Riyadh, June 08, 2021, SPA -- The General Directorate of Passports has started to automatically extend the validity of residence permits (Iqama) for expatriates who exist outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, visit visas and exit and re-entry visas without fees or charges for all expatriates until 31/7/2021. This comes as an implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This extension, which was issued by the Minister of Finance, comes among the continuing efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's government to deal with the effects and repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic. It also falls within precautionary and preventive measures that guarantee the safety of citizens and residents and contribute to mitigating financial and economic impacts. The Directorate indicated that the extension will be carried out electronically in cooperation with the National Information Centre without the need to visit the departments of passports. First: Extending the validity of residence permits and exit and re-entry visas for residents who are in the countries from which entry is suspended as a result of Coronavirus until 31/7/2021. Second: Extending the validity of visit visas for visitors who are in the countries from which entry is suspended as a result of the Coronavirus until 31/7/2021. Third: The extension is limited to the 20 countries from which entry is suspended as a result of the Coronavirus, announced on 2/2/2021. --SPA 15:41 LOCAL TIME 12:41 GMT 0017 www.spa.gov.sa/w1568125