JEDDAH: The Passport Department will extend the visit visas of Yemeni expatriates for six months with effect from 14/3/1437 AH.

The General Directorate of Passports said the necessary measures to correct the status of Yemenis come in the backdrop of a directive by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis have sought refuge in the Kingdom after fleeing the war in their country earlier this year. A total of 463,562 Yemenis corrected their status. The visas, which took effect on 21/9/1436 A.H., are set to expire this month.

The extension of visas by six months will allow them to continue to work in the Kingdom, after getting travel documents from the government of their country.

The General Directorate of Passports has completed all preparations to implement the royal order, a statement from the directorate said.

Applications for extension o f visas will be available at the Passport Department, where visitor identity cards will be printed after payment of SR100. The applicants will have to pay this amount between Friday morning (14/3/1437 AH) and 23/3/1437 AH evening.

For printing of the visitor’s card, the host will have to log in to the Absher electronic service on the Ministry of Interior’s website (www.moi.gov.sa) by clicking on the icon “Print visitor’s card” and the new card will be sent to the recipient through Saudi postal service “Wasel.”

The General Directorate of Passports has urged all holders of visitor identity cards who have not registered with Absher to do so as early as possible.

Those who fail to avail themselves of the facility by 23/3/1437 AH will be held accountable under the residence law and no application for extension of visas will be accepted after that.