Leaving Saudi Arabia Checklist — Complete Exit Guide

Leaving Saudi Arabia requires careful coordination between your employer, government systems, and personal affairs. The most critical step is the Final Exit Visa — without it, you cannot leave the country legally.

Unlike the UAE, where you get a grace period after visa cancellation, in KSA the Final Exit Visa gives you a 60-day window to leave. Once issued, the clock is ticking.

Start preparing well before your last working day. Some steps (like selling a car or closing bank accounts) can take weeks.

• Collect your End of Service Benefit (ESB) — Your employer must pay your ESB as part of your final settlement. Use our KSA ESB Calculator to verify the amount. Remember: ESB in KSA is calculated on basic salary plus fixed allowances (housing, transport).
• Get your experience letter — Request a formal experience/service certificate from HR. This is essential for future employment in the GCC or elsewhere.
• Obtain your GOSI statement — Download your General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) statement from gosi.gov.sa. This confirms your contribution history and is your proof of social insurance payments during your employment.
• Check your final payslip — Should include outstanding salary, unused annual leave payout, ESB, and any other contractual entitlements.
• Return company property — Laptop, phone, access cards, company vehicle, accommodation keys (if company-provided housing), uniforms.
• Collect a clearance letter — Confirms you have no outstanding obligations to the company.
• Get a salary certificate — A letter confirming your salary, useful for future bank applications and visa processes in other countries.

• Final Exit Visa — Your employer (sponsor) must issue your Final Exit Visa through the Qiwa or Muqeem portal. Once issued, you have 60 days to leave Saudi Arabia. This is the most critical step — do not let it expire.
• Check Absher for final exit status — Log into Absher (absher.sa) to confirm your final exit status is active. Your status should show as "Final Exit" under your Iqama details.
• Iqama return — Your Iqama (residency permit) is effectively cancelled when the Final Exit Visa is issued. You do not need to physically return it, but it becomes invalid.
• Settle any Huroob (absconding) issues — If you have any prior Huroob reports on your record, these must be resolved before you can process a Final Exit. Check with your employer and through Absher.
• Check for travel bans — Ensure there are no outstanding legal cases, debts, or violations that could prevent you from leaving. Check through Absher or the Ministry of Justice portal (moj.gov.sa).
• Exit/re-entry visa holders — If you are on an exit/re-entry visa rather than a Final Exit, be aware that returning to KSA may not be possible if your employer cancels your Iqama while you are abroad.

• Close bank accounts — Visit your bank branch to close your account. You will need your Iqama and a letter from your employer confirming end of service. Most banks require you to close the account in person.
• Settle all SADAD payments — Clear any outstanding SADAD bills (utilities, telecom, government fees). Unpaid SADAD obligations can prevent Final Exit processing.
• Transfer funds home — Compare rates before transferring your ESB and savings. Use our FX Transfer Comparison tool. Note: large transfers may require additional documentation (source of funds letter from employer).
• Cancel credit cards — Pay off all outstanding balances and get closure letters. Outstanding credit card debt can result in legal complications.
• Cancel any loans — Settle all personal and vehicle loans. Get clearance letters from the lending bank.
• Check tax timing — If returning to a country with income tax, the timing of receiving your ESB matters. Use our Tax Estimator to check the impact.

• Give notice to your landlord — Check your rental contract for the required notice period. Provide written notice.
• Settle utility final bills — Pay your final electricity (SEC) and water (NWC) bills. Keep receipts as proof of payment.
• Cancel internet and TV — STC, Mobily, or Zain home services. Early termination fees may apply within contract periods.
• Return company accommodation — If you live in company-provided housing, coordinate the move-out with your HR department and do a joint inspection.
• Get your rental deposit back — Do a property inspection with the landlord and document the condition with photos. Get written confirmation of the deposit return.
• Cancel Ejar contract — If your rental is registered on the Ejar platform, ensure the contract is properly terminated.

• Sell your car — Sell through platforms like Haraj or Syarah, or through dealer buyback. Complete the ownership transfer at a traffic department (Muroor) office.
• Cancel Istimara (vehicle registration) — If you sell, the buyer handles the new registration. If scrapping or exporting, cancel through Absher or the traffic department.
• Pay all Saher fines — Check and pay any outstanding traffic camera fines through Absher. Unpaid fines can block your Final Exit.
• Pay any Muroor fines — Check for any traffic violations or accident-related fines.
• Cancel vehicle insurance — Cancel and request a pro-rata refund for any unused period.
• Settle vehicle finance — If the car is on a loan, settle the outstanding amount and get a clearance letter before selling.

• Cancel mobile phone contract — STC, Mobily, or Zain. Early termination fees may apply. Visit a branch in person with your Iqama.
• Settle any outstanding telecom bills — These are tracked through SADAD and unpaid bills can block your Final Exit.
• Port your number — If you want to keep your Saudi number active (e.g., for Absher, banking OTPs), some providers offer international roaming packages. Consider whether you need this.

• Dependents' exit visas — Each dependent (spouse, children) needs their own Final Exit Visa. Process through Absher or Muqeem. Do not leave this to the last minute.
• School transfer certificates — Request official transfer certificates from your children's school. These must be attested by the Ministry of Education.
• Vaccination records — Get copies of all children's vaccination records from their healthcare provider.
• School reports and transcripts — Request the last 2–3 years of reports for school enrolment in your destination country.
• Settle school fees — Clear any outstanding tuition and collect post-dated cheques if applicable.
• Dependent Iqama cancellation — Dependent Iqamas are cancelled as part of the Final Exit process. Confirm through Absher that all dependents' statuses are correct.

• Verify Final Exit is active — Check Absher one last time before heading to the airport. Your status must show as Final Exit.
• Keep digital copies of everything — Scan or photograph: Iqama, Final Exit confirmation, GOSI statement, ESB receipt, bank closure letters, experience letter, clearance letter. Store in the cloud.
• Shipping — Arrange freight for personal belongings. Book well in advance as shipping from KSA can take 4–8 weeks.
• Airport process — At the airport, immigration will stamp your passport with a Final Exit. This completes your departure from KSA.
• GOSI refund (if eligible) — Non-Saudi employees who contributed to GOSI may be eligible for a lump-sum refund of their contributions. Check with GOSI directly.