Saudia Arabia announces ban on expats who fail to return on time

Expatriate workers who fail to return to the Saudi Arabia before the expiry of their exit-reentry visas will not be allowed to enter the country for three years, a government official said.

The ban on entry, which will be counted from the date of the expiry of the reentry visa, applies to workers only, Director of Media and Public Relations Col. Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saad was quoted as saying on Wednesday by Saudi Press Agency.

Many expatriates expressed surprise at this decision, saying that often unavoidable circumstances force them to overstay.

"My father went to India, but he could not return on time because his mother died," said an Indian IT professional.

"Now we are arranging to extend the reentry visa duration for him," he said, expressing concern after he came to know about the new rule.

At 2.8 million, Indians comprise the largest expatriate population in the Gulf nation.