Saudi Arabia to impose penalty on overstaying expats

June 03, 2007 00:00:00

DUBAI, June 2 (PTI): With the amnesty period ending today, the Saudi government will impose a hefty fine on expatriates overstaying their visit on Hajj and Umrah visas.

A fine of SR 1,000 will be levied for each year of overstaying, said Col. Hussein Yahya Al-Harithy, director of the department for expatriates' affairs at the passport department in the Makkah region.

"We will not show any leniency toward overstayers after the amnesty that ends Friday," he said.

The official also warned Saudi citizens and expatriates against providing employment, accommodation and transport to overstayers, saying they would get six-month jail and a fine of SR 10,000.

"We have already given a grace period of two months for overstayers to clear their papers and leave the kingdom," Harithy said.