Saudi Arabia’s travel regulations can be complicated, especially in relation to permits needed to move in and out of the county. For expatriates and Saudi citizens, the Exit/Re-Entry Permits in KSA allows for temporary exit and re-entry into the Kingdom. Whether it’s business travel, personal visits, or vacations, this travel permit must be obtained in advance for smooth travels.
In this blog, you will learn what an Exit Entry/Re-Entry Permit in KSA is, who requires the permit, the application process, and considerations to take note of. For the residents and for those planning to stay outside Saudi Arabia for an extended period, this blog highlights everything essential ensuring smooth travel.
So let’s get started!
What is Saudi Exit-Entry Permit?
Known also as an “Exit/Re-Entry Visa” the Exit Entry Permit is a travel document issued by the Saudi Ministry of Interior (MOI) via Absher, an online issuing platform. This particular permit enables foreign workers to temporarily leave and re-enter Saudi Arabia within a specified period. As is the case with an exit visa that allows one to leave Saudi Arabia permanently, the exit/re-entry permit in KSA is a travel document that is intended for short trips.
Who Requires an Exit-Entry Permit?
Foreign nationals on work visas referred to as Iqama are the only ones who require the Exit/Entry Permit. This encompasses:
- Expats working in Saud under their employer’s sponsorship.
- Employees on work visas.
- Holders of temporary residency (Iqama) who are looking to travel for a short duration.
How to Apply for a Saudi Exit/Re-Entry Visa?
Applicants applying for the Saudi Exit/Re-Entry Visa must meet a set of prerequisites and requirements before receiving the visa:
- Visa fee has to be paid.
- Traffic fines, if any, shall be settled by the individual, worker, or even the employer before the visa is processed.
- Applicant have to be in Saudi Arabia at the time of issuance of the visa.
- Passport of the applicant has to be valid not less than 60 days.
- It is important that the applicant’s Iqama remains up-to-date and active.
- Fingerprint capturing as an identification method is compulsory for those 15 years old and over.
Expatriates with Exit/Re-Entry permits in KSA are allowed by the Saudi government to re-enter the Kingdom before the expiration date on their visa. Furthermore, an individual can extend their visa while they are outside the country by paying through Absher or Muqeem.
Note: For the Exit/Re-Entry visa, expatriates need to have a valid passport for at least 90 days. For the Final Exit visa, a minimum passport validity of 60 days is required.
Application Process
An Expat and their Dependents can apply for Saudi Exit/Re-Entry Visa through Absher platform or the Muqeem portal.
Through Absher
For Employees of the Company:
Employees with Absher accounts have been provided with a simple process to follow in order to obtain an Exit/Re-Entry visa.
- First, log in into your respective Absher account.
- Select your account “My Services” from the menu.
- Select “Services.”
- “Passports” should be selected next.
- From “Visa Requests” click on “Create Visa Request.”
- “Exit Re-Entry Visa (Single)” should be selected as the type of request.
- Under the “Return Before” subsection, a maximum of 30 days need to be entered.
- You should now tick the acknowledgment box and click “Next.
- Finally, to complete the request, you will have to click “Confirm.”
When the request is submitted, one needs to wait for ten days. After this period, they will have five days to issue the visa before it needs to be paid for. It is essential to pay the required fee for the visa to be issued.
If the employer raises an objection, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will take ten days to analyze the application and reach a conclusion.
Regarding Dependents:
With regard to dependents, they can easily apply for the Exit/Re-Entry permits in KSA through Absher by doing the following:
- Signing in to your Absher account.
- Choose “Family Members” and press “Services.”
- Click “Next” after choosing “Visa Services.”
- Under the “More Details” tab choose “Dependent.”
- Click “OK” after agreeing to the Terms and Conditions.
- Select whether they wish to apply for Exiting “Single” or “Multiple” Re-Entry Visa.
- In the case you selected “Single” confirm the period of payment for the visa and click “Confirm” to get the visa.
- It is possible to print or download the visa which is made available under “Print” option.
Be rest assured that a holder of the visa must travel within three months of the date the visa is issued. Otherwise, failure to do so may result in a fine.
Via Muqeem
- Navigate to the official Muqeem portal.
- Sign in using the registered ID.
- Select “Electronic Exit Re-Entry Visa” from the dropdown that appears when you hover over “Electronic Transactions”.
- Click on the option “Issue Exit Re-Entry Visa”.
- Type the security code received at your registered mobile number.
- Select exit and return period after providing the Iqama number.
- Click “Issue Visa” after verifying the particulars provided.
- In case you wish to, you may click “Print” to get a hard copy of the visa.
Validity
- Single Exit/Re-entry Visa: This permit allows a single exit and re-entry within its validity period not exceeding thirty days.
- Multiple Exit/Re-entry Visa: This permit allows multiple exits and re-entries during its validity period.
Fees
The fee for Saudi Exit/Re Entry Visa, once issued, will not be refunded.
- For Single Exit/Re-Entry Visa:
200 SAR (approximately 53.32 USD), valid for 2 months. 100 SAR monthly for any additional months, maximum of 2, up to expiration of Iqama.
- For Multiple Exit/Re-Entry Visa:
500 SAR (approximately 133.29 USD), valid for 3 months. 200 SAR monthly for any additional months, maximum of 3, up to expiration of Iqama.
How to Verify Your Saudi Exit/Re-Entry Visa
The process of checking the Saudi Exit/Re-Entry visa status can easily be done online using the Absher or Muqeem portals:
Checking Via Absher:
Using Absher, you can perform the following steps to check the status of your visa.
- Log into your Absher account.
- Navigate to “Guaranteed Services.”
- Hit Inquiries then click on “Exit and Return Visa Status.”
- The details of your visa will then be shown to you.
Via Muqeem
If you do not have access to your Absher account, you can use the Muqeem website to check the status of your Exit/Re-Entry permits in KSA by following these steps:
- Go to the website.
- Type in your “Iqama Number” or “Visa Number.”
- Match the details by selecting one of the following options:
- Visa Number
- Passport Number
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Iqama Expiry Date
- Visa Expiry Date
- Once you are done, hit check to see the status of your Saudi Exit/Re-Entry visa.
For use with an immigration officer, it is important to save the visa status for future use, whether through print or a screenshot.
Latest Updates on Exit-Entry Permits
Saudi Arabia introduced reforms in 2021 which aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s foreign workers mobility system. The system now provides greater flexibility to expatriates with improved processes for exit/re-entry permits in KSA. Now, there is greater efficiency with digitized workflows. The changes further enhance the mobility to change between employers and, in some cases, enable travel without prior approval.
Conclusion
To summarize, the Exit-Entry/Re-Entry Permit is one of the most important documents for expatriates working in Saudi Arabia because it allows them to travel temporarily and return within a designated time frame. Utilizing platforms like Absher and Muqeem has certainly made the process easier and more efficient as permits can be tracked and applied for by the workers. Knowing the prerequisites, the steps to application, and the relevant payment will assist you in having an easy experience while leaving and re-entering the Kingdom.
If you know how to follow these guidelines, obtaining permits will be relatively simple. This is necessary whether you are on a short-term vacation or a long-term stay outside Saudi Arabia. Remember that your passport and Iqama are valid; keep an eye on changes regarding visa policies. With these pointers, you can concentrate on planning your trips while ensuring that re-entry and exit plans are dutifully prepared.
Wow, we have come to the end of the blog. Though that was long but definitely it is worth every second you spend going through it. We hope that this blog provided you with a comprehensive idea regarding exit/re-entry permits in KSA. If you require any clarification regarding any sections or have any further questions, doubts or feedback on this blog or need expert guidance on the topic discussed, feel free to connect with us today.
