Saudi Arabia has announced a six-month pardon for foreigners who haveoverstayed in the Gulf country to encourage them to leave.
An Interior Ministry statement published by Saudi newspapers on Wednesday said expatriates whose visa residence has expired are allowed to leave the country unpunished before March 23 next year.
“We appeal for all those who have come to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage or other visits to benefit from this amnesty and leave,” the statement said.
“Those who are caught after March 23 next year will be subject to penalties specified by the law. Those who deal with or give shelter to these offenders will also be punished. Penalties include payment of heavy fines, jail terms and defamation of their names in the media.”
The Ministry said amnesty, the latest in a series of pardon decisions for overstaying foreigners in the kingdom, would be enforced on September 25.
Emirates 24|7
