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Saudi Arabia visitor visa expired? Riyadh announces grace period of 30 days. Here's all you need to know

Saudi Arabia visitor visa expired? Riyadh announces grace period of 30 days. Here's all you need to know

Mint6 days ago
Saudi Arabia authorities have announced a grace period for people with visitor visas, granting them an additional 30 days to leave the country.
The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) in a statement declared that all visitors in Saudi Arabia, who stayed beyond their visa validity, will get a 30-day window to leave the country, from Saturday, July 26.
All categories of visitor visas are covered under the 30-day grace period, and includes: Family visit visa holders
Business visit visa holders
Multiple-entry or single-entry visit visas
The grace period begins July 26, 2025 and is valid for only a period of 30 days.
The extension for the Saudi Arabia visitor visa is conditional on the payment of any outstanding fines and fees in line with Saudi regulations, reported Gulf News.
In a statement, the General Directorate of Passports mentioned that eligible individuals can request departure through the 'Tawasul' service on the Ministry of Interior's digital 'Absher' platform.
Visitors in Saudi Arabia have been urged to make use of the extended window to arrange their departure within the specified timeframe and avoid further penalties, reported Gulf News, citing officials.
The introduction of the grace period for visitor visas is part of Saudi Arabia's broader effort to regulate residency and ensure smoother departure processes for visitors who remain in the kingdom beyond their visa validity, as per reports.
The initiative, first introduced in June, aims to streamline exit procedures and promote compliance with the kingdom's residency and immigration rules. Under the policy, which came into effect on June 26, overstayers were granted a 30-day grace period to settle fines and administrative fees before leaving the country, regardless of the type or classification of their visa.
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