Saudi Arabia: No refunds for cancelled exit and re-entry visas

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has outlined the conditions for canceling exit and re-entry visas, confirming that fees paid for these visas are non-refundable even if the visa is canceled.

This clarification comes as thousands of expatriates prepare for summer travel and seek clarity on visa procedures. The announcement came in response to a public inquiry this week from a resident who asked whether they could reclaim visa fees if their exit and re-entry permit was canceled.

In a statement, the Passports Department said, “If the exit and re-entry visa is canceled, the fees are non-refundable.”

Under current regulations, the fee for a single exit and re-entry visa is 200 Saudi riyals, valid for up to two months, with an additional SAR 100 for each extra month within the validity of the resident’s permit (iqama).

 For multiple exit and re-entry visas, the fee is 500 riyals for up to three months, and 200 riyals for each additional month.

For residents who are already outside Saudi Arabia and need to extend their visas, the extension fees are doubled 200 riyals for a single exit and re-entry visa extension (valid for one month) and 400 riyals for a multiple visa extension.

Jawazat emphasized that the entire processwhether canceling or extending visas, can be managed through the Absher digital platform. To cancel an exit and re-entry visa, users must log in to Absher, select “Services for Sponsors,” choose the relevant individual, and confirm the cancellation request. However, even after cancellation, the initial fees remain non-refundable.

For those seeking to extend visas while outside the Kingdom, a frequent scenario for domestic workers and dependents Jawazat explained that renewals can be processed online.

Residents can access the Absher platform, select “Worker Services” or “Family Member Services,” and follow prompts to renew exit and re-entry visas for themselves or those under their sponsorship.

Employers or sponsors can also use the Absher Business platform to extend visas for professional workers outside the Kingdom by accessing “My Business Services” and selecting “Visas.”

 Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE