COVID-19: Residency permit, exit, return visa extensions

IMPACT – HIGH

Saudi officials have approved extensions of residence permits, visitor’s visas and exit and re-entry visas.

Key Points:

• Expired residence permits and exit and re-entry visas will be extended for three months for foreign nationals who are currently outside of the country.
• Expired residence permits and visitors visas will be extended for three months for foreign nationals who are currently in Saudi Arabia, provided their permits expired during Saudi Arabia’s suspension of international travel because of COVID-19.
• For foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia, exit and re-entry visas that were not used and expired during the COVID-19 lockdown will be extended three months.
• Exit and re-entry visas will be extended three months for foreign nationals outside the country who were unable to travel to Saudi Arabia because of COVID-19 entry restrictions.

Analysis & Comments: The extensions are good news because they provide relief to individuals who were prevented from entering or exiting Saudi Arabia because of pandemic-related restrictions. Extensions will be provided automatically and free of charge. The exact expiration dates of permits covered by the extension are not yet known. Deloitte will provide more information as it becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries/territories.

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