"50,000 Riyals fine" for misuse of temporary Hajj, Umrah work visa: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: SR50,000 fine for misuse of temporary Hajj, Umrah work visa.  It has been decided to impose a fine of 50,000 Riyals if a temporary visa is misused in Saudi Arabia, the Department of Social Development has announced. 

Issuing visas, transferring them to other people's names, or using them for other purposes other than those authorized will fall under the scope of misuse. The Saudi Cabinet recently approved the Crown Prince's conditions for temporary work visas for Hajj and Umrah services in Saudi Arabia. The new visa is prescribed under the Regulations 1446 on Temporary Work Visas and Temporary Work for Hajj and Umrah services. 

A fine of 15,000 Riyals will be levied if an applicant for a temporary work visa is found to have submitted false documents, address or other information through the Ministry's website. Holders of temporary work visas issued for Hajj and Umrah services have been told to write the words “No Hajj” in Arabic and English on the visa if they are not permitted to perform Hajj. 

A temporary work visa issued for Hajj and Umrah services is not allowed to be converted into a visa for another job or permanent job. In all cases, the violator will have to pay equal to the earnings he/she obtained as a result of the infringement. The penalty would vary based on the number of violations.

Furthermore, an applicant for a temporary work visa for Hajj and Umrah services, whose registered address, data, or submitted documents prove incorrect, will be liable to a maximum fine of SR15,000. Violators of the provisions shall be barred from participating in the Hajj, a services tender for a period not exceeding 5 years in addition to a fine not exceeding 50,000 Riyals.