Jeddah: The Directorate General of Passports (Jawzat) has announced that it will voluntarily renew the validity of iqama, re-entry and visitor visas for workers in countries barred from entering Saudi Arabia following the Kovid crisis until March 31, 2022. Earlier, Saudi officials had extended the deadline for documents until January 31 by order of King Salman. This is now being extended for an additional two months.
This benefit is available to expatriates from countries facing travel restrictions and those currently out of the country. Saudi expatriates in these countries will be able to renew their expired Iqama, Exit Re-entry Visa and Visa for those who are currently waiting to come to Saudi Arabia on a Visa Visa and whose Visa Visa has expired.
However, those who do not return on leave on a re-entry visa after receiving at least one dose of the Kovid vaccine from Saudi Arabia will not receive this benefit. It is not clear whether Indian expatriates will be able to avail this benefit as there is currently no direct entry ban from India to Saudi Arabia. Currently, Saudi Arabia, along with Turkey, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Lebanon, are among the 14 African countries where the new ‘Omikron’ virus has been discovered.