A Saudi exit and re-entry visa allows an eligible resident to leave Saudi Arabia temporarily and return while the visa, passport, Iqama, and other required records remain valid. A single exit and re-entry visa permits one trip. A multiple exit and re-entry visa permits repeated travel during the approved period.
Before booking a flight, check the live visa record in Absher or the official visa-status service. Confirm the visa type, return-before date, Iqama validity, passport validity, and whether any employer, sponsor, dependant, traffic, or immigration issue is blocking travel.
Official fees currently start at SAR 200 for a single visa covering up to two months and SAR 500 for a multiple visa covering up to three months. Additional-month charges apply, and the charge for an additional month is doubled when the resident is outside Saudi Arabia. The official portal calculation should be treated as the payable amount.
An exit and re-entry visa is not a final exit visa. It is for temporary travel with an intention to return.
Quick Answer
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| What does an exit and re-entry visa do? | It lets an eligible Saudi resident leave temporarily and return before the official return deadline. |
| What is the difference between single and multiple? | A single visa allows one exit and return. A multiple visa allows repeated trips during its valid period. |
| What is the official single-visa fee? | SAR 200 for one trip for up to two months, plus SAR 100 for each additional month while the resident is inside Saudi Arabia. |
| What is the official multiple-visa fee? | SAR 500 for multiple trips for up to three months, plus SAR 200 for each additional month while the resident is inside Saudi Arabia. |
| What happens when extending from outside Saudi Arabia? | The additional-month charge is doubled under the official fee rule, subject to the Iqama validity and portal conditions. |
| Who normally pays for an employee's visa? | Saudi labour guidance generally places normal exit and re-entry visa fees on the employer. A worker-initiated service may display separate payment and undertaking conditions. |
| Can a private-sector worker request a visa without employer approval? | Eligible workers may use the labour-reform route, with the employer notified electronically. Eligibility and current service conditions still apply. |
| How do I check validity? | Check the live visa record through Absher or the official visa-status service and use the displayed return-before date. |
| Can an unused visa be cancelled? | Yes, where the official conditions are met. Cancellation should be completed within the allowed period, and the visa fee is not refunded. |
| Can the visa be extended while the resident is abroad? | Certain sponsor, family, domestic-worker, and worker cases may be extendable through the available official route if all conditions are met. |
| Is this the same as final exit? | No. Final exit ends the resident's departure process. Exit and re-entry is for temporary travel and return. |
| Should I book before the visa is issued? | It is safer to wait until the live official record shows the correct visa and return deadline. |
What Is a Saudi Exit and Re-Entry Visa?
An exit and re-entry visa is a travel authorisation connected to Saudi residency. It is used when an Iqama holder leaves Saudi Arabia for a temporary trip and plans to return without ending the residency relationship.
It may be used for:
- annual leave
- family visits
- medical travel
- business travel
- emergency travel
- study or family arrangements for dependants
- repeated regional or international travel under a multiple visa
The visa does not replace a passport, Iqama, airline booking, destination-country visa, or employer leave approval. Each is a separate issue.
Workers who are still learning how residency works should read the Saudi Iqama explained guide. It explains how the work permit, Iqama, employer, Qiwa, Absher, Muqeem, and travel records connect.
Single Exit and Re-Entry Visa vs Multiple Exit and Re-Entry Visa
Single exit and re-entry visa
A single visa allows one temporary departure and one return.
It may suit a resident who:
- expects to make one trip
- has fixed travel dates
- does not need repeated cross-border travel
- wants the lower base fee
Once the person returns using that visa, it cannot normally be used for another trip.
Multiple exit and re-entry visa
A multiple visa allows repeated exits and returns during the approved period.
It may suit a resident who:
- travels regularly for work
- visits family frequently
- has regional business responsibilities
- needs flexibility for more than one journey
A multiple visa does not override the return-before date. Every trip must remain within the live validity shown in the official system.
Which option is better?
Choose according to the actual travel plan, not only the lower initial price. A single visa may be enough for one confirmed trip. A multiple visa may be more practical when repeated travel is genuinely expected.
Do not request a longer or multiple visa simply because an agent says it is safer. The Iqama, passport, sponsor record, service conditions, and official portal determine what can be issued.
Who Can Apply or Be Included?
The route depends on the resident's category.
Private-sector employees
An employer or authorised establishment representative may issue an exit and re-entry visa through the employer-side service when the official conditions are met.
Under Saudi Arabia's Labour Reform Initiative, eligible private-sector expatriate workers may also submit an exit and re-entry request without prior employer approval. The employer is notified electronically. This does not mean every worker, contract, occupation, or status automatically qualifies.
