Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Expatriates, who have received their entitlements and paid all their dues, including phone bills, will only be issued “final-exit” visas following a recent move taken by the Directorate-General of Passports (Jawazat).

Those who seek “final-exit” visas also need to ensure that there’s no vehicle registered in their names.

Jawazat has stressed that no “final-exit” visa will be issued if an expatriate owes others some financial entitlements or dues. The “final-exit” visa can only be issued when the expatriate applicant has fully settled all the financial dues owed to others. Furthermore, there should be no visa issued earlier that is still unused and is registered under the applicant's name.

Jazwazat said that the validity of the “final-exit” visa is 60 days from the date of its issuance and those who are issued “final-exit” visas must leave the Kingdom within the stated period irrespective of the validity of their identification papers. The “final-exit” visa cannot be extended further. No exit only visa can be issued to the person while he is outside the Kingdom.

Jazwazat also said that there is no fee for getting a “final-exit” visa. The visa can be canceled via the sponsor’s (kafeel’s) account on “Absher” or “Muqeem” apps, with the payment of SR1,000 fine in the case where the expatriate employee does not leave from the Kingdom.

However, in the case in which the expatriate leaves the country, then the “exit-only visa” cannot be canceled. Hence, it is necessary to get a new visa for the expatriate employee for bringing him back to the Kingdom.

To get a “final-exit” visa” issued, the applicant’s passport should have a validity of at least 60 days. If the passport has a validity of fewer than 60 days, then it should be renewed. The kafeel has no right to file a “huroob” report with the authorities after the issuance of an exit-only visa. Then it is necessary to cancel the exit-only visa so that the sponsor can report the worker as having absconded or what is known as filing a case of “huroob”.

The recent amendments in the initiative for “improving the contractual relations”, have facilitated matters for the worker and the employer, by making it possible for both the worker and employer to avail of the service for issuance of a “final-exit” visa.

A new service has been initiated giving the employer a grace period of 10 days to inquire on the worker’s request for issuance of the “final-exit” visa. In the case of no reply from the employer’s side, then the expatriate worker can issue a “final-exit” visa and its validity will be for 15 days from the date of issuance.

The Ministry of Interior explained that in case the expatriate worker leaves the country for good during the validity period of his contract, then he will be banned from returning to the Kingdom to work.