Saudi Arabia has well maintained immigration traveling controls on expatriates residing in the Kingdom on an Iqama. Unlike the short-term visitors, foreign nationals who are employed in Saudi Arabia cannot freely leave and re-enter the country without an Exit Re-Entry Visa that is approved through official government platforms. Whether you are going on a vacation, business trip or family visit, procuring this permit before travel is mandatory.
This guide describes what an Exit Re-Entry visa in Saudi Arabia entails, who is eligible to obtain it, the terms and conditions of the eligibility, how to apply through Absher or Muqeem, the rules of its validity, costs, the methods or procedures of its verification, and latest regulations regarding expatriate mobility.
The article is prepared and reviewed by the specialists experienced in Saudi immigration compliance, employment-linked residency process, and digital visa issuance processes through the platforms like Absher, QIWA, and Muqeem. The insights are based on practical management of Exit/Re-Entry permit applications of expatriates and sponsoring employers based in Saudi Arabia.
What is Saudi Exit-Re-Entry Visa?
An Exit Re-Entry Visa is a temporary travel authorization that the Saudi Ministry of Interior provides through digital government portals like Absher and Muqeem. Expatriates with a valid Iqama are enabled to leave and return to Saudi Arabia within a specified period through this visa without affecting their residency status associated with their jobs.
Unlike a Final Exit Visa, which permanently cancels the residency, the Re-Entry Visa is designed for temporary international travel while maintaining legal employment and arrangement of sponsorship arrangements within the Kingdom.
Who needs an Exit-Re-Entry Visa?
The Exit Re-Entry permits are required of foreign nationals, who resides in Saudi Arabia and are sponsored by their employers. This includes:
- Expatriates working under a valid Iqama.
- Workers holding Saudi employment visas.
- Residents planning temporary trips abroad.
- Dependents like spouses and children who are being sponsored.
As in majority of the cases, employer and employee has responsibility that the visa conditions are met before issuance.
Eligibility and Requirements of Exit-Re-Entry Visa
Applicants must meet certain requirements for applying:
- Active and valid Iqama
- Valid passport (not less than 90 days)
- Payment of visa issuance fee
- Settlement of any pending traffic violations
- The applicant should be physically present in Saudi Arabia
- Biometric registration of persons above 15 years of age
Failure to meet these requirements could lead to delays in issuing the visa or issuance rejections by the system. Based on Analytix’s experience in providing services to expatriates, pending traffic fines and the nearing expiry of Iqama are among the most prevalent causes that applications remains pending.
Application Process of Exit-Re-Entry Visa.
An expatriate employee or sponsoring employer can make applications of the Exit Re-Entry Visa through the Absher platform or the Muqeem portal.
Apply through Absher: https://www.absher.sa/
Get to know more about Muqeem registration here: https://analytix.sa/what-is-the-muqeem-portal-and-how-to-register-on-it/
In practice, applications which are initiated by the employer are more common in case of company-sponsored employees whereas, in practice, dependent visas might be issued when an application is directly initiated in the family sponsorship accounts.
Application Through Absher
Applications can be submitted by employees registered on Absher by:
- Logging into Absher
- Selecting “My Services”
- Clicking “Services”
- Choosing “Passports”
- Selecting “Visa Requests”
- Creating Exit Re-Entry Visa request
- Choosing Single or Multiple visa.
- Entering return duration
- Confirming request
In case of any objection raised by an employer via the system, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development may review the request before approval. This may take up to ten working days depending on the case.
Application for Dependents
Dependent Exit Re-Entry Visas can be applied at Absher by the sponsors by:
- Selecting “Family Members”
- Accessing Visa Services
- Choosing dependent name
- Choice of Single or Multiple visa.
- Confirming duration
- Issuing and printing visa
Dependents should be within a period of three months once the visa is issued. If not, this may result in financial fines or cancellation.
Application Through Muqeem
Candidates who are not registered on Absher can use the Muqeem platform:
- Steps include:
- Logging into Muqeem
- Choosing Electronic Transactions
- Choosing Exit Re-Entry Visa
- Entering Iqama number
- Verifying the exit and return duration.
- Issuing visa
In real-life situation, Muqeem is usually used by companies in charge of handling bulk travel documentation of employees.
Validity of Saudi Exit Re-Entry Visa
- Single Exit/Re-Entry Visa: Allows one departure and re-entry within the period of validity.
- Multiple Exit/Re-Entry Visa: Permits multiple departure and entry in period of validity.
Choosing between these options depends on the frequency of your travel.
Considering the example of an employee who has to visit a foreign countries several times a year to undergo overseas training, he or she can apply to obtain a multiple visa in order to avoid delays due to re-application.
Exit-Re-Entry Visa Fees
Single Exit/Re-Entry Visa:
200 SAR valid for 2 months
100 SAR for each additional month
Multiple Exit/Re-Entry Visa:
500 SAR valid for 3 months
200 SAR for each additional month
PS: Fees are non-refundable once the visa is issued.
How to Check Exit-Re-Entry Visa Status.
The verification may be done online.
Via Absher:
- Log into account
- Select Inquiries
- Click Exit and Return Visa Status
Via Muqeem:
- Enter Iqama or Visa Number
- Match personal details
- View visa validity
It is advisable to save a digital or printed copy of the immigration verification during travel.
Recent developments on Exit-Entry Permits
In 2021, Saudi Arabia launched labor mobility reforms to enhance the flexibility of expatriate movement. Under certain employment conditions, now expatriates can travel or switch jobs without prior permission from their sponsors using QIWA-enable contract frameworks.
Nevertheless, its eligibility is based on the conditions of employment contracts registered within the labor systems of the Saudi Ministry.
Official References
The issuance of Exit-Re-Entry Visas is controlled by the official Saudi platforms such as:
- Ministry of Interior
- Absher
- Muqeem
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD)
- QIWA
These platforms help the applicants to ensure they confirm up-to-date eligibility and permit validity regulations prior to traveling.
Why Trust Analytix Saudi Arabia?
Analytix has supported companies and expatriates across Saudi Arabia with immigration documentation, visa issuance workflows, and residency-based compliance procedures in accordance with digital systems that are approved by the Ministry.
Conclusion
Exit Re-Entry Visa is still among the most relevant travel authorization for expatriates living in Saudi Arabia. Platforms like Absher and Muqeem have made process of applying and following up of application much easier, and the employees and employers can now manage international travel permissions online.
Having proper awareness of the eligibility criteria, rules of validity, fees, and verification procedure can prevent the inconvenience linked to the travel and legal penalties.
Although the recent labor reforms have improved the expatriate mobility in some cases, Exit Re-Entry permits are still mandatory for temporary international travel associated with the employment-based residency.
Since the immigration processes and permit regulations might be revised periodically, it is recommended that the applicants confirm updated rules by using official governmental websites before making the travel requests.
Read further: https://analytix.sa/business-setup-in-saudi-arabia/
