If you’re an expatriate living and working in Saudi Arabia, the exit re-entry visa is one of the most important travel documents you’ll deal with. Whether you’re heading home for a family visit, going on vacation, or traveling for any personal reason, you need this visa before you can leave the Kingdom and come back.
Without it, you risk losing your residency status, facing fines, or being unable to return. So let’s break down everything you need to know — the types, fees, requirements, how to apply, and all the important rules.
What Is an Exit Re-Entry Visa?
An exit re-entry visa is an official permit issued by the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) that allows foreign residents in Saudi Arabia to leave the country temporarily and return within a specific period — all without canceling their Iqama (residency permit).
Think of it as your travel pass. It protects your residency status while you’re abroad and ensures you can come back to your job, your family, and your life in Saudi Arabia without complications.
This visa is different from a final exit visa, which permanently ends your residency in the Kingdom. The exit re-entry visa is strictly for temporary travel.
Types of Exit Re-Entry Visa
There are two types of exit re-entry visas in Saudi Arabia:
1. Single Exit Re-Entry Visa
This allows you to leave Saudi Arabia once and return once during its validity period. It’s ideal if you’re planning a single trip — say, going home for a holiday and coming back.
The maximum validity for a self-issued single exit re-entry visa is 30 days.
2. Multiple Exit Re-Entry Visa
This allows you to leave and re-enter Saudi Arabia multiple times within its validity period. If you travel frequently — for business, family reasons, or any other purpose — the multiple exit re-entry visa is the more practical option.
According to Jawazat, a multiple exit re-entry visa is valid for three months. If the visa duration is fixed at 60, 90, or 120 days, the validity starts from the date the traveler departs. However, if the traveler returns early, the duration is calculated from the date of issuance.
Exit Re-Entry Visa Requirements
Before you apply, make sure you meet all of the following conditions. Missing even one requirement can delay or block your visa issuance:
Passport validity: Your passport must have a validity of at least 90 days at the time of visa issuance.
Valid Iqama: Your residency permit (Iqama) must be valid. If your Iqama is expired or close to expiry, you’ll need to renew it first.
No outstanding traffic violations: All traffic fines must be fully paid and cleared before the visa can be issued. This applies to the worker, the employer, or the individual applying.
Physical presence in Saudi Arabia: The person receiving the visa must be physically present inside the Kingdom at the time of issuance.
Fingerprint registration: Fingerprint registration is required for all males and females aged 15 years and older.
No existing valid visa: You should not have a previously issued and unused exit re-entry visa active on your record.
Exit Re-Entry Visa Fees
Here is the current fee structure for exit re-entry visas in Saudi Arabia, as clarified by the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat):
Single Exit Re-Entry Visa Fees
- SAR 200 for a maximum period of 2 months
- An additional SAR 100 for each extra month beyond the first 2 months, up to the Iqama expiry date
Note: For fee calculation purposes, one month is counted as 30 days. A period of 31 to 60 days counts as 2 months.
Multiple Exit Re-Entry Visa Fees
- SAR 500 for a validity period of up to 3 months
- An additional SAR 200 for each extra month beyond the initial 3 months
Extension Fees (From Outside Saudi Arabia)
If you need to extend your exit re-entry visa while you are outside the Kingdom, the fees are as follows (updated as of January 2025):
- SAR 200 per month for a single exit re-entry visa extension
- SAR 400 per month for a multiple exit re-entry visa extension
Previously, the renewal fee from outside the Kingdom was SAR 100 per month for single visas, but this was doubled to SAR 200 per month. The extension can be processed through Absher or Muqeem.
Important: All fees must be paid through the SADAD government payment system available at Saudi banks before the visa application or extension is approved.
Are Visa Fees Refundable?
No. Jawazat has clearly confirmed that exit re-entry visa fees are non-refundable once issued. So make sure your travel plans are confirmed before you pay. There are no exceptions to this rule.
How to Apply for an Exit Re-Entry Visa
Exit re-entry visas in Saudi Arabia are processed digitally through the Absher platform or the Muqeem portal. Here’s how it works based on who is applying:
For Employees (Self-Service via Absher)
Absher allows workers to initiate an exit re-entry visa request themselves, without needing the employer to do it. However, the process involves a waiting period and specific conditions. Here’s how it works:
- Submit Request: Log in to your Absher account at absher.sa, go to “My Services” → “Passports”, and submit a visa request for Exit Re-Entry Visa.
- Wait for 10 days: After submitting your request, you must wait for a 10-day period. During this time, your employer (business owner) may raise an objection. If your employer objects, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) will review the objection and make a decision within the 10-day period (calculated from the visa request submission date, not the objection date).
- Issue the visa within 5 days: After the 10-day waiting period is completed, you will have a 5-day window to issue the visa. You must pay the visa fees during this window. If you don’t issue the visa within these 5 days, the request will expire.
