Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) said that the expatriate who left Saudi Arabia with the exit and re-entry visa and did not return within the specific period, would be banned from entering the Kingdom for 3 years.

The Jawazat said that the employer must issue a new visa if the expatriate did not return within the period specified in the visa.

The phrase “exited and did not return” will be recorded for any expatriate, who had issued an exit and re-entry visa, automatically after two months from the visa's expiry date.

The Jawazat indicated that it is not required to visit the Passport Department, as it was previously, to register the expatriate that he left and did not return.

The period of entry ban is calculated from the date of expiry of the visa, and is based on the Hijri calendar.

The Jawazat stressed that the decision to prevent arrivals from entering the Kingdom does not include dependents and those accompanying them.

The Jawazat responded with regard to the departure of the dependents and escorts of the expatriate, such as sons or daughters and about their non-return, and their continued appearance on the Absher platform for guardians, it said that they will be canceled and dropped from the list of dependents on the platform immediately after the end of the visa through the “Tawasul” service via the Absher platform.