Saudi passports authority clarifies grace period for automatic removal of domestic workers after visa expiry
Saudi authorities will automatically remove domestic workers from records six months after visa expiry, or electronically via Absher after 30 days.
Key Takeaways
AIThe General Directorate of Passports has specified the grace period for the automatic removal of domestic workers classified as 'Exited and Did Not Return.'
Automatic removal of domestic workers
According to the Passports Authority, via its X platform, domestic workers will be automatically removed from records six months after their visa expires.
The authority also clarified that this service is available through the Absher electronic platform, where workers can be removed 30 days after the visa’s validity ends.
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Can those classified as 'Exited and Did Not Return' re-enter Saudi Arabia?
The Passports Authority confirmed that if a worker’s name is removed from the sponsor’s family record, a new visa must be issued for re-entry.
It also explained that those classified as 'Exited and Did Not Return' are barred from returning to Saudi Arabia for three years, except if returning to the same employer with a new visa. This restriction does not apply to dependents and companions. The period is calculated from the visa expiry date, based on the Hijri calendar.