Passports Department issues 15,000 rulings against violators: imprisonment and fines
Intensive security campaigns to apprehend violators
The General Directorate of Passports in Saudi Arabia announced the issuance of more than 15,000 administrative decisions against individuals violating residency, labor, and border security regulations. This decisive step is part of the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Interior and relevant security sectors to apprehend violators and enforce the prescribed penalties, which include imprisonment, fines, and deportation.
Details of penalties and administrative decisions
The administrative decisions issued included deterrent and varied penalties, ranging from imprisonment for varying periods and hefty fines to deportation and permanent removal from the Kingdom for violating residents. The General Directorate of Passports emphasizes that these penalties are not limited to the violators themselves, but extend to anyone proven to be involved in transporting, harboring, or employing violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations, or in concealing them or providing them with any form of assistance. Penalties for those who provide assistance to violators can reach up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to one million riyals, confiscation of the vehicle and accommodation used for sheltering the violator, and publicizing the violator's name.
General context and historical background of security campaigns
These periodic announcements fall under the umbrella of comprehensive national campaigns to track down and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations. These campaigns, launched several years ago under various slogans, most notably the "A Nation Without Violators" campaign, involve different security sectors and government agencies. Their aim is to rid society of the negative phenomena resulting from the presence of undocumented and illegal workers, and to ensure that all expatriates comply with the regulations and laws in force in the Kingdom. Over the years, these campaigns have proven successful in significantly reducing the number of violators.
Importance and expected impact (locally and regionally)
Domestically, this security measure is of paramount importance in enhancing security and social stability. Economically, eliminating illegal workers contributes to curbing the informal economy and irregular financial transfers, thus supporting the national economy and creating a competitive and fair work environment. It also supports the efforts of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in regulating the labor market and providing more job opportunities for citizens through localization programs. From a security perspective, apprehending violators contributes to reducing crime rates and preventing legal violations.
At the regional and international levels, the Kingdom's strict enforcement of residency and border regulations reflects its strong commitment to combating human trafficking and smuggling. It also sends a clear message that the Kingdom welcomes legal workers who contribute to development in accordance with the law, and firmly confronts any attempts to circumvent regulations. This reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leading nation in upholding the rule of law and protecting its borders and society, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
A call for community cooperation
The Ministry of Interior called on all citizens and residents to cooperate with security authorities and not hesitate to report any violators of residency, labor and border security regulations by calling the number (911) in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and the numbers (999) and (996) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom, stressing that security is everyone’s responsibility.
