Latest news with #SaudiGeneralDirectorateofPassports
Filipino Times
28-06-2025
- Filipino Times
Saudi Arabia grants visa holders 30-day grace period to exit the Kingdom
The Saudi General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has started a new initiative allowing all types of expired visit visas to be extended for final departure from the country. This move took effect on June 26, 2025, and gives visa holders 30 days to process their exit. Those affected must first settle any related fees and penalties before they can leave. After that, they can request the extension and finalize their departure procedures. This initiative is open to all individuals with expired visit visas, regardless of the visa's category or purpose. It provides a chance for those who overstayed to regularize their situation without facing legal complications. The extension can be requested online through the 'Tawasul' service on the Ministry of Interior's 'Absher' platform. This digital service allows users to process government-related services without having to visit offices. Jawazat urged all affected individuals to make use of this opportunity before the 30-day deadline expires. No extensions will be granted after the cutoff period. The agency reminded the public that this is a one-time initiative aimed at easing the departure process for those with expired visit visas.
Barnama
25-06-2025
- Barnama
Saudi Arabia Gears Up To Receive Umrah Performers For 1447 AH Season
RIYADH, June 25 (Bernama-SPA) -- The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has completed preparations at the international entry points to receive Umrah performers arriving for the 1447 AH Umrah season, ensuring smooth procedures from arrival to departure. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the directorate confirmed that all passport halls at air, land and sea ports have been reinforced with qualified personnel and modern technical equipment. It also urged Umrah performers to comply with regulations and instructions throughout their stay, from arrival to departure.
Gulf Insider
23-04-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Spells Out Health Rules For Hajj Workers
Authorities in the Saudi holy city of Mecca have announced steps for workers engaged in this year's Hajj pilgrimage season to obtain related health certificates and the validity duration of the mandatory document. The Mecca Municipality has directed those workers to apply for the seasonal health certificates for the Hajj online via the Balady platform using the link: The applicants are required to undergo obligatory medical tests at accredited labour testing centres, and pass a health education course. These courses cover three main areas, namely food safety, shaving, and public health. The seasonal health certificate expires on the 15th of the Islamic lunar month of Al Muharram, corresponding to July 10. The municipality has urged all such workers to complete the requirements on time to ensure their participation in the upcoming Hajj season. In mid-April, Saudi authorities started issuing online permits for residents, who will be engaged in the works linked to the Hajj season. The Saudi General Directorate of Passports said it has begun receiving applications from such workers to obtain entry permits to Mecca through the Ministry of Interior's electronic platform 'Absher' and the 'Muqeem' portal. The applicants do not need to visit the offices of the passport departments to get the permits. The directorate cited technical integration with a unified digital platform for issuing Hajj permits dubbed the 'Tasareeh platform'. Entry permits to Mecca are issued through the Muqeem portal to workers in establishments based in the city, holders of seasonal work visas, and those who have employment contracts with those establishments during the Hajj season. As of April 29, holders of all types of visas, except those holding a Hajj visa, will not be allowed to enter or remain in Mecca.
Gulf Insider
19-04-2025
- Gulf Insider
Saudis Crack Down On Violating Warehouses Ahead Of Hajj
Saudi authorities have shut down 95 unlicensed warehouses of equipment used for serving pilgrims during the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage due this year in June. The violating warehouses were detected during an inspection campaign launched by municipal authorities in the city of Mecca, home to Islam's holiest mosque. The campaign aims to ascertain the compliance of these facilities, providing tents and air conditioning units during the Hajj season, with regulations, a local official has said. 'We have launched a correctional campaign to monitor the warehouses and check their compliance with the health requirements,' spokesman for the Mecca Municipality, Osama Zaytouni, told Saudi television Al Ekhbariya. The campaign, targeting warehouses in Mecca and affiliated governorates, also aims to set up a database on them, he added. Violations detected in the shut warehouses included failure to have efficient safety systems, poor storage and decline in cleaning standards, Al Ekhbariya reported. Saudi Arabia is maximising preparations for the upcoming Hajj season amid iron-clad measures against violators. Earlier this week, authorities started issuing online permits for residents who will be engaged in the Hajj-related works in and around Mecca. The Saudi General Directorate of Passports said it is receiving applications from such workers to obtain entry permits to Mecca through the Ministry of Interior's electronic platform 'Absher' and the Muqeem portal. Entry permits to Mecca are issued through the Muqeem portal to workers in establishments based in the city, holders of seasonal work visas, and those who have employment contracts with those establishments during the Hajj season.
Gulf Insider
16-04-2025
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Starts Issuing Hajj Workers' Permits
Saudi Arabia has started issuing online permits for residents, who will be engaged in the works linked to the upcoming Hajj season as preparations are in full swing for the annual Islamic pilgrimage in the kingdom. The Saudi General Directorate of Passports said it has begun receiving applications from such workers to obtain entry permits to the holy city of Mecca through the Ministry of Interior's electronic platform 'Absher' and the 'Muqeem' portal. The applicants do not need to visit the offices of the passport departments to get the permits. The directorate cited technical integration with a unified digital platform for issuing Hajj permits dubbed the 'Tasareeh platform'. Entry permits to Mecca are issued through the Muqeem portal to workers in establishments based in the city, holders of seasonal work visas, and those who have employment contracts with those establishments during the Hajj season. As of April 29, holders of all types of visas, except for those holding a Hajj visa, will not be allowed to enter or remain in Mecca. Saudi Arabia has also set April 29 as the deadline for all foreign Umrah pilgrims to leave the country. Staying beyond this date is deemed an offence that makes the violator liable to legal penalties. The warning comes amid concerns about attempts by some foreign visitors to overstay their Umrah visas to illegally perform the Hajj rites due in early June in and around Mecca. Saudi authorities have repeatedly said that a Hajj visa is mandatory to perform the pilgrimage and that a visit visa does not qualify its holders to undertake the holy journey. Hajj is one of Islam's five obligatory duties. Muslims who are physically and financially able must perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. Around 1.8 million Muslims, including 1.6 million from abroad, performed last year's Hajj.
