Saudi Arabia: Final exit visa linked to bill payment

Cairo: The issuance of a final exit visa for an expatriate in Saudi Arabia is linked to the payment of due bills, including that of the mobile phone, Saudi authorities have said.

The Saudi General Directorate of Passports added that all financial dues of the expatriate must be fully paid in order to issue a final exit visa, which also requires that there is no car registered in his/her name.

The expatriate for whom such a visa is required must not have previously got an unused visa. Validity of the final exit visa is 60 days from the date of issuance, and during that period, departure from the kingdom becomes mandatory.

Such a visa cannot be issued for expatriates while they are outside the kingdom.

The directorate also pointed out that no fees are required for issuing the final exit visa while the application for this visa can be cancelled via the app “Absher” or “Moqeem” (a resident) after paying the cancellation fee of SR100 in case departure does not take place.

Should the expatriate leave the kingdom on the basis of the final exit visa, he/she will need a new visa to be able to return, according to the directorate.

The expat’s passport must be valid for at least 60 days for the issuance of the final exit visa.

Moreover, the sponsor has no right to lodge a complaint with authorities accusing the foreign employee of escape after a final exit visa is issued. The visa needs to be first cancelled before such a complaint is filed.