The Indian Consulate in Jeddah is working out arrangements to send back home the Indian citizens who overstayed their Haj and visit visas. 200 such passes have been issued by the Consulate. According to estimates, around 10,000 Indian overstayers are living in the region. Last year 15,000 overstayers were repatriated to India by the Consulate in Jeddah.

Earlier, the Saudi Government announced amnesty for those who overstayed beyond their visa for a period of one year from September 2010 to September 2011.

The amnesty is applicable for those who have stayed beyond their Umrah, Haj and visit visas to Saudi Arabia .

Saudi Government has set up a detention camp in Jeddah to register overstayers for repatriation to their respective countries.

The amnesty rule says the application for repatriation should be routed through the respective consulate or the embassies.

Applicants should submit their passports or the outpasses issued by their respective missions together with air tickets.

The applicants will be fingerprinted to ensure that they have come into the Kingdom for the specified purpose.

Those who have overstayed their visit visas will be required to pay a fine in accordance with the length of the period of overstay.