Direct Answer / Quick Summary:

If an expatriate employee, family dependent, or domestic worker in Saudi Arabia cancels their international travel plans after an Exit Re-Entry Visa (*Ta'sheerat Khuruj wa Awda* / تأشيرة خروج وعودة) has already been generated, the sponsoring employer or family head must formally cancel the visa online via Muqeem or Absher:

The 90-Day Statutory Cancellation Window: The visa must be cancelled within 90 days from the date of visa issuance*, OR before the expiration date indicated on the visa—whichever occurs earlier.

The SAR 1,000 Late Penalty: Under Article 61 of the Saudi Travel Documents & Residency Regulations, if an unused visa expires without being formally cancelled on the portal, Jawazat automatically imposes a SAR 1,000 fine for the first offense, escalating to SAR 2,000 for a second offense, and SAR 3,000 for repeated violations*.

100% Government Fee Refund: When an unused visa is cancelled within the legal window while the worker is inside the Kingdom, the paid government fee (SAR 200, SAR 500, etc.) is automatically refunded back to the payer's bank account via SADAD Biller 099 within 48 to 72 business hours*.

Non-Negotiable Condition: The expatriate must be physically inside Saudi Arabia* at the time of cancellation. An exit re-entry visa cannot be cancelled once the traveler has cleared border control or departed the Kingdom.

The Legal Framework: Article 61 & The Obligation to Cancel

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Exit Re-Entry Visa is not merely a travel ticket; it is a legally binding immigration decree logged in the National Information Center (NIC) under the Ministry of Interior (MOI).

When an employer generates a visa, the border control database marks the expatriate as "Authorized for International Departure". If the trip is abandoned, leaving that authorization open in the government ledger creates an unclosed immigration record.

Under Article 61 of the Saudi Residency Regulations, employers are statutorily responsible for maintaining accurate employee immigration states:

Step 1Trip Cancellation

Travel Plan Abandoned

Project delayed or employee annual leave cancelled; visa sits unused on file

Step 2Status Check (Inside KSA)

Physical Presence Audit

Verify employee is physically inside Saudi Arabia; passport has no exit stamp

Step 3Instant Cancellation

Portal Cancellation

GRO executes cancellation on Muqeem (Commercial) or sponsor executes on Absher (Family)

Step 4Bank Refund (SAR)

Automatic SADAD Refund

Jawazat ledger cancels visa; automated refund credited to bank account within 48-72h

The 90-Day Rule vs Visa Expiry: Avoiding the Penalty Trap

Many human resources managers and expatriate sponsors misinterpret the cancellation deadline, leading to unexpected financial assessments:

Statutory Safeguards & Rights Protection

Mandatory protections enforced by MHRSD & Saudi Labor Law

1
The 90-Day Departure WindowEvery newly generated exit re-entry visa carries an initial 90-day departure window from issuance. If the employee does not travel within these 90 days, the visa is considered abandoned.
2
The Deadline to CancelYou must cancel the visa ON OR BEFORE the 90th day from issuance. If the visa had a fixed return date (Al-Awda Qabl) that was shorter than 90 days, you must cancel it before that fixed date.
3
The SAR 1,000 Penalty TriggerThe instant the 90-day window elapses without travel or cancellation, Jawazat's automated system locks the record and generates a SAR 1,000 fine on SADAD Biller 099.
4
Portal Freeze until Fine SettlementThe establishment or sponsor cannot issue a new exit re-entry visa, renew Iqamas, or execute worker transfers until the late cancellation penalty is paid in full.

The Progressive Penalty Scale for Neglected Cancellations

Under Jawazat administrative decrees:

First Offense: SAR 1,000 fine per uncancelled visa.
Second Offense: SAR 2,000 fine.
Third Offense: SAR 3,000 fine plus mandatory administrative review by the Jawazat Investigation Committee.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Canceling on Corporate Muqeem (Commercial Staff)

For enterprise Government Relations Officers (GRO / Mandoob), Corporate PROs, and HR directors managing company personnel:

Step 1: Log in to Corporate Muqeem

1Navigate to the enterprise portal: https://muqeem.sa.
2Authenticate using your corporate Username, Password, and Nafath Business OTP.
3Select the relevant establishment Commercial Registration (CR).