You can track the status of your request at any time through the same service on Absher. Service Conditions (as stated on Absher):
- The business owner and the worker must not be registered with any of the following statuses: Dead, Absconding, or has an Istiqdam (recruitment) violation
- All traffic violations against the worker must be paid
- The worker must not have an existing valid visa
- The worker must be physically present inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the time of creating the visa request
- The worker must have a valid Iqama and passport
Special Conditions for Self-Service Exit Re-Entry Visa:
- The Iqama validity must not be less than 3 months in addition to the visa duration. For example, if you request a 30-day visa, your Iqama should have at least 4 months of remaining validity.
- The visa duration is determined using the “Return Before” option by inserting the duration in days. The maximum duration is 30 days.
- Visa fees must be paid before the visa is issued
- You must agree to the stipulations of the service
For Dependents (Family Members)
- Log in to your Absher account
- Go to “Family Members” and select “Visa Services”
- Choose the dependent for whom you want to issue the visa
- Click “Issue Visa” and agree to the terms
- Select whether you want a Single or Multiple exit re-entry visa
- Enter the required duration and pay the fee
- Click “Confirm” to issue the visa
- You can print or download the visa for use at immigration
For Employers (via Absher Business or Muqeem)
Employers can issue exit re-entry visas for their workers through the Absher Business platform or the Muqeem portal. The steps are similar — log in, select the worker, choose the visa type, pay the fee, and confirm.
How to Check Your Exit Re-Entry Visa Status
You can check your visa status through two platforms:
Via Absher
- Log in to the Absher platform
- Go to “Sponsored Services”
- Select “Inquiries” → “Exit and Re-Entry Visa Status”
- Enter your Iqama number or passport number along with other required details
- Your visa details, including issue date and expiration date, will be displayed
Via Muqeem
- Visit the Muqeem Visa Validity portal at vv.muqeem.sa
- Log in with your user credentials or create a new account.
- Enter the verification code received on your registered email.
- Select “Exit Re-Entry Visa” and “Iqama Number”
- Enter your Iqama number and any one of your Name, Passport Number, Visa Number or Date of Birth.
- Click “Check” to view visa details and validity
It’s a good idea to take a screenshot or printout of your visa status before traveling, especially when departing from outside Saudi Arabia.
Extending the Exit Re-Entry Visa from Outside Saudi Arabia
If you’re already outside the Kingdom and your visa is about to expire, your sponsor or employer can extend it electronically through Absher or Muqeem. Here’s how:
- For domestic workers: The sponsor logs into Absher → selects “Worker Services” → “Visas” → extends the visa
- For family dependents: The sponsor logs into Absher → selects “Family Member Services” → follows the renewal prompts
- For professional workers: The employer uses Absher Business → “My Business Services” → “Visas” to extend
To extend a visa from outside the Kingdom, the Iqama must have at least 90 days of remaining validity.
If the visa has been expired for more than 180 days, you may need to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) through the nearest Saudi embassy for further assistance.
Important Rules You Should Know
Here are some essential rules about exit re-entry visas that every expat should keep in mind:
Return before the expiry date: The “return before” date on your visa is a hard deadline. You must re-enter Saudi Arabia before this date. The return date can be set up to seven days before your Iqama expires.
Gregorian calendar is used: All visa dates follow the Gregorian calendar, not the Hijri calendar.
GCC travel note: If you’re traveling to a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country, your Iqama must be valid for at least 3 more months.
Visa cancellation: Exit re-entry visas can be canceled through Absher. However, remember that fees are non-refundable once the visa has been issued.
Multiple entry visa extensions: A multiple-entry exit re-entry visa can be extended only once. After that, the person must leave before the validity expires.
What Happens If Your Exit Re-Entry Visa Expires?
If your visa expires before you return to Saudi Arabia, here’s what you should know:
The 3-year re-entry ban has been lifted: In January 2024, Jawazat officially lifted the previous three-year ban that was imposed on expatriates who failed to return before their exit re-entry visa expired. This was confirmed by the General Directorate of Passports and reported by Saudi Gazette, Deloitte, and Fragomen.
This means that if your visa expires while you’re abroad, you are no longer automatically banned from Saudi Arabia for three years. However, your employer will still need to issue a new work visa for you to return.
Penalty for expired visa before departure: If your exit re-entry visa expires while you are still inside Saudi Arabia (meaning you didn’t travel), you will be required to pay a fine of SAR 1,000 to cancel the visa. Cancellation is only allowed if you hold a valid Iqama.
Passport Validity Requirements
Passport validity is a key factor when dealing with exit re-entry visas. Here’s a summary:
- Exit Re-Entry Visa issuance: Passport must be valid for at least 90 days
- Visa extension from outside KSA: Iqama must have at least 90 days of remaining validity (Here is how to check Iqama Validity)
If your passport is nearing expiry, renew it before applying for any visa service. An expired or soon-to-expire passport is one of the most common reasons for visa application rejections.
Final Thoughts
The exit re-entry visa is a straightforward process once you understand the rules, but it requires attention to detail. Make sure your Iqama and passport are valid, your fines are paid, and your travel dates are confirmed before you apply.
Always double-check your visa details on Absher or Muqeem before traveling, and keep a copy of your visa status handy. If you’re extending from outside the Kingdom, coordinate with your employer or sponsor well before the visa expiry date.