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Emergency Reentry visa rules in Saudi Arabia

by Expatguru - 11/02/2011

"This article describes the Re-entry visa rules in Saudi Arabia during emergencies."

Unlike other countries, Saudi Arabia has certain unique visa rules and regulations. The most important one which expatriates need to know is the exit / re-entry visa. Usually one requires a visa to enter another country. In Saudi Arabia, one needs a visa to get into the kingdom as well as to leave the country, the latter known as "exit visa". Not only that, if you need to return after a few days or months, you need to have what is known as an “exit / re-entry visa”.

I have already covered in an earlier article about the provisions of exit / re-entry visa. As a recap, I would like to advice all potential expatriates on the need to have a multiple exit/reentry visa. What this means is that you need not obtain a reentry visa each time you leave, for a maximum of six months. Now what do you do in case of an emergency and you do not have a multiple reentry visa? This article covers that scenario.


Please note that Thursdays and Fridays are Government holidays in the kingdom. Also, the passport offices are closed for rather long stretches of time twice a year - 2 weeks for Eid Al-Fitr and 2 weeks for Eid Al-Adha. If you do not have a multiple visa and you are caught in an emergency situation on such days where you have to necessarily leave the kingdom immediately, there is a special provision called emergency exit / re-entry visa. An emergency reentry visa is issued only on extreme emergencies.

There is an officer of the Saudi Government's Passport Department stationed 24 hours in all the 3 international airports of the kingdom. His job is to issue such emergency visas. However, there is a catch. This visa is issued only for 15 days. This means that you have to re-enter the kingdom with 15 days from the date of departure, otherwise your visa would be cancelled. Also, for issuing such an emergency visa, your sponsor or the Government Relations Officer of your company must personally come to the airport with you and sign a declaration form, without which this visa would not be issued.

Usually, every company in Saudi Arabia has a liaison officer called 'Government Relations Officer'. His job is to interact with all governmental work concerning the employees in his company. Make sure that you have his phone number with you all the time. In case this man is on leave or on vacation, then ensure that you have his deputy's number.

Of course, to prevent such inconvenient and awkward situations the best way is to obtain a multiple exit/reentry visa for the whole family. It is slightly more expensive than the regular exit/reentry visa but it is still worth the money, to have a smooth exit in case of emergencies.

Expatguru

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