Saudi Arabia’s passport authority announces the start of regularizing the status of Yemeni residents in irregular situations.
- The Saudi Passport Authority begins correction procedures for Yemeni residents tomorrow.
- Four categories of Yemeni residents will be eligible for status correction.
- Correction centers will be established in various regions of Saudi Arabia.
- The initiative aims to address the status of Yemeni residents residing unlawfully.
Saudi Passport Authority Announces Correction Procedures for Yemeni Residents
The General Directorate of Passports in Saudi Arabia has announced the initiation of procedures to correct the status of Yemeni residents in the Kingdom who are currently residing unlawfully. This initiative will begin tomorrow, Sunday, and will last for two months across all regions of the Kingdom.
Categories of Yemeni Residents Affected
The General Directorate of Passports clarified in a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the correction procedures will encompass four categories of Yemeni residents, each subject to specific regulations.
First Category: Residents Without Documents
The first category includes individuals who do not possess Yemeni documents or passports. These residents will receive a free six-month visit visa after scheduling an appointment electronically through the Absher platform. They must select a correction location and set a review appointment while providing documents that confirm their Yemeni nationality, such as a passport or a travel document issued by their embassy.
Second Category: Expired Visitor Identity Holders
The second category consists of holders of expired visitor identities or various types of expired visit visas, whose biometric data has been recorded in the Kingdom’s systems. Their visas will be extended electronically for six months without the need to visit passport offices, provided they have a valid passport.
Third Category: Residents with Expired Residency Permits
The third category includes residents whose residency permits have expired but who possess valid travel documents. These individuals can transfer their services to other employers in need of their skills through the digital platforms of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, specifically Absher, Qiwa for professional labor, and Musaned for supporting labor. Those wishing to leave this category will receive final exit visas without restrictions preventing their future entry into the Kingdom.
Fourth Category: Absentees from Work
The fourth category targets individuals who have been absent from work and hold valid travel documents. They can correct their status by canceling absenteeism reports and transferring their services to other employers through the Qiwa and Musaned platforms.
Correction Centers Across the Kingdom
The General Directorate of Passports indicated that correction centers for violators of border security regulations will be available in various regions of the Kingdom. There will be four centers in the Riyadh region, three centers in both the Asir and Eastern regions, two centers in both the Makkah and Jazan regions, and one center in each of the Nigran, Medina, Al Baha, Northern Borders, Tabuk, Qassim, and Ha’il regions.
Background of the Initiative
The General Directorate of Passports noted that the procedures for correcting the status of Yemeni residents follow the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This initiative responds to a request from the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Muhammad Alimi, to rectify the status of all Yemeni nationals residing unlawfully in the Kingdom.
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