Saudi offers automatic extension of residency, visit visas for stranded expats

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has instructed authorities in the country to automatically extend the validity of all residency permits, as well as exit-re-entry and visit visas of expatriates from countries where entry to the kingdom is banned.

Accordingly, the General Directorate of Passports will extend the validity of these visas until June 2 and do so at zero charge to the visa holders, confirmed state-run Saudi Press Agency.

The country’s immigration authority too confirmed that the extension will take place, in collaboration with the National Information Center.

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 21 / 10 / 1442هـ. pic.twitter.com/bL8KbFRRmh

— الجوازات السعودية (@AljawazatKSA) May 24, 2021

Saudi Arabia resumed international travel from Monday, May 17, although entry is banned from 13 countries, which include Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Somalia, Democratic Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Belarus, and India.

Read: Saudi resumes international travel with ban on 13 countries including India, Lebanon

Travellers from these countries are not allowed entry to the kingdom even if they visit one of the banned nations indirectly through a third country, without prior permission from Saudi authorities.

On Monday, Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued detailed guidelines for institutional quarantine procedures for those who are non-Saudi citizens, not immunized and who are entering from red-listed countries.

All non-Saudi travellers, excluding residents and GCC Citizens, must have medical insurance that covers the costs of Covid-19 treatment in outpatient clinics, emergencies and hospitals, including the institutional quarantine for a period of 14 days.

The guide issues details regarding the insurance policy, and reiterates the protocols that will be followed at the airports upon arrival, and the use of the Tawakkalna app.

The kingdom has previously announced that that non-citizens who have not received the Covid-19 vaccine and arrive in Saudi Arabia are subject to seven days of mandatory paid institutional quarantine. The cost of the quarantine is included in the ticket prices, with airlines responsible for arranging the accommodation.

Read: Saudi Arabia introduces 7-day paid institutional quarantine for unvaccinated arrivals