Saudi Arabia: Expats’ visas can be extended from abroad

Cairo: Saudi authorities have said that expatriates can extend their visas and renew their dependents’ residency permits while they are outside the kingdom.

The Saudi General Directorate of Passports said that it is possible to renew the residency permits of the expat dependents and domestic workers who are outside the kingdom, reported the Saudi news agency SPA.

Moreover, expatriates can extend their exit and return visas (single/multiple) while they are outside the kingdom.

The directorate added that beneficiaries can access the services through the Interior Ministry’s platform for electronic services, known as “Absher”, and the Muqeem portal after paying the stipulated fees.

Saudi Arabia is home to a large community of expatriate workers.

In recent years, the kingdom has introduced labour reforms to make its job market more attractive and competitive. The Saudi government has recently approved a range of substantial labour changes to safeguard contractual rights.

Accordingly, a notice for terminating an employment contract of non-specific duration is now set at 30 days if the notice comes from the worker, and 60 days if it comes from the employer.

The changes also obligate the employer to avoid actions that could undermine or weaken the principle of equal opportunities among workers.

Maternity leave has increased from 10 weeks to 12 weeks. Another amendment sets the maximum duration of trial employment at 180 days.

In 2020, Saudi Arabia introduced major labour reforms, drastically improving its sponsorship system. The reforms, which took effect the following year, allow for job mobility and regulate the issuance of exit and re-entry visas for expatriate workers without requiring employers’ approval.

Saudi Arabia has made it mandatory for employers to cover the return ticket costs for workers at the end of their contractual relationship.