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New Visa Policy
Lieutenant General Salem Al-Nawaf, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, is emphasizing strict enforcement of laws concerning violations of recently permitted visit visas. Visitors who exceed the allowed visit duration, typically one month, will be given an additional week to rectify the violation. If they fail to comply and pay fines, both the visitor and their sponsor will face deportation.
Ministry Decision
Regarding the Ministry’s decision to regularize the status of residency violators, 652 individuals submitted requests on the first day of the grace period to Residency Affairs Departments to adjust their status within the announced deadline, starting Sunday, March 17, and extending until June 17.
Among them, 258 expatriates left the country via the airport after authorities confirmed they were not wanted and had no outstanding financial fines to settle with the state. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Interior, along with relevant departments, has commenced receiving residency law violators seeking to rectify their status or depart the country during the grace period.
This collaborative effort involves multiple administrations, aiming to facilitate the regularization of residency status for violators by June 17, 2024. The Ministry has outlined terms for the grace period, allowing violators to amend their status after paying fines and following specified procedures. Departing individuals during this period may return under new procedures. However, failure to rectify status or leave within the grace period will result in legal penalties, deportation, and a ban on re-entry.
