The Saudi General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has made it easier for people with single-entry visit visas to extend their stay. They’ve clarified that you can now do this online through the Ministry of Interior’s Absher platform. There’s no need to go to Jawazat offices in person.
You can extend your visit visa up to seven days before it expires, but the total extension period cannot be more than 180 days. To do this, you’ll need to access your Absher account, pay the required service fee, and have valid medical insurance.
If you face any problems using this online service, you can submit a request through Absher for assistance. Saudi Arabia is changing its visa rules to encourage tourism, aiming to boost its tourism sector’s contribution to the economy and create more jobs, as part of its Vision 2030 plan.
In 2022, the country saw a significant increase in visitors, with 94 million visits and a tourism expenditure of $49 billion.
Saudi Arabia hopes to welcome 100 million visitors by 2030 and increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP by 10%. This year, it also successfully received over 2 million Hajj pilgrims, a significant achievement after the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
