Saudi Arabia doubles fees for exit/re-entry visa

Dhaka: The Saudi government approved an amendment to double the fees of exit/re-entry visas, and to renew iqama (residency permit) for expatriates who are outside the kingdom, as per local reports.

According to the new amendments, the fee of the exit/re-entry visa is SR 200 (USD 54) for a single travel of a maximum of two months, with an extra SR 100 (USD 27) charged for each additional month if the expatriate is inside the kingdom, reports added.

The fee doubles per each additional month if the expatriate is outside Saudi Arabia and the iqama is still valid, reports also mentioned.

For multiple travels of three months, the fee is now SR 500 (USD 133) with an extra SR 200 (USD 54) charged for each additional month if the expatriate is inside the kingdom.

The fee doubles for each additional month if the expatriate is outside the kingdom within the validity of the iqama.

An amendment to the iqama law, published in Saudi Arabia’s Official Gazette known as Umm Al Qura, stipulates that renewing the iqama of the expatriate’s dependents and the domestic workers, who are outside the kingdom can be done via the Interior Ministry’s electronic portal at a fee two times that charged if they are inside Saudi Arabia, noted the reports.

Saudi Arabia, a country of around 34.8 million people, hosts a large community of migrant workers including Bangladeshis.