Saudi Arabia extends validity of expat residency permits, visas from countries on ban list

Riyadh Passports Office headquarters

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) began to extend the validity of residency permits, visit visas as well as exit and re-entry visas for expatriates outside the Kingdom for free until Jan. 31, 2022.  

The move came in line with the directives of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, whereby the Minister of Finance issued the extension, as part of the government efforts to deal with the effects and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.  

The extension will be carried out automatically in cooperation with the National Information Center without the need to visit the passport department.  

The validity of residency permits, as well as exit and re-entry visas will be for expatriates in the countries facing travel ban. The extension will not apply to the expatriates who are fully vaccinated in the Kingdom before their departure. 

Moreover, visit visas for visitors in the countries on the ban list due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended until Jan. 31, 2022.