Saudi Arabia: The Residence Regulations, Law No. 17/2/25/1337

Date of adoption

7 May 1952

Entry into force

4 June 1952

Text versions

Arabic

English

Sources:

– Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accessed: 11 September 2013,

– Refworld – The UN Refugee Agency, accessed: 16 May 2013.

Abstract

Art. 3 lists the points of entry and exit and allows for entry through other points only in cases of force majeure such as emergency landing or political asylum as long as the foreigner reports immediately to the nearest police station, border checkpoint or government authority.

A foreigner who wants to leave the country must submit all his legal documents including passport, residence permit or form and the like to the Foreigners Control Office where his passport will be stamped to exit within a specific time period. If he did not leave within this period, he has to report to the office before its expiry so as to get a new visa stamp either to exit within another specific time period or to stay if he has the right to. In all cases, the duration of an exit visa cannot exceed two months (or three months if extended by the Minister of Interior). This procedure does not cancel procedures followed at the travel bureau (Art. 14 – Amended).

If a foreigner leaves the country within the validity period of the visa granted him by a Saudi consulate or embassy abroad, s/he may not re- enter except with a new visa (Art. 15).

If the foreigner wants to leave the country for a particular period of time during a valid residence period and he requests a return visa valid for no more than six months from his date of departure, then he is permitted to return within the validity period of his residence permit without having to obtain a new visa from a Saudi Arabia representative office. His residence permit must be taken from him upon exiting the country after stamping his passport with the permit’s number and date. The permit is to be returned to him once he returns, after registering the date of travel, destination, and date of return on it (Art. 16).

Each foreigner, whose visa was issued by consular or diplomatic authorities abroad and did not meet the required conditions necessary for granting him/her a residence permit, shall leave the country voluntarily within one week. In case of failure or refusal to leave, the Public Security Department shall deport him at his own expense by deducting from the deposit paid upon entry or at the expense of his/ her sponsor as stipulated in Article No. (5) of this Regulation (Art. 27).