Restriction on Visa Extension for Foreigners Staying More than Six Years in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi labour minister Adel Al Faqih announced the decision of government, still under consideration, which will restrict the extension of the visas of expatriates with more than 6-year stay in KSA.

Saudi Labour Minister Adel Al Faqih in a high level meeting

The restriction is to regulate the local labour market, Al Faqih said, a program likely to affect a large number of Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia. 

Al Faqih further told that companies hiring expatriate workers will be given five months after the implementation of the labour reforms programme to regularise their situation. The reforms, he said, will aim to improve employment opportunities for Saudi nationals and increasing cut-throat competition among them.

But experts say that such labour reforms are the part of safeguarding Saudi Arabia from likely political uprising spread in the neighbouring countries mainly due to unemployment in the local youth and economical crisis.