Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has introduced a new policy that allows individuals with expired visit visas to extend their stay for final departure — a move aimed at regulating residency and simplifying the exit process for those who have overstayed their visas.
The new initiative came into effect on 1 Muharram 1447 AH (June 26, 2025). It grants a 30-day grace period to all types of visit visa holders whose visas have expired. The extension is strictly for the purpose of final departure and does not permit any further stay or employment in the Kingdom.
To make use of this policy, individuals must:
- Settle all applicable fines and administrative fees
- Submit their extension requests through the Ministry of Interior’s “Absher” platform, using the “Tawasul” service
Jawazat has made it clear that no additional extensions or exemptions will be provided after the grace period expires. Eligible individuals are strongly encouraged to act without delay.
This initiative follows a major enforcement drive earlier in May 2025, during which Saudi authorities arrested nearly 15,000 individuals suspected of violating residency, border security, and labour laws. The campaign, which ran from May 8 to 14, led to:
- 9,212 arrests for residency violations
- 3,502 for border security offences
- 1,873 for labour law breaches
The new extension policy reflects a broader strategy by Saudi authorities to tighten immigration enforcement while offering a structured exit route for violators.
