Saudi Arabia to regularise status of undocumented Yemenis from October 11

On October 11, Saudi Arabia will commence a two-month process to regularise the status of undocumented Yemeni nationals residing within its borders. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the General Directorate of Passports will oversee the procedure, in alignment with directives from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in response to a request from Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi.

Four categories of eligible Yemenis are covered by the process, each with distinct procedures. These include individuals lacking Yemeni documents or passports, who will be granted a free six-month visit visa upon appointment via the Absher platform and submission of proof of Yemeni nationality. Those with expired visitor IDs or visas will have their biometric data registered electronically for six months, provided they possess a valid passport.

Meanwhile, residents with expired residency permits or iqamas, coupled with valid travel documents, can transfer their employment to relevant employers through digital platforms like Qiwa for professional workers or Musaned for domestic workers. Similarly, individuals who have been reported absent from work can rectify their status by cancelling the report and transferring to another employer via Qiwa or Musaned.

A total of 23 centres will be established across Saudi Arabia to facilitate the status regularisation process, strategically located in Riyadh, Aseer, the Eastern Region, Makkah, Jazan, Al-Jouf, Najran, Madinah, Al-Baha, Northern Borders, Tabuk, Qassim, and Hail. This comprehensive two-month initiative aims to allow eligible Yemeni nationals to correct their status according to their specific documentation and employment circumstances.