The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has extended the validity of residency permits (iqamas) and visas at no cost to the holders.
The Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Passports announced the extensions on Monday. The extension applies for iqamas, exit and re-entry visas, as well as visit visas approved by the finance minister at the directive of King Salman, reports Jeddah-based newspaper the Saudi Gazette.
The decision to implement the extension was taken to ease the suffering of Saudi Arabian residents who are stranded in countries from where arrivals are banned, according to the Saudi press agency as quoted by the newspaper.
Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on international flights on May 17 this year. However, the country has warned its citizens against travelling to 13 nation due to Covid-19: Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Belarus, and India.
