Ministry of Interior deports 12,057 violators in one week: Correct your status before December
The Ministry of Interior announced the results of joint field campaigns to monitor violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations across all regions of the Kingdom during the period from September 3 to September 9, 2026. During the week, 14,796 violators were apprehended, including 7,504 violators of residency regulations, 3,509 of labor regulations, and 3,783 of border security regulations. A total of 12,057 violators were deported, while 18,677 were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, and 3,487 were referred to complete their travel arrangements. The total number of individuals caught attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom reached 1,273, while 25 people were apprehended attempting to exit the country illegally.
Currently, 30,257 expatriates are undergoing regulatory enforcement procedures, including 28,529 men and 1,728 women. These figures are close to the previous week's tally, when 14,165 violators were caught and 12,363 were deported, indicating that the pace of the campaigns is stable and not an exceptional crackdown. Practically speaking, any discrepancy in your work permit or the validity of your residency could place you within these statistics within a matter of weeks.
The Ministry emphasized that anyone who transports, harbors, employs, or provides any service to a violator of border security regulations exposes themselves to imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine of up to one million riyals, and the confiscation of the means of transport and housing used for harboring, in addition to public naming and shaming. During the week, 21 individuals were apprehended on charges of transporting, harboring, employing, and concealing violators.
If your work permit has expired or has not been issued after joining an establishment, the grace period for correcting your status remains open until December 31, 2026. Consult your employer to ensure you are registered legally, and verify the expiration date of your residency and health insurance well in advance of the renewal date, as a valid work permit is a prerequisite for any residency renewal. Keep a copy of your employment contract and salary transfer notifications, as these are the first documents requested during any regulatory review. To report a violation, call 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 or 996 in all other regions.