Expatriates overstaying their visit, Haj and Umrah visas will be fined SR1,000 for each year of overstaying, according to Col. Hussein Yahya Al-Harithy, director of the Department for Expatriates’ Affairs at the Passport Department in the Makkah region.
He warned Saudis and expatriates against providing employment, accommodation and transport to overstayers, saying they would get six-month jail and a SR10,000 fine. “We have already given two months grace period for overstayers to clear their papers and leave the Kingdom,” Harithy said.
“The majority of people approaching my department are expatriate families who have been staying in the Kingdom illegally.”
“The Saudi rules and regulations do not allow those who have come on visit visa to stay in the country after the expiry of their visa,” the department said.
There are nearly eight million foreigners in the Kingdom, which has a total population of 27.6 million. Overstayers, especially those who come for Haj and Umrah, are one of the main problems faced by the Kingdom’s security agencies.
The Passport Department said present regulations do not allow the conversion of Umrah or Haj visas into work visas.