Benefits of Personal Visit Visa and new rules of Temporary Work Visa
To make it easier for non-Saudi relatives and friends of Saudi citizens to come to the Kingdom to do Umrah, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has explained that personal visit visas are accessible. Trending : 60 days to transfer job or exit from Saudi Arabia for Huroob person
The Personal visit visa, which may be obtained through the online visa portal of the Ministry, grants its holders the right to visit the Holy Rawdah (Riyadhul Jannah), perform Umrah, and travel to different regions within Saudi Arabia.
The personal visit visa grants visitors the opportunity to stay for up to 90 days and offers both single-entry and multiple-entry options. According to the Ministry, the visa also allows entry to cultural and historical sites around the Kingdom, in addition to other popular tourist spots. However, Hajj cannot be performed by its holders.
As part of the Kingdom's continuous efforts to expand access and simplify the process for foreign visitors, the personal visit visa is added to the existing alternatives like family visit, work, and transit visas.
What happens if a temporary visa is misused?
Newly passed regulations in Saudi Arabia impose heavy fines for those who abuse temporary employment visas associated with services provided during the yearly Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage seasons, as well as lesser pilgrimages. See Also : Penalty on expired iqama
The new rules make it illegal to sell, transfer, or use a temporary work visa for Hajj or Umrah services for anything other than its intended activity.
According to the Saudi publication Okaz, those who violate the rules might face a maximum fine of SR50,000 or a five-year ban from participating in any temporary employment related to Hajj and Umrah services, or both.
Under all circumstances, the offender shall be liable for an amount equal to the profits earned from the infringement. As the number of infractions increases, so does the penalty.
Additionally, a maximum fine of SR15,000 will be levied against an applicant for a temporary work visa for Hajj and Umrah services whose registration address, data, or submitted documents prove to be inaccurate. Read : Saudi Arabia launches Digital Visitor ID
In addition, the new regulations state that in order to apply for a temporary work visa to perform Hajj or Umrah services, one must offer a financial guarantee of SR2,000 per worker to pay for his or her return to their home country. If the worker's departure from the kingdom is confirmed within the stipulated term, or if the visa is canceled, the guarantee will be repaid.
The current information indicates that the duration of stay for the holder of a temporary work visa is 90 days beginning on the day of entry into the country.
The visa can be extended by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for an additional 90 days, however the person who holds it is required to depart the kingdom prior to the expiration of this duration.
This temporary work visa does not grant the bearer permission to undertake the Hajj in or stay near Mecca, the holy city of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a temporary work visa issued for the purpose of performing Hajj or Umrah cannot be extended or changed to a permanent work visa. Most Viewed : Passport expired on exit re-entry visa
A set of organizational laws pertaining to work permits for temporary workers was authorized by the Saudi government earlier this month.
The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources stated that this move will make the job market more appealing by giving the private sector a great deal of freedom to use the temporary visas in accordance with their needs and the demands of the labor market.
According to the ministry, the new rules take into account the demands of organizations that run during the Umrah season, which starts every year after the Hajj season concludes. Like and Follow Saudi Expatriates on Facebook
Benefits of Personal Visit Visa and new rules of Temporary Work Visa