A final exit visa is the last government step for an expatriate leaving Saudi Arabia for good, whether the contract has ended, a domestic worker is going home or a family is relocating. The visa itself is free and takes minutes to issue online, yet people still miss flights because of an iqama with too few days left, a car still registered in their name, an unpaid traffic fine or dependents who were forgotten. This guide covers who issues the visa, the conditions, how long it lasts, the fine if it is not used, the special cases (expired iqama, absence reports, probation and dependents), how to check and cancel it, and whether you can return later, based on what the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) and the Ministry of Human Resources (HRSD) have published up to October 2026. If you plan to come back after a trip instead, you need an exit re-entry visa, not a final exit.
Final exit visa in brief
- The visa is free. Jawazat lists it at no charge.
- The iqama must have at least 30 days left when the visa is issued.
- The visa is valid for up to 60 days. If the iqama has between 30 and 59 days left, the visa ends with the iqama.
- Not leaving in time means a SAR 1,000 fine, paid before the expired visa can be cancelled.
- Employers issue it through Absher Business or Muqeem; household sponsors through Absher Individuals.
- No car may be registered in your name and all traffic fines must be paid.
Who issues a final exit visa?
| Person leaving | Who issues it | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Private-sector employee | The employer | Absher Business (My Business Services, Issuance of final exit visa) or Muqeem |
| Domestic worker (driver, housemaid) | The household sponsor | Absher Individuals, Workers section |
| Dependents (wife, children) | The head of the family | Absher Individuals, Family Members section |
| Employee whose contract has ended | The employee can request it | Absher (Visa Request for residents), under the Labor Reform Initiative |
Since March 2021, private-sector workers covered by the Labor Reform Initiative can leave after their contract ends without the employer’s consent. The worker submits the request on Absher, the employer is notified electronically and can object on legal grounds, and HRSD decides any objection. A worker who leaves before the contract ends bears the contractual consequences. Domestic workers are not covered by this route; their sponsor must issue the visa.
Requirements for a final exit visa
- Iqama: valid for at least 30 days. If it has less, or has expired, it must be renewed first.
- Passport: valid for at least 60 days according to Jawazat. Some Absher Business screens ask for 90 days, so 90 days or more is the safe choice.
- Traffic violations: all fines registered against the person must be paid.
- Vehicles: no vehicle may be registered in the person’s name. Sell it or transfer it before applying.
- Location: the person must be inside Saudi Arabia when the visa is issued.
- Record: no absconding (absence) report and no other active visa that has not been cancelled.
- Fingerprints: on record for men and for women aged 16 and over.
- Financial dues: overdue iqama and work permit fees, and the dependent levy, must be settled.
How long is a final exit visa valid, and what if you do not leave?
The final exit visa is valid for up to 60 days from the day it is issued. Under the rule Jawazat announced in January 2025, if the iqama has between 30 and 59 days left, the visa is valid only until the iqama expires. Some Jawazat replies describe a flat 60 days, so always check the “leave before” date shown in Absher or Muqeem rather than counting yourself.
If the visa expires and the person is still in Saudi Arabia, a SAR 1,000 fine applies. The sponsor pays the fine, then cancels the expired visa and issues a new one, which is only possible while the iqama is still valid. So if travel plans change, cancel the visa before it expires instead of letting it lapse.
How to issue a final exit visa, step by step
Employer on Absher Business
- Log in to Absher Business and select the establishment.
- Go to My Business Services, then Issuance of final exit visa.
- Enter the employee’s iqama number and review the details. If a condition is not met (iqama validity, traffic fines, a registered vehicle), the system will stop and show the reason.
- Confirm. No fee is charged.
- Save or print the visa and note the leave-before date.
Employer on Muqeem
- Log in to Muqeem with the one-time code sent to the number registered in Absher.
- Choose Issue Final Exit Visa, or Issue Final Exit Visa for Group of Residents for several employees.
- Enter the iqama number, check the details and confirm.
- Track visas in the Issued Final Exit Visas and Active Final Exit Visas reports, and use Print Final Exit Proof for proof of departure.
Household sponsor on Absher Individuals
- Log in to Absher Individuals.
- For a domestic worker open Workers; for a dependent open Family Members, then the visa services.
- Select the person and choose the final exit visa. Any dependent levy due is shown before you confirm.
- Confirm and print or save the visa.
Special cases
Final exit with an expired iqama
A final exit cannot be issued while the iqama is expired or has fewer than 30 days left. The sponsor first renews it, paying the renewal fee and any late fine. Jawazat’s fee table sets the iqama at SAR 650 a year for company workers and SAR 600 for domestic workers, and a first late renewal is fined SAR 500 (SAR 1,000 for a second delay). The iqama can be renewed for three months, which keeps the cost down when the only goal is to leave. For company workers, the Labor Law makes the employer responsible for iqama and work permit fees and their late fines.
If an employer refuses to renew the iqama or issue the visa, the worker can book a virtual Qiwa labour office appointment for a final exit work permit, or file a labour complaint with HRSD, which first tries to settle the dispute amicably.