Check the current employment record first. The Qiwa Saudi Arabia guide explains how to review the employer, documented contract, work permit relationship, transfer status, and labour-side records.
Family members and dependants
A resident sponsor may use eligible Absher family services for a spouse, child, or dependant. The family member's passport, Iqama, sponsor relationship, traffic record where relevant, and other official conditions must be clear.
For the wider sponsorship process, read the Saudi family visa guide.
Domestic workers
Domestic workers normally follow sponsor-side Absher or Musaned-related procedures rather than the standard Qiwa private-sector route. Service menus, cancellation rules, and "gone out and did not return" handling can differ.
Investors, executives, government employees, and special categories
Some residents use a route connected to their organisation, investment registration, government employer, or special residency status. Follow the service shown for that category rather than assuming the normal private-sector workflow applies.
Documents and Details to Check Before Applying
Absher's employer-side issuance guidance states that the worker must normally be inside Saudi Arabia when the visa is issued, must not already have another valid exit and re-entry visa, must have the required passport validity, and must clear recorded traffic violations.
Do not use an old passport number after renewing your passport. A mismatch can affect issuance, airline check-in, or return.
Main Rules You Should Understand
1. The visa must be issued before departure
A resident cannot normally leave Saudi Arabia as an Iqama holder and assume the return permission will be added later. Confirm that the live exit and re-entry visa appears before travelling.
2. The person normally must be inside Saudi Arabia at issuance
Absher's employer-side issuance conditions state that the worker must be present inside the Kingdom when the visa is issued.
An outside-Kingdom extension is a different service. It is not the normal first-issuance route.
3. Passport validity matters
Absher's employer-side service guidance requires the worker's passport to be valid for at least 90 days for issuance.
The destination country and airline may require more. Some countries commonly expect six months of passport validity, so check the destination rule separately.
4. The Iqama must support the requested period
Official fee rules limit the visa period to the remaining Iqama validity. An exit and re-entry visa does not keep an expired Iqama active.
When an Iqama is close to expiry, the employer may need to resolve the work permit, insurance, fee, passport, or other renewal blockers first. Use the Saudi Iqama renewal guide for those problems.
5. Existing visas and unresolved violations can block issuance
The employer-side Absher guide lists several blockers, including:
- another valid visa already issued
- unpaid traffic violations connected with the worker
- a violation for failing to cancel an earlier unused visa
- records showing death, absconding, or an Istiqdam violation
- missing fingerprint where required
- insufficient passport validity
The actual message in Absher, Muqeem, or the relevant service should guide the correction.
6. Employment leave and immigration permission are different
A valid exit and re-entry visa does not by itself prove that the employee has approved annual leave or permission to miss work.
Check the employment contract, leave approval, duty schedule, and employer communication. Leaving without resolving the employment side can create a contract or attendance dispute even when the immigration visa is valid.
7. The return-before date controls the journey
The safest rule is simple: use the live return-before date shown by the official system.
Do not calculate from a blog, screenshot, old SMS, payment date, or agent's verbal explanation. Recheck the record after issuance, after any extension, and before the return flight.
8. A digital visa record is more important than a printout
A printout is useful for travel records, but the live government system controls the status. If the printout and live record differ, stop and verify through the official portal or Jawazat before travelling.
Step-by-Step Process for an Expat Employee
The exact screens may differ between employer-issued and worker-initiated routes.
Step 1: Confirm your Iqama, passport, and employment record
Check:
- Iqama status and expiry
- passport number and expiry
- employer name
- Qiwa contract status
- work permit and renewal status
- approved leave dates
- pending transfer, termination, or final-exit action
Do not request temporary travel while another major employment or residency transaction is incomplete without understanding how the systems may interact.
Step 2: Choose single or multiple travel
Decide how many trips are genuinely needed.
For one trip, a single visa may be enough. For repeated travel, compare the multiple-visa fee with the expected schedule.
Step 3: Confirm who will submit the request
The request may be handled by:
- the employer or authorised establishment representative
- an eligible private-sector worker through the labour-reform route
- the family sponsor for dependants
- the individual sponsor for a domestic worker
- the relevant organisation for a special resident category
Do not share a personal Absher password or one-time verification code with an agent. The Absher app guide for expats explains personal account security and the difference between Absher, Qiwa, and employer-side systems.
Step 4: Pay through the official channel
The payer should use SADAD, an approved bank channel, or the government payment route shown by the service.
Check the payment category, Iqama number, visa type, and duration before confirming.
