Kamal Ghorui
Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry has recently issued a stark warning to individuals that transport, employ, shelter or assist violators of residency and labour regulations will face a fine of up to SR100,000 and imprisonment for up to six months. Moreover, the penalties also include deportation if the offender is a foreign national, said the ministry. The authorities stressed that the penalties apply to anyone who provides any form of assistance to violators of residency, labour and border security regulations.
Sponsors face legal risks
The ministry is cracking down on visitors who remain in the kingdom beyond their permitted stay. However, the authorities are also holding the sponsors responsible, warning jail time, fine and even deportation. Recently, the Saudi Public Security called on citizens and residents to immediately report visit visa holders who remain in the country even after their visa has expired. Authorities warned that failing to notify the officials of a visitor’s departure can lead to penalties reaching up to SR50,000, along with six months of imprisonment.As per recent statistics issued by the General Directorate of Passports, a total of 19,559 administrative decisions were issued in the month of Rajab 1447AH (2026), targeting citizens and residents found violating residency, labour and border security regulations.During coordinated inspections conducted between February 19 and 25, by security forces working along with government authorities, 19,077 illegal residents across Saudi Arabia were arrested, announced the Ministry of Interior in March 2026.While 13,215 individuals were detained for breaching the Residency Law, 3,396 were arrested for violations of the Border Security Law and 2,466 were in violation of the Labour Law. The ministry urged the public to report violators by dialling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions of the Kingdom, assuring no legal liability for the reports.
