Overstay in Saudi Arabia to cost dearer

Dubai, Apr 2: Indian families in Saudi Arabia, who allow their relatives on visit visas to stay beyond the stipulated period, are vulnerable to the decision of immigration authorities to penalise such residents.

The Passport Department plans to impose a fine of 10,000 Saudi Riyal on expatriates if their families or dependants who come to the Kingdom on visit visas and do not leave before its expiry, informed sources say.

The punishment will also include a six-month jail sentence for the overstayer, the sources say, adding that the fine of 10,000 Saudi Riyal will be for each overstayer, Arab News reported.

Private institutions will receive the same punishment if their sponsored visitors overstay their visas.

The department would give a two-month grace period from tomorrow to June 1 for expatriates and companies to send their visitors away before the imposition of the punishments, the sources say.

There are more than seven million expatriate workers and their families in the Kingdom, which has a total population of 27 million.

Overstayers, especially those who come for Haj and Umrah, are one of the main problems faced by the Kingdom's security agencies.

UNI