By Muskan Mustaqeem
The Saudi Cabinet recently approved an amendment that would double the cost of visa renewals for foreign nationals living outside the country.
According to the new amendment, residents must pay SR200 for an exit and return visa for a single exit lasting up to two months, SR100 for each additional month, if the resident is inside the Kingdom, and SR200 for each additional month if resident is outside the Kingdom.
Similarly, for multiple entry trips the charges for 3 months will be SR500 for 3 months, and SR200 for each additional month if the resident is within the country, and if the expats is outside the boundaries of the country, will have to pay increased charges for each additional months i.e. SR 400.
The Residence Law Amendment for Renewal of Residency Permits for Companions of Ex-pat Workers like wife, children, mother, father, brother, sister and domestic workers was also approved by the Cabinet. According to this new amendment and as per the electronic portal of the Ministry of Interior, the fee for residency renewal when staying outside the Saudi Arabia will be two-times i.e. SR 1300 what is collected when living inside the Saudi Arabia.
According to the report by Saudi Gazette, the Cabinet approved amendments to the residency and travel documents systems that allow citizens to issue a passport within 24 hours.
The Council of Ministers agreed to add a paragraph to Article 12 of the travel documents law that allows the issuance or renewal of a passport within 24 hours for a fee of SR500. The amendment stipulates that the Ministry of Interior will set the necessary mechanism and controls for implementing the new decision.
Like many other implemented taxes on expatriate in the Saudi Arabia, this new amendment in the residency renewal will definitely generate new revenues in an effort to balance their budget deficits due to fluctuation in the oil prices since 2014 onwards and the recent COVID19 crisis, but on the other hand, the increment in the cost of living in kingdom with the family, for many expat workers this will turn into a financial burden. This step may influence many ex-pats to reconsider living inside the kingdom with their families.