Step 5: Submit the visa request
Enter or confirm:
- resident's identity details
- passport details
- visa type
- required period
- return deadline or duration
- acknowledgement or undertaking shown by the service
Do not accept a return date that is earlier than the planned journey.
Step 6: Check the live result
After issuance, verify:
- name
- Iqama number
- passport number
- single or multiple status
- visa number
- issue date
- return-before date
- current status
Save a copy, but recheck the live record close to departure.
Step 7: Check destination and airline requirements
The Saudi exit and re-entry visa only covers Saudi departure and return permission.
Also check:
- destination visa
- transit visa
- passport validity
- airline document rules
- vaccination or health requirements where applicable
- return ticket
- travel restrictions affecting the route
Step 8: Return before the official deadline
Plan to arrive before the deadline, not merely depart from the foreign airport before it.
Allow for:
- flight cancellation
- missed connections
- weather
- passport problems
- destination exit controls
- airline document checks
- time-zone differences
A last-day return creates avoidable risk.
How to Check Exit and Re-Entry Visa Validity
Through Absher
Sign in through the official Absher platform and open the relevant passport or visa service. The exact menu depends on whether you are checking your own record, a family member, or a sponsored worker.
Check the live:
- visa status
- visa type
- issue date
- expiry or return-before date
- Iqama details
- passport details
Through the official visa-status service
Absher provides an official Exit/Re-Entry Visa Status service. Muqeem also provides visa-validity functions for eligible users and organisations.
Use only an official Saudi government or official Muqeem domain. Search results often contain imitation visa-check pages that collect passport and Iqama information.
Before travelling
Official Fees for Exit and Re-Entry Visas
Saudi Arabia's official fee rule sets the following charges:
| Visa type | Base fee while resident is inside Saudi Arabia | Additional period |
|---|---|---|
| Single exit and re-entry | SAR 200 for one trip for up to two months | SAR 100 for each additional month |
| Multiple exit and re-entry | SAR 500 for multiple trips for up to three months | SAR 200 for each additional month |
The official rule also states that when the resident is outside Saudi Arabia, the fee for each additional month is doubled. All periods remain limited by the validity of the Iqama.
Who should pay for an employee?
MHRSD's guidance on employment of non-Saudis generally places exit and re-entry visa fees on the employer.
However, a worker who uses a worker-initiated labour-reform service may see payment obligations and an undertaking in the service. Check the current official screen and keep the payment record. Do not pay an unofficial agent or reimburse a company representative without an official reference.
Are cancellation fees refunded?
No. Absher's official FAQ states that exit and re-entry visa fees are not refunded after cancellation.
Are the fees always exactly the table amount?
The table reflects the official legal fee structure. The final payable amount depends on:
- single or multiple visa
- requested period
- whether the resident is inside or outside Saudi Arabia
- remaining Iqama validity
- extension months
- current system calculation
- any separate banking or service item shown officially
Use the amount generated by the official portal before payment.
Fees change often. Confirm the exact amount in the official portal before payment.
Validity: How Long Can You Stay Outside Saudi Arabia?
There is no safe one-size-fits-all answer for every resident. The official record may be based on a period, a return-before date, or the service conditions for that visa.
Use these rules:
- Check the exact return-before date in the live visa record.
- Make sure the Iqama supports the requested period.
- Return before the deadline, allowing a safety margin.
- Recheck after an extension because the new date may replace the earlier record.
- Use the Gregorian date shown by the service where Absher states it controls in a date difference.
- Do not assume a generic "six-month rule" applies to every visa.
For an outside-Kingdom extension, Absher's guidance states that the selected return date is the last date for returning to Saudi Arabia. The service also applies Iqama-validity conditions. An official Absher FAQ says an exit and re-entry visa extension cannot exceed 180 days through that service.
A service maximum does not guarantee that every person can receive the maximum. The passport, Iqama, sponsor record, visa type, and official eligibility checks still apply.
Extending an Exit and Re-Entry Visa While Outside Saudi Arabia
An extension may be possible for an eligible resident who is already outside Saudi Arabia.
The route may differ for:
- a family member
- a domestic worker
- a private-sector employee
- a government employee
- an organisation-sponsored resident
- a resident whose visa has already expired
Absher extension for sponsored family members or workers
Absher provides an outside-Kingdom extension service for eligible sponsored family members and domestic workers.
