World · Middle East · 1 day ago
Saudi Arabia starts status process for four categories of Yemenis
Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has begun a process to regularize the status of Yemenis living illegally in the country.
The move follows a directive from King Salman in response to a request from Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad Al-Alimi.
It covers four groups: people without Yemeni identity documents or passports, people with expired visit documents, residents with expired permits, and people reported as absent from work.
People in the first group may apply for a free six-month visit visa, while some with expired visit documents can have their visas extended online for six months.
Eligible residents with expired permits can transfer to another employer through government digital platforms or obtain a final exit visa.
Eligible people reported as absent from work can have the report cancelled and transfer to another employer.
Applicants must follow the process for their group, including using online platforms or attending a designated center when required.
Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has started procedures to regularize the status of four categories of Yemeni nationals living illegally in the kingdom.
The process follows a directive from King Salman in response to a request from Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad Al-Alimi.
The categories include people without Yemeni identity documents or passports, holders of expired visit documents, residents with expired permits, and people reported as absconding from work.
Available measures include six-month visit visas or extensions, transfers to other employers, and final exit visas.
The directorate listed 16 designated rectification centers across six regions.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports is carrying out the process for four categories of Yemeni nationals.
- What
- Procedures have begun to regularize their status.
- When
- Sunday; the article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The process implements King Salman’s directive in response to a request from Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad Al-Alimi.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
King Salman issued a directive in response to a request from Rashad Al-Alimi.
The General Directorate of Passports started status-rectification procedures for the four categories of Yemenis.
- First category
- People without Yemeni identity documents or passports can receive a free six-month visit visa.
- Second category
- Eligible expired visitor IDs and visit visas can be extended electronically for six months.
- Centers
- 16 centers across Riyadh, Makkah, Asir, Jazan, the Eastern Province, and Al-Jouf.
- Digital platforms
- Absher, Qiwa, and Musaned are listed for eligible service transfers.








