudi exit/re-entry visas requirements

Before the Saudi exit/re-entry visa is issued, here are some prerequisites to be kept in mind:

• the applicant is responsible for paying the visa fee.
• payment of all traffic violations for the individual, worker or employer will be issued.
• the individual to whom the visa is to be issued must be present in Saudi Arabia when the visa is issued.
• the validity of the passport of the individual for whom the visa is to be issued should be at least 90 days for exit/ reentry visa.
• validity of the iqama or the residency permit of the individual to whom the visa will be issued.
• the fingerprint of the individual to whom the visa will be issued (for males and females between 15 years and older).
• Minors (under 18 years) travelling alone or with one parent must submit a notarized letter in Arabic or English signed by a parent or a legal guardian.
• Applicants must pay $100/month of overstay outside the Kingdom after the exit/re-entry visa expires.

The government of Saudi Arabia has made it clear that expatriates with exit/re-entry visas are permitted to come back to the country until the expiration date of their visa. The Jawazat (Directorate General of Passports) has announced that individuals holding these visas can electronically prolong their visa duration from abroad by making the necessary payments using the Absher or Muqeem platform. It’s important to note that expatriates must have a passport validity of at least 90 days for an exit/re-entry visa and 60 days for a final exit visa.

Find cheap flights to Saudi Arabia now

 

For employees

The employees applying for a Saudi self-exit/re-entry visa must have an Iqama validity of 3 months in addition to the visa duration. Please note that the maximum visa validity for a Saudi self-exit/re-entry visa is 30 days.

For dependents

The following are some of the conditions and requirements for applying for a Saudi exit/re-entry visa for dependents:

• passport validity of three months beyond the period of the visa.
• the Iqama Validity should be equal to or greater than the visa duration + 90 days for the “duration in days” option for a single ER visa.
• exit/re-entry visa can be issued for a maximum of 7 days before the Iqama expiry date.
• no newborn dependent without Iqama in KSA.
• no unpaid violation.

Saudi exit/re-entry visa application process through Absher

The Saudi exit/re-entry visa can be applied both by the employees themselves or by their dependents

Applying for Saudi self-exit/re-entry visa – employees

The Saudi self-exit/re-entry visa can only be applied by the employees after following the steps given below:

• log in to your Absher account.
• select “Services” from the “My Services” menu.
• select the option of “Passports. “
• click on “Visa Requests”, followed by “Create Visa Request.”
• select the Request Type as “Exit Re-Entry Visa (Single). “
• in the “Return Before“ section, enter the required days. (Maximum 30 days)
• acknowledge the agreement by ticking it.
• select “Next” and click “Confirm” to complete your visa request.

Once the request is completed, the individual must wait at least ten days. After ten days, individuals will have a five-day period starting from the eleventh day to issue the exit re-entry visa before its expiry. Make sure to pay the required fees and issue the visa.

However, if the employer of the individual objects, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will study and decide within ten days of the visa application date.

Applying for Saudi exit/re-entry visa – dependents

The Saudi self-exit/re-entry visa can be applied for dependents by following the steps given below:

• log in to your Absher account.
• select “Services” from the “Family Members” menu.
• select “Visa Services” from the options displayed below.
• click on “Next” to proceed further.
• select “Dependent” from the “More Details” option.
• click “Issue Visa” and agree to the terms and conditions displayed on the screen.
• select “OK” to proceed with the issuance of the exit/re-entry visa
• at this stage, you can select whether you want to apply for a “Single or Multiple exit/re-entry visa”.
• after this, apply for the same period you paid the visa fee.
• click on the “Confirm” button to issue the visa.
• you can take a printout or download the exit/re-entry visa from the “Print” option below on the screen.

Please note that the visa holder has to travel within three months of the visa being issued. If they fail to do so, they might be charged with a fine.

Saudi exit/re-entry visa status online check

To online check the status of your Saudi exit/re-entry visa follow the steps given below:

• log in to the Absher platform.
• log in to “Guaranteed Services”.
• click on “Inquiries”, followed by “Exit and Return Visa Status”.
• the visa details will appear to you.

Saudi exit/re-entry visa via Muqeem

In case you cannot access the Absher account, follow the steps given below to check your exit/re-entry visa status:

• visit the Muqeem website.
• enter your “Iqama Number” or the “Visa Number”.
• crossmatch by selecting any of the given options:
  • visa number
  • passport number
  • name
  • date of birth
  • Iqama expiry date
  • visa expiry date
• click on “Check” to view the status of your Saudi exit/re-entry visa.

Please take a screenshot of your visa status or take a printout of the visa to show to the immigration officer.