Official conditions include:
- the person must be outside Saudi Arabia
- extension fees must be paid
- the official record must not show a disqualifying status
- Iqama validity must satisfy the requested extension
- the return date must remain within the allowed residency period
- the service conditions displayed in Absher must be met
When the normal electronic route does not work
Some cases may require:
- employer action
- sponsor action
- a Tawasul request
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs return-extension service
- Jawazat review
- embassy or consular coordination
- correction of passport, Iqama, or sponsor records
Do not pay a person who promises a guaranteed extension. Ask for the official service name and reference number.
Emergency situations
Special temporary measures may be announced during wars, airspace closures, health emergencies, or other major disruptions. These measures normally have exact eligibility dates and should not be treated as permanent rules.
Check current Ministry of Interior, Jawazat, Absher, and Saudi Press Agency announcements when a regional disruption affects your flight.
Cancelling an Unused Exit and Re-Entry Visa
An employer or sponsor may cancel an eligible unused visa through the official service.
Absher's employer-side cancellation conditions state that:
- the person must be inside Saudi Arabia
- cancellation must be completed within 90 days from issuance or before the return date shown on the visa, whichever comes first
- delay can lead to penalties under the applicable rules
- the visa fee is not refunded
Cancel an unused visa instead of leaving it unresolved.
Common Problems and How to Handle Them
Problem 1: The employer refuses to issue the visa
First identify the route and the reason.
Ask whether the issue is:
- unapproved leave
- a contract dispute
- an expired or near-expiry Iqama
- unpaid traffic violations
- passport validity
- another active visa
- a pending transfer or termination
- a system error
- employer policy
- worker eligibility under the labour-reform service
Eligible private-sector workers may have a worker-initiated route under the Labour Reform Initiative. Do not assume eligibility without checking the current official service.
Problem 2: Absher or Muqeem says the Iqama is not valid enough
The requested visa period cannot normally extend beyond the residency record allowed by the system.
Ask the employer to check:
- work permit renewal
- health insurance
- passport update
- employer compliance
- government payments
- traffic fines
- linked record errors
Do not shorten a trip blindly until you understand the date displayed by the official service.
Problem 3: The passport was renewed but the old number appears
The passport record may need updating before issuance or travel.
Check whether the update must be completed by:
- the resident
- employer
- family sponsor
- Jawazat
- an Absher or Muqeem service
Carrying both passports does not automatically solve a mismatched electronic record.
Problem 4: The visa was paid but not issued
A successful payment is not the same as a successful visa.
Check:
- payment status
- correct Iqama number
- visa category
- service eligibility
- existing visa
- traffic violations
- passport validity
- system error or pending request
Keep the SADAD or bank reference.
Problem 5: The visa shows the wrong return date
Do not travel until the date is corrected or clearly understood.
The employer, sponsor, or applicant should review whether the wrong duration or date was selected. Cancellation and re-issuance may be required, but the original fee is not refunded after cancellation.
Problem 6: The resident is outside and the visa is about to expire
Start the extension check before the final days.
The sponsor or employer should check:
- current visa status
- Iqama validity
- passport validity
- available Absher extension service
- payment amount
- whether a Tawasul, MOFA, or Jawazat route is required
Do not rely on the airline to solve an expired return permission.
Problem 7: The resident missed the return deadline
The resident should not attempt to travel on an expired record without official confirmation.
The employer or sponsor may need to:
- check the status in Absher or Muqeem
- request an eligible extension
- use Tawasul
- contact Jawazat
- use an official return-extension route
- correct the employment or sponsorship record
Do not assume an automatic fixed re-entry ban or guaranteed approval. The consequences depend on the current immigration record, employment relationship, sponsor action, and official rules.
Problem 8: The system shows "gone out and did not return"
This status can affect the sponsor, employment record, and future processing.
The official handling differs by worker category. For example, Absher has specific guidance for domestic workers. A private-sector employee should have the employer check Muqeem, Qiwa, and linked records and use the appropriate official correction or status route.
Problem 9: A family member's visa is valid but the sponsor's record has a problem
Family travel can still be affected by:
- dependant Iqama expiry
- sponsor Iqama problems
- passport mismatch
- family member added to an old passport
- individual travel record missing
- unpaid violations where applicable
- an expired insurance or linked record
Check each dependant separately.
Problem 10: The traveller actually wants to leave permanently
Do not use exit and re-entry as a substitute for final exit without understanding the consequences.
Permanent departure involves employment settlement, Iqama closure, family status, debts, bank accounts, vehicles, utilities, and other records. Follow the Saudi final exit and Iqama cancellation guide.
Common Mistakes That Cause Travel Problems
Processing Time
Electronic issuance can be immediate after a successful request when all conditions, payments, and records are clear. That does not guarantee every application will finish immediately.
