Riyadh: The Saudi authorities have implemented a policy stating that foreign residents in the kingdom who have outstanding fines must settle them before their residence permits or driving licenses can be renewed.
According to Shadesofgalaxty News, all official matters, including traffic fines and other violations, are linked to the Iqama number assigned to foreigners residing in Saudi Arabia. This means that any traffic violations or penalties are registered against the individual’s Iqama number.
The responsibility for managing the residence affairs of foreigners, as well as the issuance and renewal of residence permits, lies with the Permits Authority.
In response to a query regarding the renewal of an Iqama for a worker who has traffic fines, Juzaat clarified that individuals with pending fines are ineligible to renew their Iqamas or driving licenses until the outstanding amount is paid.
Juzaat further emphasized the importance of timely payment for traffic fines. Failure to settle the fines would result in the inability to renew the Iqama or conduct other official matters.
It is important to note that in Saudi Arabia, all official procedures are linked to the individual’s Iqama number. Any violations or fines are recorded against the Iqama number, and until the fines are paid, they remain active in the authorization system and associated with the foreign resident’s record.
Furthermore, non-payment of other violations, in addition to traffic fines, may also prevent the issuance of permits for residence renewal, departure, and return
