Overstay Penalties & Voluntary Departure
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Saudi royal decrees, regulations, and ministerial decisions.
Saudi National Law
What is this right?
Staying in Saudi Arabia beyond your visa or Iqama validity carries serious penalties:
- First offence: Fine of SAR 10,000, deportation, and a re-entry ban.
- Second offence: Fine of SAR 25,000, up to 1 month in prison, and deportation with a longer re-entry ban.
- Third offence: Fine of SAR 50,000, up to 6 months in prison, and permanent deportation.
- Voluntary departure campaigns: The government periodically offers amnesty programmes allowing overstayers to leave without fines or re-entry bans. These campaigns have specific windows.
- Employer liability: Employers who harbour workers with expired documents face fines of up to SAR 100,000 per worker.
When does it apply?
- Your visa or Iqama has expired and you are still in Saudi Arabia.
- You want to regularize your status or leave the country voluntarily.
- A voluntary departure campaign is currently active.
What should you do?
- Check if an amnesty campaign is active — the Jawazat (passport authority) announces these through official media.
- If a campaign is active, go to the nearest Jawazat office to regularize your status or arrange departure.
- Contact your embassy for emergency travel documents if your passport has expired.
- If you overstayed due to employer fault (e.g., they did not renew your Iqama), file a complaint with MHRSD before departing.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not hide or avoid authorities — the penalties escalate with each offence, and you risk arrest.
- Do not try to leave the country with an expired document without first visiting Jawazat — you may be detained at the airport.
- Do not miss an amnesty window — these campaigns are temporary and may not be repeated.
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