The statute on Treatment of Persons Entering the Kingdom under Haj, Umrah or Other Visas
DATE: 1404 AH
” In The Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful”
Royal Decree No.M/42, issued on 18/10/1404 AH
With the help of Allah the Almighty
We, Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Upon the perusal of article 19 of the Cabinet Law promulgated by the Royal Decree No.38, dated 22/10/1377 AH, And upon the perusal of the Cabinet Decision No.201, dated 6/08/1404 AH
Hereby decrees as follows:
Firstly: The statute on Treatment of Persons Entering the Kingdom under Haj, Umrah or Other Visas shall be approved in the form attached hereto
Secondly: His Highness the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministers, each within their jurisdiction, shall implement this Decree of ours.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
Order No.201 on 6/08/1404 AH
The Cabinet
Upon the perusal of the document attached hereto submitted by the Prime Minister’s Office No.8/5 ,dated 1/1/1404 AH, including the letter of His Royal Highness , Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation, Inspector General and Chairman of the Council of Manpower No.792/P/M ,dated 21/11/1403 AH ,as requested by His Royal Highness the Minister of the Interior for a Statute on the Treatment of Persons Entering the Kingdom to perform Umrah and visit with clear-cut procedures with a view to preventing overstaying in the Country and illegal stay and related security problems and otherwise, in which he indicates that the issue has been fully considered at the meeting of the Council of Manpower held on 9/09/1403 AH , attended by His Excellency the Minister of Justice, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
And upon the perusal of the previous studies conducted in this regard, and based on the minutes of the Bureau of Experts No.132, dated 28/10/1399 AH, drawn up in conjunction with the Ministry of the Interior.
And upon the perusal of the view of the Cabinet expressed at the meeting held on 21-22/02/1403 AH.
Resolves the following
1- The Statute on Treatment of Persons Entering the Kingdom under Haj, Umrah or Other Visas shall be approved in the form attached hereto.
2-Draft Royal Decree to that effect shall be issued and copy of which is attached hereto.
3-The Ministry of the Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior shall be provided with funds and manpower for both with a view to easing the burdens due to the large number of applications received for Umrah and Visit visas to the Madina, provided that they their needs shall be identified upon the submission of their applications to the Cabinet for appropriate decision
In witness whereof
Deputy Prime Minister
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
The statute on Treatment of Persons Entering the Kingdom under
Haj, Umrah or Other Visas
Article (1):
The Minister of the Interior shall coordinate with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Haj and Endowments, and Commerce about the regulation of the following issues:
A)-Entry visas for willing pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque shall be issued The validity of visas and the issuance requirements, length of stay in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah shall be determined as well as the prohibited activities that the persons entering the Kingdom for that purpose shall not carry out.
B)-Visas issued for other purposes such as visit, commerce and the alike, together with the visa issuance requirements, length of stay in the country, prohibitions and obligations that the persons entering the Kingdom shall comply with.
Article (2):
The Minister of the Interior ,in coordination with the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs , and the General President of the Civil Service Bureau shall determine the categories of contractors authorized to bring their families ,as well as the household meaning shall be defined .
Article (3):
A)-The Persons Entering the Kingdom for Haj, Umrah or the visit to the Prophet’s Mosque shall not stay upon the expiry of the visas issued ,and shall not work in all parts of the Kingdom or move outside the territory of Makkah, Madina , and Jeddah.
B)-All means of domestic transport shall not carry the persons entering the Kingdom for Haj, Umrah or visit to the Prophet’s Mosque between the cities of the Kingdom and the transport between Makkah, Jeddah and Madina is excepted during the validity of their visas as required by the Minister of the Interior.
C)-Overstayers shall not be accommodated at any place upon the expiry of their valid visas and shall not be hired; neither kept hidden nor be provided with any assistance that may lead to their illegal stay in the Kingdom.
Article (4)
Any contravention of the provisions of article (3) indicated above shall be punishable by a term not exceeding two- year imprisonment ,and a fine of not more than one hundred thousand Saudi riyals or both .Such penalty shall be repeated as many times as there are persons relating to whom such offense is committed .
Article (5):
Any person who contravenes the rules issued by the Minister of the Interior in accord with the competent authorities is liable to a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding one year and a fine not more than fifty thousand Saudi riyals or both in accordance with the above article (1)
Article (6):
An order may be issued by the Minister of the Interior to inflict penalties, and the penalty decision may be appealed before the Board of Grievances within one month from the date at which the sentenced person was notified of said decision.
Article (7) :
The Minister of the Interior shall issue the executive decisions required for the application of these rules, including the measures taken to seek out and ascertain breaches of the violations.
Article (8)
Laws, decisions or instructions at variance with the provisions of this Law are hereby repealed.
