RIYADH —The Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday announced that foreign tourists, who are remaining in the Kingdom and are affected by the temporary suspension of international flights, will be allowed to extend their visas. The tourism visa extension will be made after payment of visa fee along with the fee for extended medical insurance. Tourists shall visit the nearest branch of the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) for the completion of the visa renewal procedures. The ministry urged the tourists to call 992 to get information about the location of the nearest Jawazat branch. "Tourist visas will be renewed for the same period of time as the original visa issued," the ministry said in the statement. The Saudi government had decided recently to temporarily suspend all international flights for two weeks starting from Sunday, March 15, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Citizens and expatriates who are unable to return due to the suspension or who go into quarantine after returning will be granted an "exceptional official holiday," the Ministry of Interior said in a statement. Also on Sunday, Jawazat announced that holders of all types of visit visas who are at present in the Kingdom and whose visas are about to expire or exceeded the full period of 180 days of stay can extend their visas through the ministry's Absher portal or through personally contacting Jawazat offices across the Kingdom. The beneficiaries of the new directive include all foreigners who are in the Kingdom on family, business and tourist visit visas or for treatment or for work. Visas will be renewed after completion of the procedures including payment of fees. In case of any difficulties in the renewal through Absher personal, business or muqeem sections, the renewal can be done by personally visiting the nearest Jawazat office.
