Saudi Arabia Clarifies Final Exit Visa Rules for Deceased Residents and Expired Iqamas

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has clarified important rules governing final exit visas, including procedures for families of deceased residents and requirements for expatriates whose Iqama has expired.

The clarification was issued in response to questions from residents and provides guidance on how families and workers should handle their residency and departure procedures.

Dependents of deceased residents must leave Saudi Arabia

Jawazat addressed a case involving a resident who had died in Saudi Arabia while his wife and children remained in the Kingdom.

According to the clarification, when a resident dies, dependents registered under the deceased resident’s file are required to leave Saudi Arabia in accordance with the applicable regulations.

The procedure applies even when the dependents have valid Iqamas. Families should ensure that the required documentation, including the death certificate and relevant permissions concerning the deceased resident, is completed before making departure arrangements.

Expired Iqama must be renewed before final exit

Jawazat also clarified an important requirement for expatriates whose residency permits have expired.

A final exit visa cannot be issued if the resident’s Iqama is expired. The Iqama must first be renewed before the final exit visa can be issued.

This requirement is separate from the validity period of a final exit visa itself. Recent guidance also confirms that a final exit visa is generally valid for 60 days from its issuance, and failing to leave within that period can result in a SAR 1,000 penalty.

Final exit visa can be issued electronically

Jawazat reminded employers that final exit visas for resident workers can be processed electronically through the Absher Business platform.

The process involves:

1.    Logging into Absher Business.
2.    Selecting My Business Services.
3.    Choosing Visa Services.
4.    Following the instructions to complete the final exit visa application.

What expatriates should know

The latest clarification highlights two important points for expatriates and their families:

•    Dependents registered under the file of a deceased resident must complete their departure procedures according to Saudi regulations.
•    An expatriate must have a valid Iqama before a final exit visa can be issued.

Employers and residents are therefore advised to monitor residency and visa validity dates carefully to avoid delays, penalties or complications with departure procedures.

The clarification is part of Jawazat’s ongoing efforts to provide clearer guidance on Saudi Arabia’s residency and visa regulations for expatriates