Exit & Re-Entry Visa Saudi Arabia: How to Apply

Whether you're heading home for a holiday, taking a business trip, or visiting family abroad, any resident on an iqama must hold a valid exit and re-entry visa before leaving Saudi Arabia. The good news is that the whole process is now electronic — there's no passport sticker and no queue at an office. In this Saudi Living guide, we walk you through the visa types, the 2026 fees, the eligibility rules, and exactly how to apply through the official channels.

Visa types and 2026 fees

There are two main options, and the right one depends on how often you plan to leave and re-enter the Kingdom:

• Single exit and re-entry visa (valid up to 2 months): SAR 200. Best for a one-off trip.
• Multiple exit and re-entry visa (valid up to 3 months): SAR 500. Ideal if you travel more than once within the validity window.

Both visas are electronic and tied to your iqama, so keep your residency permit valid and up to date.

Adding extra months (and the inside/outside rule)

You can extend the validity by adding months, but the fee depends on whether you are still inside Saudi Arabia or already abroad when you request the extension. Being outside the Kingdom effectively doubles the per-month rate:

• Single visa – inside the Kingdom: SAR 100 per additional month (until iqama expiry).
• Single visa – outside the Kingdom: SAR 200 per additional month (doubled).
• Multiple visa – inside the Kingdom: SAR 200 per additional month (until iqama expiry).
• Multiple visa – outside the Kingdom: SAR 400 per additional month (doubled).

The takeaway: if you know you'll need more time, it's usually cheaper to add the months before you travel.

Who applies, and through which channel

The platform you use depends on your role:

• Expat workers applying for their own exit/re-entry: the أبشر Individuals platform.
• Sponsors applying for dependents (family members or domestic workers): also أبشر Individuals, under “Family members” → “Visa services.”
• Employers issuing visas for their workers: أبشر Business or the مقيم (خدمة مقيم) platform.

In all cases, issuance and extension happen entirely online, and the visa is electronic — no sticker in your passport.

Eligibility and validity rules

Before you apply, make sure you meet these conditions:

• You must hold a valid iqama, and your residency permit should generally stay valid for the full requested visa period.
• For extensions, your iqama must be valid at least 90 days beyond the requested return date.
• Your planned return to Saudi Arabia must be no later than 7 days before iqama expiry when extending.
• Extending while the visa holder is outside the Kingdom is allowed, provided the above conditions are met.

Step by step: applying for your own single visa via Absher

If you're an employee handling your own single exit/re-entry, here's the typical flow:

• Log in to أبشر Individuals using your iqama number or username, your password, and the OTP sent to your phone.
• Go to My Services → Passports → Visa Requests → Create Visa Request.
• Select “Exit Re-Entry Visa (Single)” and enter your return date in the “Return Before” field — up to 30 days under this worker-initiated self-service path.
• Confirm the request. It is then sent to your employer (sponsor) for approval.
• The employer has 10 days to approve. If they take no action, the request is auto-approved after 10 days.
• From day 11, you have 5 days to pay and issue the visa before the request expires.
• Once payment is completed, the electronic visa is issued and linked to your record.

Practical tips before you travel

• Apply well ahead of your departure date to allow for the sponsor approval window.
• Double-check your iqama expiry against your planned return date, especially if you'll extend from abroad.
• Keep proof of payment and your visa reference until you have safely re-entered the Kingdom.
• Fees and processing rules can change, so always confirm the latest figures and steps on the official Saudi government portal (أبشر or مقيم) before you pay.

With a valid iqama and a few minutes online, arranging your exit and re-entry visa is straightforward. Plan ahead, pick the visa type that matches your travel, and you'll be ready to leave and return with no surprises at the airport.

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