RIYADH: The sponsor of a visitor who fails to send the visitor back to his or her country will face a fine of up to SR50,000 and six months in prison, the Passport Department warned in a directive. The visitor will be deported.

Recently, the Passport Department has implemented penalties on both citizens and foreigners who have violated residency and labor laws; this has included shaming the guilty parties by publishing their names in the papers.

In its statement, the department said: “We welcome all visitors with a visitor’s visa visiting the country through international outlets (land, sea and air) and are coming for various purposes. The visitors, however, have to leave before the expiration of their visa in order to avoid sanctions for overstaying.

“The department stresses the need for visitors to adhere to, and comply with, the laws and regulations of Saudi Arabia during their stay in the country.”

The official said the department had made it clear that anyone who overstays his or her visit visa will face severe punishment according to the laws governing such cases.

The official also called on all foreigners coming on a visit visa not to overstay according to the visit visa on which they came so as not to expose themselves to penalties prescribed by the law.