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Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced on March 25, 2026 a set of temporary measures designed to address the status of foreign nationals unable to depart the kingdom due to regional instability. The provisions target holders of visit, Umrah, transit and final-exit visas that expired on or after February 25, 2026. According to the ministry, affected individuals can choose between extending their visas or leaving without incurring overstay charges. The decision followed an assessment of how ongoing disruptions had impacted travelers’ ability to comply with normal visa terms.
Under the first option sponsors may extend the expired visas through the Absher platform until April 18, 2026 subject to payment of statutory fees the ministry said in its statement. The second option allows eligible visa holders to depart directly through international airports and land borders without the need to renew their visas and without paying any fees or overstay penalties. “The Ministry has assessed the impact of ongoing regional disruptions before deciding to allow all affected visitors—those holding visit, Umrah, transit, or final-exit visas that expired on or after 25 February 2026—to regularise their status,” the announcement stated. The ministry further described the exit process as straightforward with all departure procedures completed at the border.
The measures arrived as the Middle East experienced widespread aviation interruptions from conflict-related events. Reports indicated that Iranian strikes and subsequent airspace closures across the Gulf led to the cancellation of 27,000 flights and daily economic losses estimated at $650 million during the peak period according to a specialized analysis published shortly after the announcement. Fragomen’s July 2026 update on Middle East mobility detailed how several Gulf states including Saudi Arabia faced intermittent closures that complicated international travel for weeks. Other nations responded with parallel visa concessions to alleviate the burden on stranded foreigners.
Inquiries about the program can be made through the General Directorate of Passports using the dedicated hotline 992 an official Saudi post confirmed. The initiative echoes earlier relief efforts such as those during the COVID-19 pandemic when Saudi authorities provided amnesties that enabled thousands of irregular migrants to address their status without immediate sanctions a PMC-published review from 2021 documented. These precedents illustrate a pattern of pragmatic adjustments when external factors prevent standard compliance.
The temporary nature of the relief with a hard deadline of April 18, 2026 for extensions ensures the measures do not extend indefinitely an EY alert on the changes noted. Business, tourist and religious visa categories all fall under the same framework reflecting the broad scope of the disruption’s effects. Visitors who select departure face no additional requirements beyond standard border formalities while those extending must fulfill fee obligations.
