Saudi Arabia to extend residency permits for expats stranded outside the kingdom

The General Directorate of Passports is automatically extending the validity of residence permits (Iqama) for  expatriates stranded outside the kingdom due to prevailing travel restrictions.

Additionally, the validity of visit visas and exit and re-entry visas without fees or charges for all expatriates will also be extended.

Both extensions run until September 30, 2021, and cover those residents and tourists that are in countries from which entry is suspended due to the ongoing pandemic.

The extension, which was issued by the Minister of Finance, is part of the government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. It also falls within precautionary and preventive measures to safeguard citizens and residents,  reported state-run Saudi Press Agency.

#عاجل
إنفاذًا لتوجيهات #خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين.. تمديد صلاحية الإقامة وتأشيرة الخروج والعودة وتأشيرات الزيارة آلياً دون مقابل في الدول التي يتم تعليق القدوم منها حتى تاريخ 30 / 9 / 2021م.https://t.co/qxt3kvWw3k #واس pic.twitter.com/jRNGhFXvDz

— واس الأخبار الملكية (@spagov) August 17, 2021

The Directorate indicated that the extension will be carried out electronically in cooperation with the National Information Centre without the need to visit the departments of passports.

According to an earlier directive issued last month, the validity of residency, exit and re-entry visas of expats stranded abroad was automatically extended until August 31, 2021.

Read: Saudi Arabia to extend visa validity of expats stranded abroad until August 31

Starting July 4, Saudi had decided to suspend direct passenger flights between the kingdom and the UAE, as well as Ethiopia, and Vietnam, as a result of the pandemic.

Saudi nationals are barred from travelling, directly or indirectly to these countries, unless they obtain special permission to do so.

Read: Saudi Arabia indefinitely suspends travel to UAE, Vietnam and Ethiopia