Saudi exit/re-entry visa printout process

Please note that a printout of the Saudi exit/re-entry visa is only required when applying for dependents to be able to show it to the Immigration authorities outside KSA. Existing employees in the KSA applying for a Saudi exit/re-entry visa do not need a printout of the visa:

To print the Saudi exit/re-entry visa for the dependents, follow the steps given below:

• log in to your Absher account.
• select “Services” from the “Family Members” menu.
• select “Visa Services” from the options displayed below.
• click on “Next” to proceed further.
• select “Dependent” from the “More Details” option.
• a drop-down tab will appear with the options “Print Visa” and “Cancel Visa”. Select the “Print Visa” option to take a printout of the visa.

Saudi exit/re-entry visa cost

Please note that the fee paid for issuing a Saudi exit/re-entry visa is non-refundable once the visa has been issued.

Furthermore, non-Saudi workers who apply for this visa will not be charged an application fee as it has been the responsibility of their employers.

Single exit/re-entry visa

The visa fee for the Saudi single exit/re-entry visa for a maximum period of 2 months is 200 SAR (53.32 USD).

A fee of 100 SAR will be added for each extra month after the first 2 months till the date of the Iqama expiry. Please note that one month will be counted as 30 days, whereas 31 to 60 days will be counted as 2 months for the Saudi exit/re-entry visa, in case of a fee.

Multiple exit/re-entry visa

The visa fee for the Saudi multiple exit/re-entry visa for a maximum period of 3 months is 500 SAR (133.29 USD).

A fee of 200 SAR will be added for each extra month after the first 3 months till the date of the Iqama expiry.

Saudi exit/re-entry visas validity

• single exit/re-entry visa allows individuals to exit and then re-enter Saudi Arabia once within its validity. (Maximum 30 days).
• multiple exit/re-entry visas allow individuals to exit and re-enter Saudi Arabia as often as possible, within its validity.

Saudi exit/re-entry visa extension

For dependents

Individuals holding valid residency cards (Iqama) may apply to extend their dependents’ exit re-entry visas if they have expired, provided they meet the requirements given below:

• Iqama should be valid for more than 90 days.
• the exit/re-entry visa should not have expired for more than 7 months.
• payment of the exit/re-entry visa extension fee.
• the dependent is outside Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi exit/re-entry visa for dependents by following the steps given below:

• log in to your Absher account.
• select “Services” from the “Family Members” menu.
• select “Visa Services” from the options displayed below.
• click on “Next” to proceed further.
• select the “Dependent” and click the “Extend Exit Re-Entry Visa” option.
• click on the “Confirm” button on the new page.

Please note that you cannot extend a Saudi exit/re-entry visa for a family living inside the KSA.

For expatriates

Expatriates need a valid exit/re-entry visa and Iqama to re-enter the Kingdom. The exit/re-entry visa for those outside the KSA can be extended electronically after paying the fees through the SADAD service of the employer’s Absher or Muqeem electronic platforms.

Saudi exit/re-entry visa violation

If the beneficiary is outside Saudi Arabia, they cannot convert an exit/re-entry visa into a final exit visa. As stated by the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat), expatriates who left Saudi Arabia with a Saudi exit and re-entry visa and did not return within the specific period will be banned from entering the Kingdom for 3 years. Additionally, they must pay USD 100 per month of over-stay outside the Kingdom after the expiration of the exit/re-entry visa.

The authorities additionally stated that the employer must issue a new visa if the expatriate did not return within the period specified in the visa. The phrase “exited and did not return” will automatically be recorded for any expatriate who issued an exit/re-entry visa after 2 (two) months from the Saudi exit/re-entry visa’s expiry date.

Moreover, the Jawazat also stated that it is no longer required to visit the Passport Department, as it was previously, to register that the expatriate has left and not returned. The period of the entry ban will be calculated from the date of expiry of the Saudi exit/re-entry visa and will be based on the Hijri calendar.

Please note that the Saudi entry ban for 3 years does not include dependents and those accompanying them.

Saudi exit/re-entry visa penalty

If you do not travel or cancel the visa within the stipulated time, the following penalty fee will be imposed:

• first instance – SAR 1,000 (USD 266.58)
• second instance – SAR 2,000 (USD 533.16)
• third instance – SAR 3,000 (USD 799.74)

Fine of USD 100/month of over-stay outside the Kingdom after expiration of the exit/re-entry visa.

How to cancel my Saudi exit/re-entry visa?

Please note that there will be no cancellation fee for an exit/re-entry visa. However, you must cancel the visa before its expiry of 90 days and the “Exit Before date” mentioned on the visa.

To cancel the Saudi exit/re-entry visa for the dependents, follow the steps given below:

• log in to your Absher account.
• select “Services” from the “Family Members” menu.
• select “Visa Services” from the options displayed below.
• click on “Next” to proceed further.
• select “Dependent” from the “More Details” option.
• a drop-down tab will appear with the options “Print Visa” and “Cancel Visa.” Select the “Cancel Visa” option.
• click on “Confirm” to cancel your visa.