Earlier this month, King Salman ordered an extension of the validity of expired exit and re-entry visas for migrant workers abroad for another three months free of charge.
The move comes after those expatriates have been unable to return to the kingdom over the suspension of air travel due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
Jawazat said it will coordinate with the National Information Center, an affiliate of the Interior Ministry, for the automatic extension of expatriates’ residence permits without the need to apply.
Responding to a tweet in which an expatriate who is now outside the Kingdom asked whether it was required to submit application for the extension of the period of the iqama of which the validity is expired or do it automatically, the Jawazat explained that the extension will be done automatically for all expatriates who are covered by the royal order.
The exempted categories, added the official, comprises expatriates who hold exit-return visas or final exit visas but could not use them as well as foreigners who came to the Kingdom to visit relatives or business, but could not leave.