Saudi extends validity of expired residency visas for expats stuck aboard

Saudi Arabia has extended the validity of residency permits of expatriates who are stuck outside the kingdom for another month due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the General Directorate of Passports announced on Monday.

The decision applies to all expats working in commercial professions whose permits expired between August 1 and August 31.

It comes since international passenger flights to and from the kingdom remain suspended after they were stopped in March.

Visa holders will not be charged any fee for the extension, which is also applicable to those expats who are stuck within Saudi and are unable to travel out of the country, local media reported.

The visas have now been extended up to September 30 and the process will take place automatically in cooperation with the National Information Center and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

The kingdom had previously announced free three-month extensions on the validity of residency permits, exit, visit and entry visas in July.

Read: Saudi Arabia extends validity of residency permits, entry and exit visas for expats

Last week, during a virtual meeting of G20 foreign ministers, Saudi Arabia discussed the possibility of resuming international flights.

However, no details have been revealed so far on when flights will restart.