The government of Saudi Arabia has lifted the ban on the re-entry of foreign workers who previously violated visa conditions. The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) issued a fresh directive on Tuesday, permitting the entry of expatriates who failed to return before the expiry of their exit and reentry visa.
This decision brings significant relief to foreigners, and relevant departments at land, sea, and air ports have been instructed to implement the directive promptly.
The Jawazat’s move involves the removal of the existing three-year ban on foreign workers who left the Kingdom on an exit and reentry visa but did not return before the visa’s expiration. Initially imposed due to demands from the business community, the ban aimed to address concerns about financial losses incurred by employers for renewing residency permits, work permits, and return tickets.
The Jawazat emphasizes the conditions for obtaining an exit and re-entry visa, requiring workers to clear all outstanding traffic violation fines. It also stresses the absence of violations leading to the non-cancellation of a previously issued and unused visa.
Additionally, workers should not currently hold a valid visa, and their verification of being within the kingdom’s territories is essential. The passport must have a validity of 90 days or more, and the intended visa recipient’s fingerprint must be recorded.
This decision aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to ease visa restrictions and introduce new types of visas. As part of the Vision 2030 initiative, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman is focusing on travel and tourism to diversify the country’s revenue streams and reduce dependence on oil and natural resources.