Delays can result from:
- Iqama or work permit expiry
- insufficient passport validity
- unpaid traffic violations
- another active visa
- an unresolved unused-visa violation
- employer or sponsor inaction
- Qiwa contract or transfer status
- incorrect passport details
- missing fingerprint
- system maintenance
- outside-Kingdom extension review
- Tawasul or Jawazat handling
- emergency travel restrictions
Do not book travel until the visa and required employment-side steps are clear.
Official Sources Checked
This guide was checked against official Saudi government sources. Portal menus, eligibility checks, fee calculations, and service routes can change.
- Absher official platform
- Absher Exit/Re-Entry Visa Status service
- Absher Business issuance conditions
- Absher Business cancellation conditions
- Absher outside-Kingdom extension service
- Absher official FAQs
- MHRSD Labour Reform Initiative
- MHRSD employment of non-Saudis and employer-paid costs
- Official exit and re-entry fee amendment in Umm Al-Qura
- Saudi MOFA return visa extension request
Frequently Asked Questions
An Iqama holder normally needs the correct Saudi travel authorisation before temporary departure and return. Check the live Absher or official visa-status record before travelling. A tourist, visit, business, or other visa holder follows the conditions of that separate entry visa.
Saudi Arabia's Labour Reform Initiative allows eligible private-sector expatriate workers to submit an exit and re-entry request without prior employer approval, with the employer notified electronically. Eligibility, contract status, Iqama validity, service conditions, payment, and any undertaking shown in the official system still apply.
The official fee is SAR 200 for one trip for up to two months, plus SAR 100 for each additional month when the resident is inside Saudi Arabia. If an additional month is added while the resident is outside Saudi Arabia, the official fee rule doubles the additional-month charge. The portal calculation is the amount to follow.
The official fee is SAR 500 for multiple trips for up to three months, plus SAR 200 for each additional month when the resident is inside Saudi Arabia. The additional-month charge is doubled when the resident is outside Saudi Arabia, subject to Iqama validity and the current service conditions.
MHRSD guidance on non-Saudi employment generally places exit and re-entry visa fees on the employer. A worker-initiated labour-reform request may display separate payment and undertaking conditions. Check the current official service and keep the government payment reference.
Use Absher's official Exit/Re-Entry Visa Status service or the official visa-validity function available through Muqeem or the relevant employer system. Confirm the visa type, status, passport number, issue date, and return-before date. Do not rely only on an old screenshot.
An eligible visa may be extended through the applicable Absher, employer, sponsor, Tawasul, Jawazat, or MOFA route. The person must meet the service conditions, including Iqama and passport validity. Start before the deadline because an extension is not guaranteed.
The visa may no longer permit return, and the employment or sponsorship record may change. The employer or sponsor should check Absher, Muqeem, Qiwa, and Jawazat records and use the available official route. Do not assume a fixed ban or guaranteed correction because outcomes depend on the current record and rules.
Yes, where the official conditions are met. Absher's employer-side guidance says cancellation should occur within 90 days from issuance or before the return date, whichever comes first, and the person must be inside Saudi Arabia. The government fee is not refunded.
Do not assume the visa alone will protect the return. The Iqama must support the requested travel and return period under the official service rules. Ask the employer or sponsor to confirm renewal and check the live visa and Iqama records before departure.
No. The visa is an immigration travel authorisation. Annual leave is an employment matter. A worker should have the required leave approval and comply with the contract even when the visa is valid.
Exit and re-entry is for temporary travel followed by a return to Saudi Arabia. Final exit is for permanent departure and closing the residency relationship. Do not use a temporary visa when the real plan is to end employment and leave permanently without checking the legal and practical consequences.
Bottom Line
A Saudi exit and re-entry visa is the key temporary-travel permission for an eligible Iqama holder. Choose single or multiple travel based on the real journey, confirm who should submit and pay, and check the live return-before date rather than relying on memory or an old printout.
The official fee structure is SAR 200 for a single visa covering up to two months and SAR 500 for a multiple visa covering up to three months, with additional-month charges. When a resident is outside Saudi Arabia, the additional-month charge is doubled under the official rule.
Before departure, check the passport, Iqama, Qiwa employment record, leave approval, visa status, and return date. For an extension, cancellation, missed return, or system error, use Absher, Muqeem, Qiwa, MHRSD, Jawazat, MOFA, the employer's authorised representative, or the sponsor route that applies to the case.
Requirements can change. Confirm important travel and payment decisions through the official portal before booking or departure.