RIYADH, July 15: Saudi Arabia has introduced a landmark immigration reform aimed at curbing visa overstays through the launch of a 30-day grace period for visitors with expired visit visas. Effective since June 27, 2025, the new regulation enables overstaying individuals to exit the Kingdom legally within 30 days without incurring penalties.

The grace period applies to all types of visit visas, including tourism, business, family visits, and Umrah permits. Travelers wishing to benefit from this facility must apply for an exit permit through the government’s digital Absher platform, which facilitates a streamlined and transparent process.

Applicants are required to settle any outstanding fines or fees before submitting their exit requests. Importantly, the grace period is strictly intended for final exit and does not allow visa extensions, changes in visa status, or re-entry during this window.

Authorities have emphasized that failure to exit within the grace period will result in severe penalties, including fines up to SAR 50,000 (approximately USD 13,000), imprisonment for up to six months, and subsequent deportation. Employers or sponsors who fail to report overstaying individuals’ departures face fines up to SAR 100,000.

The Absher platform plays a crucial role in enforcing the new measures by providing real-time alerts on visa expirations, processing exit requests, and enabling applicants to monitor the status of their submissions.

The reform reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modernizing immigration procedures while ensuring compliance with residency laws. Officials have urged all expatriates and visitors to adhere strictly to the new regulations to avoid legal consequences.