Final exit with an absence (huroob) report
When an employer ends a worker’s contract for absence, the worker has 60 days to transfer to a new employer or take a final exit. During that window the final exit is issued normally. After 60 days the status becomes “absent from work” and the normal Absher route is closed. Since September 2025 some absent workers can still transfer to a new employer through Qiwa if they meet the conditions. Otherwise, departure goes through the deportation centre, and a deported person is banned from re-entering Saudi Arabia. Acting within the 60 days makes a big difference.
Final exit during probation
Employers can issue a final exit for a newly arrived worker during the first 90 days, before the iqama is issued, through Absher Business or Muqeem. Household sponsors can do the same for a domestic worker through Absher Individuals. Note that a final exit issued this way cannot be cancelled once it has been used.
Leaving with dependents
A final exit issued for the head of the family covers the dependents on his record, and family members on the same passport must travel together. Dependents cannot stay behind after the head of the family leaves for good. The dependent levy must be settled up to the date of the final exit; Absher calculates the exact amount. If dependents are abroad on an exit re-entry visa, their status is converted when the head of the family gets a final exit. For dependents’ iqama issues, see our guide to iqama renewal for dependents on Absher.
How to check, print and cancel a final exit visa
- Employee: in your Absher account, the visa information shows “FINAL” once the visa has been issued.
- Anyone: the HRSD expatriate employee inquiry page shows the status by iqama, border or passport number, without logging in.
- Employer: Muqeem’s Active Final Exit Visas report, and Print Final Exit Proof.
- Printing: the visa is electronic and checked at the airport against the passport, but keep a printout or screenshot just in case.
To cancel a valid final exit, the employer uses Cancellation of final exit visa in Absher Business (or the cancel option in Muqeem), and an individual sponsor uses the cancellation service in Absher Individuals. The person must be inside Saudi Arabia, and the cancellation must happen while the visa is still valid. The official guides list no fee for cancelling a valid visa. A final exit cannot be converted into an exit re-entry visa: cancel it and issue the new visa instead.
Can you come back after a final exit?
Yes. If you left normally on a final exit and have no violations on record, you can return later on any new visa, including a new work visa. The ban applies to people who were deported, for example after an absence report that was not resolved within the 60 days. Leaving properly, on time and with your record clear, keeps the door open.
Before you book the flight: a checklist
- The iqama has at least 30 days left, and the passport at least 60 (preferably 90).
- No car is registered in your name.
- All traffic fines are paid.
- Overdue iqama, work permit and dependent fees are settled.
- Dependents are covered by the final exit or have left.
- Bank accounts, loans and contracts such as rent and phone lines are closed or settled.
- The end-of-service award has been agreed with the employer.
- The flight is booked inside the visa’s validity.
How Moaqeb can help
We check the conditions before the visa is issued, which is where most problems start: iqama days, passport validity, traffic fines, a registered vehicle, dependents and overdue fees. We then guide the employer through Absher Business or Muqeem, or the household sponsor through Absher, step by step and remotely, and help you work out the route when the iqama has expired or an absence report exists. If the worker is staying with a new role instead of leaving, see our guide to the iqama profession change. Logging in and payments always stay with you, and we never ask for passwords or verification codes. See how we help with Saudi government e-services, online transaction follow-up or check how we quote a service.
Official sources
We checked this guide in October 2026. Rules can change, so confirm the details in Absher or Muqeem before you travel:
- Saudi Press Agency: minimum 30 days iqama validity for a final exit visa
- General Directorate of Passports: fee schedule (Arabic)
- General Directorate of Passports: FAQ
- HRSD: Labor Reform Initiative and final exit after the contract ends
- HRSD: the 60-day rule after an absence termination (Arabic)
- Muqeem portal
Frequently asked questions
Is the final exit visa free in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Jawazat lists the final exit visa as free. Overdue iqama or work permit fees, the dependent levy and traffic fines must be paid before the system will issue it.
How long is a final exit visa valid?
Up to 60 days from issuance. If the iqama had 30 to 59 days left when the visa was issued, the visa ends with the iqama, so check the leave-before date in Absher or Muqeem.
What is the fine if I do not leave on my final exit visa?
SAR 1,000. The sponsor pays it, then cancels the expired visa and issues a new one, which requires a valid iqama.
Can I get a final exit visa with an expired iqama?
Not directly. The iqama must first be renewed so it has at least 30 days left, with the renewal fee and any late fine paid. For company workers these costs are on the employer.
Can a final exit visa be cancelled?
Yes, while it is still valid and the person is inside Saudi Arabia, through Absher Business, Muqeem or Absher Individuals. A final exit issued during the pre-iqama probation period cannot be cancelled once used.
Can an employee apply for a final exit himself?
A private-sector worker covered by the Labor Reform Initiative can request it on Absher after the contract ends, and the employer is notified. Domestic workers cannot; their sponsor issues the visa.
How can I check if my final exit visa has been issued?
Your Absher visa information shows “FINAL”, and the HRSD expatriate employee inquiry shows the status by iqama or border number. Employers can see it in Muqeem under Active Final Exit Visas.
Can I return to Saudi Arabia after a final exit?
Yes, on a new visa, if you left normally with no violations on record. People who were deported, including unresolved absence cases, are banned from entry.
Do my family members have to leave with me?
Yes. The head of the family’s final exit covers the dependents on his record, their dependent levy must be settled, and they cannot stay behind after he leaves for good.
