JEDDAH, 6 January — The Passport Department will start charging an additional fee of SR150 for the renewal of iqamas and work permits of expatriates this month, according to a top official.
Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Al-Sajeeni, director general of the Passports Department, told Al-Riyadh Arabic daily that collection of the increased fee was delayed because of the time needed for printing the new forms and distributing them to the different parts of the country.
The new fee, approved by the Council of Ministers, is meant to support the Kingdom's Manpower Development Fund.
Sajeeni said the new system to promptly process passport and iqama applications would also be implemented in Jeddah, Riyadh and Makkah this month. They would be followed by other regions shortly, he added.
He said applicants must produce all required forms and documents when they approach for any work at the passport department. "This is especially required for the prompt service," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Brig. Ali Muhammad Saif, director of passports in Jouf, said iqamas must be renewed at least three days before the expiration of their validity. He said companies and individuals failing to renew the iqamas of their workers would be subject to fines of up to SR1,500.
He said as per Article 55 of the Iqama Law, the iqamas must be renewed three days before the expiry of their validity. "If anybody failed to present renewal application in time, they will be asked to pay SR1,000 including SR500 fine for a first time delay. For the second time, the charge will be SR1,500 including fines. If the renewal request was delayed for a third time, the expatriate worker will be deported," Saif was quoted as saying by Al-Madinah newspaper.
Sajeeni said his department had started implementing its action plan for the forthcoming Haj season. He said the department would deploy more officers this year than in the past at entry points to complete immigration procedures of incoming and outgoing pilgrims as quickly as possible.
The passport director general said the department would also provide the passport offices at entry points with advanced computer facilities to speed up their work. He said the department would make use of the services of 750 students of the Passport Institute this year after giving them necessary training.
He reaffirmed that Saudis and expatriates should get Haj permits before proceeding to the holy sites. The department will start issuing the permits from Jan. 10.