Step 2: Access the Visa Cancellation Service

1In the main service navigation menu, click on Electronic Transactions (المعاملات الإلكترونية).
2Select Visa Services (خدمات التأشيرات).
3Click on Cancel Exit Re-Entry Visa (*إلغاء تأشيرة خروج وعودة*).

Step 3: Search Candidate by Iqama Number

1Enter the employee's 10-digit Iqama Number (starting with 2).
2The portal pulls the live travel profile:

- Visa Number (10 digits).

- Visa Type: Single or Multiple.

- Issue Date & Remaining Days in 90-day window.

- Location Status: Must display Inside the Kingdom (*داخل المملكة*).

Step 4: Confirm Cancellation

1The platform displays a verification prompt:

`"Are you sure you wish to cancel Exit Re-Entry Visa No. [XXXXXXXXXX] for employee [Name]?"`

2Click Confirm Cancellation (تأكيد الإلغاء).
3The system confirms: "The Exit Re-Entry Visa has been cancelled successfully."
4The employee's immigration status instantly reverts to Active Resident Inside KSA with zero pending travel authorizations.

Step 5: Archive the Cancellation Certificate

1Click Print Cancellation Receipt (*طباعة إشعار الإلغاء*).
2Save the PDF containing the Jawazat digital timestamp in the employee's corporate HR compliance file.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Canceling on Absher (Family & Domestic Workers)

For individual expatriates canceling visas for sponsored spouses, children, or private drivers:

Step 1Absher Individuals

Access Absher Portal

Log in to absher.sa using National ID/Iqama, password, and SMS OTP

Step 2Visa Dashboard

Navigate to Family Services

Open Services → Family Members (أفراد الأسرة) → Visa Services

Step 3Profile View

Select Dependent

Click on the specific dependent holding the active, unused exit re-entry visa

Step 4Instant Cancellation

Execute & Confirm

Click 'Cancel Exit Re-Entry Visa'; confirm prompt; receive instant confirmation SMS

1Log in to https://absher.sa and select Absher Individuals (أبشر أفراد).
2Under My Services (خدماتي), go to Family Members (أفراد الأسرة) → Visa Services (خدمات التأشيرات).
3(For domestic workers, navigate to Worker Services / العمالة المنزلية).
4Click More Details next to the family member's name.
5Click Cancel Exit Re-Entry Visa (إلغاء تأشيرة خروج وعودة).
6The system verifies that the dependent is inside Saudi Arabia and that the 90-day window is active.
7Click Confirm. You will receive an immediate confirmation SMS from MOI.

How the SADAD Fee Refund Works (Biller 099)

One of the greatest benefits of canceling an unused exit re-entry visa on time is the full refund of paid government fees:

Visa Type CancelledGovernment Fee PaidRefund Amount EligibleProcessing TimelineRefund Destination
Single Visa (2 Months)SAR 200SAR 200 (100%)48 to 72 Business HoursOriginal Bank Account / SADAD Pool
Single Visa (3 Months)SAR 300SAR 300 (100%)48 to 72 Business HoursOriginal Bank Account / SADAD Pool
Multiple Visa (3 Months)SAR 500SAR 500 (100%)48 to 72 Business HoursOriginal Bank Account / SADAD Pool
Multiple Visa (6 Months)SAR 1,100SAR 1,100 (100%)48 to 72 Business HoursOriginal Bank Account / SADAD Pool

How to Retrieve an Unrefunded Payment via Online Banking

If the refund does not reflect in your bank account balance automatically after 72 hours:

1Log in to your online banking app (Al Rajhi, SNB, Riyad Bank, etc.).
2Navigate to SADAD Bills → Government Payments → MOI - Alien Control (Jawazat).
3Select Transaction Type: Refund (استرداد).
4Service Type: Exit Re-Entry Visa (*تأشيرة خروج وعودة*).
5Input the employee's Iqama Number.
6The system will display the available credit balance; click Request Refund. The funds are deposited directly into your current checking account within minutes.

