In Saudi Arabia, one needs a Saudi visa both to enter and exit the Kingdom. Once inside the country, a person has to apply for an Exit Reentry Saudi Visa from the Ministry of Interior. For those employed in the Kingdom, the sponsor is responsible for initiating the application process.
There are two types of Exit/Re-Entry visas: single and multiple. The single visa permits entry and exit only once. When a person returns to the country, a fresh Exit/Re-Entry Visa is required for the next trip outside the KSA. In a single entry visa, a person is expected to leave the country within 30 days of the visa being stamped and must return before the date mentioned on the visa.
Multiple entry visas allow travellers to exit and return to Saudi Arabia multiple times, but this is valid for 6 months from the date of the first exit from the Kingdom. In both cases, the consent of the sponsor is compulsory. If a person does not exit and re-enter the Kingdom while the visa is still valid, the sponsor can be penalised. The validity of both single and multiple exit/re-entry visas is dependent on the Iqama expiry.
How to Get an Exit/Re-Entry Visa in Saudi Arabia?
The Exit/Re-Entry visa process is initiated by the sponsor company or individual through the Absher portal. The Business Establishments eServices section of the website allows companies to apply for re-entry visas for employees.
The Absher website can also be used to obtain Exit/Re-entry visas for dependents living in the KSA. For this, the following steps need to be taken:
- Go to moi.gov.sa and login from the Absher website
- Register for an Absher account with a username and password, if you do not already have an account
- Click on “Passports” on the left of the menu, under the “Appointments” section
- Provide your national ID number (Iqama number), along with the date of birth and the randomly generated icon
- The list of your dependents is displayed on the screen. Click on “More Details” to see more information
- Click on “Issue visa” at the bottom of the page
- Review all the details and click OK
You can apply for an Exit/Re-Entry visa for dependents for a maximum period of one year and they will be required to return at least 3 days before the expiry date. A printout of this visa can be obtained from the Muqeem website.
The fee for exit/re-entry visa is SAR 200 for the first two months and SAR 100 for each additional month. The fee can be paid online, using the dependent’s Iqama number.
How to Extend Exit/Re-Entry Visa for Expats Outside Saudi Arabia?
The online procedure for the extension of the Exit/Re-Entry visa for expats and family members was announced by the Saudi Arabia Jawazat. The process has to be initiated by the sponsor company for expat employees and by the head of the family, in case of dependents.
The extension can be initiated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Some guidelines to follow in this process are:
- The electronic form has to be filled via the electronic visa services website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and certified electronically.
- The Iqama has to be valid for the period of extension.
- The data provided should match the information on the applicant’s passport.
- All fields have to be filled in Arabic, with the exception of the name, which needs to be in English for non-Arab nations.
- The duration of the extension has to be mentioned.
- A copy of your valid residence permit and the last extension, if applicable, needs to be submitted.
You can also apply for an extension of your visa on the Muqeem and Absher portals of the Ministry of Interior.
In addition, a letter issued by the Saudi sponsor or consulate, indicating that the person is still employed in the KSA and requesting an extension of an exit/re-entry visa, is required. This letter should be notarised by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, if the sponsor is a private sector company, or by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in case the sponsor is a government agency.
Can I Come Back to Saudi Arabia after Final Exit?
The Saudi Arabia Jawazat (The General Directorate of Passports) recently made it clear that Saudi expats who leave the KSA on final exit visas without any remarks against them, can return to the country anytime, by applying for a fresh visa.
People who wish to leave the Kingdom permanently need to obtain a final exit visa, issued by the sponsor. However, before that, they must clear all unpaid traffic fines, electricity bills, phone bills, credit card bills, etc. The expat’s Iqama also needs to be relinquished prior to leaving the country.
There were rumours circulating on social media that people who left on a final exit visa were barred from entering Saudi Arabia again for a period of 3 years. This has been refuted by the Kingdom’s Jawazat.
On the contrary, such a rule exists for expats who leave the country on an exit/re-entry visa permanently. Expats who leave the country on an exit/re-entry visa and do not return before the validity expires, could be banned from re-entering the Kingdom for 3 years.
How Much Does a Saudi Arabia Exit/Re-Entry Visa Cost?
The fee for the exit/re-entry visa for the first two months is SAR 200. After the two-month period is over, SAR 100 needs to be paid each month till the date of the Iqama expiry. For the visa, 30 days is counted as one month and 31-60 days is counted as two months for fee processing.
How to Check the Validity of an Exit/Re-Entry Visa in the KSA?
Visa validity can be checked through the Muqeem or Absher website of the Ministry of Interior website.
- Log into your Absher account with your username and password.
- Click on “Inquiries” under the “My Services” tab on the main window.
- Click on “Passport” on the next window and then click on “Exit/Re-entry” visa status.
- Enter details in the new window, such as the Iqama number, Sponsor ID, Passport number and Image code.
- Click on “View”
If your visa has been issued, you will see all the details, such as the date of issuance and expiry date. Else, an error message will appear.
If you have any queries regarding questions about coming back to Saudi Arabia after exit, or another other reentry questions, please contact us.
