Saudi announces 90-day amnesty for illegal migrants
Saudi Arabia announced a 90-day general amnesty to undocumented migrant workers to leave for their home country starting from 29 March.
The Saudi Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Mohammed Bin Naif announced the amnesty on Sunday.
The Saudi government, three years ago, had announced similar amnesty to illegal migrant workers that saw over 35,000 Nepali workers returning from the middle-east nation.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said that 19 government agencies will carry out the campaign. He said the decision covers those who overstayed their Haj or Umrah visit, or any other type of visa.
He said procedures will be finalized for violators with no residence or work permits who infiltrated the borders illegally. Travel permits will be issued for those individuals.
The General Directorate of Passports and the Immigration Department completed preparations to facilitate the departure of violators.
Al-Turki said residents with no identity cards or who overstayed their Haj visa must visit the nearest Passport department to complete the procedures.
He also urged citizens and residents not to employ individuals who violated their work or residency permits, or cover up for them. He urged people to report violators by calling 999.
Once the grace period passes, penalties will levied against violators who remain.
Al-Turki said the same campaign was launched three years ago with more than 2.5 million violators departing under the program.