Saudi Arabia Introduces New Policy for Iqama Renewal for Families Abroad

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has introduced a new policy allowing the renewal of residency permits (Iqama) for foreign workers even if some family members are outside the kingdom, as long as the head of the family is present in Saudi Arabia.

This new initiative aims to address administrative challenges faced by foreign workers who previously struggled to renew their Iqama due to the absence of family members. The Directorate confirmed that the presence of the family head in Saudi Arabia is now sufficient to renew the Iqama, even if other family members are abroad.

The policy is designed to accommodate various life situations, such as children studying overseas, parents traveling for medical reasons, or other family members facing unexpected emergencies that require travel. Previously, such situations could lead to legal complications or delays when the Iqama expired.

Under the new rules, families can maintain their legal residency status in Saudi Arabia and continue to access both public and private services, even if some members are outside the kingdom.

Additionally, the Directorate announced that for family members currently abroad, the extension of exit and re-entry visas can now be completed fully online through the “Absher” platform and the government’s “SADAD” payment system, eliminating the need for personal visits to passport offices.

This change is seen as a humanitarian and administrative step aimed at easing the process for thousands of foreign families residing in Saudi Arabia, allowing them to complete Iqama renewals and visa extensions more efficiently.