Real-World Case Study: Jeddah Commercial Contractor Avoids SAR 8,000 in Fines

In November 2025, a Jeddah MEP contracting firm was preparing to dispatch 8 senior HVAC commissioning engineers to an overseas equipment inspection in Germany:

The Situation: Due to sudden European visa processing delays, the international trip was cancelled. The HR department had already issued eight 3-Month Multiple Exit Re-Entry Visas (SAR 500 each = SAR 4,000 total).
The Compliance Action:

* On Day 74 of the 90-day window, the Corporate GRO audited active visas on Muqeem.

* Recognizing that the 90-day expiration was approaching, the GRO executed immediate cancellations for all 8 engineers.

The Financial Impact:

Fines Avoided: By canceling on Day 74 instead of allowing the visas to lapse on Day 91, the firm avoided $8 × SAR 1,000 = SAR 8,000*$ in statutory Jawazat penalties.

Fees Recovered: Within 48 hours, Jawazat automatically refunded all SAR 4,000 in government fees* back to the company's corporate bank account via SADAD.

Total Value Preserved: SAR 12,000* with zero portal compliance restrictions.

Troubleshooting Common Visa Cancellation Errors

Error Message on Muqeem / AbsherUnderlying CauseMandatory Resolution Protocol
`Cannot Cancel: Expatriate is Outside KSA`The worker has already departed Saudi Arabia through an airport or land border.A visa cannot be cancelled once travel commences. The worker must either return before expiry or extend from abroad.
`Visa Has Already Expired`The 90-day issuance window or fixed return date has elapsed.The SAR 1,000 fine has already triggered. Pay the penalty via SADAD Biller 099 before you can clear the record.
`Unpaid Traffic Violations Exist`Outstanding traffic fines are registered against the employee or sponsoring establishment.Settle all pending traffic fines via online banking before attempting cancellation.
`Iqama Expired`The worker's residency permit expired while the unused visa was sitting active on file.Renew the Iqama first on Qiwa and Muqeem, then proceed with the visa cancellation.
`Service Temporarily Unavailable`Elm / Jawazat National Information Center experiencing scheduled maintenance.Retry outside peak hours (02:00 AM to 06:00 AM) or clear browser cookies and cache.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can an employee cancel their own exit re-entry visa on Absher?

No. An employee cannot cancel their own exit re-entry visa. Under Saudi immigration regulations, commercial employee visas must be cancelled by the sponsoring employer (Company / Kafeel) through Corporate Muqeem or Absher Business. However, an expat head of household can cancel visas for their family dependents on Absher Individuals.

How much time do I have to cancel an unused exit re-entry visa?

You have 90 days from the date the visa was issued, OR until the specific return date indicated on the visa—whichever comes first. Canceling within this timeframe guarantees zero fines.

What is the fine if an exit re-entry visa is not cancelled after 90 days?

Under Article 61 of the Saudi Residency Regulations, failing to cancel an unused exit re-entry visa results in an automatic SAR 1,000 fine for the first offense, SAR 2,000 for a second offense, and SAR 3,000 for repeated violations.

Are government fees refunded if an exit re-entry visa is cancelled on Muqeem?

Yes. If the visa is cancelled within the 90-day window while the expatriate is inside Saudi Arabia, the government fee (SAR 200, SAR 500, etc.) is 100% refunded to the original bank account via SADAD within 48 to 72 business hours.

Can an exit re-entry visa be cancelled at the airport departure gate?

If an expatriate arrives at the airport and decides not to board before passing through passport control, the employer can cancel the visa on Muqeem. However, once Jawazat stamps the passport at the immigration departure counter, the visa is legally activated and cannot be cancelled online.