Saudi Arabia’s Jawazat, also known as the General Directorate of Passports, has recently announced new rules pertaining to the punishments for overstaying visas. A foreign national overstaying any type of visa will be fined up to 50,000 SAR, incarcerated for up to six months and subsequently deported. Anyone who aided in obtaining the visa, including employers and individuals, will also be subject to the same punishments. Foreign nationals whose countries belong to the Gulf Cooperation Council are exempt from these rules.
The penalties are as follows:
- First offense: 15,000 SAR fine
- Second offense: 25,000 SAR fine and three-month imprisonment
- Third offense: 50,000 SAR, six-month imprisonment and deportation
Foreign nationals found guilty of a third offense will suffer a five-year ban on re-entry following their deportation. Immigration authorities have the discretion to reject visas and enforce a lifetime ban on re-entry even after a first offense.
Please note that this is general information only and not intended as advice on a specific matter. Please feel free to contact Fakhoury Global Immigration directly with questions exclusive to your situation. This news alert may have been prepared using information from Peregrine Immigration Management, which is licensed to Fakhoury Global Immigration.