Saudi Exit Re-Entry Visa 2026: Fees, Validity and Extension Rules for Pakistanis
Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis work in Saudi Arabia, and nearly all of them will at some point need an exit re-entry visa — the permit that lets a resident leave the Kingdom and visit Pakistan without losing their iqama. Get the dates or the fee wrong and you face penalties, a lapsed residency, or a scramble to apply for a fresh work visa. Here is where the rules stand in 2026.
Who needs an exit re-entry visa
Every expatriate resident in Saudi Arabia — worker, dependent spouse, child or domestic worker — needs a valid exit re-entry permit (khuroj wa awda) before travelling abroad. Each family member needs their own visa at the same fee. It is not the same as a final exit visa, which closes your residency permanently. Your iqama must stay valid for the entire period you plan to be outside the Kingdom, so many workers renew the iqama first.
Exit re-entry visa fees in 2026
A single exit re-entry visa carries a base fee of around SAR 200 and covers up to two months outside Saudi Arabia, with roughly SAR 100 for each additional month. A multiple exit re-entry visa starts at about SAR 500 and covers up to three months, with roughly SAR 200 per extra month. A small electronic service charge is normally added on top. Critically, all these fees are non-refundable — the Jawazat has confirmed money is not returned even if the visa is cancelled or never used, so do not buy one until your travel dates are settled.
How to apply through Absher or Muqeem
- Ask your employer or sponsor to raise the request — most applications are filed by the company on the Muqeem portal.
- Check that your iqama is valid for longer than the exit re-entry period you are requesting.
- Make sure the sponsor account holds enough balance, then pay the fee through SADAD.
- Issue the visa in Absher or Muqeem; it is usually active within 24 to 72 hours.
- Download or print the permit and check your name, passport number and validity dates before you fly.
A visit to a Jawazat office is not normally required. You can verify validity at any time on the Muqeem visa-check page or in Absher under visa services.
Extending the visa from Pakistan
If your stay at home runs longer than planned, the visa can be extended online while you are still outside the Kingdom — but it costs roughly double the in-country rate, about SAR 200 per month for a single visa and SAR 400 per month for a multiple visa, plus the service charge. The extension must be applied for before the current visa expires, and in practice your sponsor has to initiate it, so raise it with your employer early rather than on the final day.
If the visa expires while you are away
Letting an exit re-entry visa lapse is the expensive mistake. Overstay charges of roughly SAR 375 per month accrue automatically, and you will need a new work visa sponsored by your former or a new employer to return. One piece of better news: the automatic three-year re-entry ban that used to follow a lapsed visa was lifted in January 2024, so this is generally a financial and paperwork problem rather than a permanent bar. Separately, if the visa expires while you are still inside Saudi Arabia and never travelled, cancel it in Absher — an unused expired visa attracts a fine starting around SAR 1,000 and rising for repeat offences.
Planning your trip home
Build a buffer of two to three weeks into the validity you request; flight changes, family emergencies and NICOP or passport renewals all take longer than people expect. If you are travelling with family, apply for everyone at once. And if you are coming home partly to finalise documents for a new job, our attestation service and visa support can usually complete degree, FRC and police-certificate paperwork inside the same trip.
Hijrat handles Saudi work visa documentation, degree and FRC attestation, protector registration and police certificates from our Aabpara office in Islamabad — serving Rawalpindi and overseas Pakistanis. Fees always itemised before you pay.
Saudi visa fees and Jawazat rules change frequently, and all decisions rest with the Saudi authorities. This article reflects information available on the date of publication — always confirm current fees and requirements with Absher, Muqeem, your sponsor or Hijrat before you travel.