Riyadh, January 24, 2022, SPA -- In implementation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's directives, the General Directorate of Passports has started to automatically extend the validity of residence permits (Iqama), exit and re-entry visas, free of charge until 31/03/2022. This extension, which is issued by the Minister of Finance, comes within the framework of the continuous efforts taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's government to deal with the implications of the global pandemic (COVID-19), and within the precautionary and preventive measures that guarantee the safety of citizens and expatriates to mitigate the economic and financial impacts. The Directorate indicated that the validity extension will be electronically carried out in cooperation with the National Information Centre through the automated system without visiting the departments of Passports or the Kingdom's missions abroad, as follows: First: Extending the validity of residence permits (Iqama) as well as exit and return visas for expatriates who are outside the Kingdom in the countries from which entry is suspended due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, to be until 31/03/2022, except for those who have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine inside the Kingdom before their departure. Second: Extending the validity of visit visas issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visitors who are outside the Kingdom in the countries from which entry is suspended due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, to be until 31/03/2022. --SPA 18:13 LOCAL TIME 15:13 GMT 0028 www.spa.gov.sa/w1682480