RIYADH: Expatriates in Saudi Arabia will enable to process visas online for their spouses and dependent children to bring them to the country.

The Ministry of Interior’s (MoI) launched online service to ensure hassle-free family visa for expatriates.

On Wednesday, Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, launched an electronic service of issuing visit visas for Iqama for families of expatriates in his office at the ministry.

Assistant interior minister for administrative affairs Abdullah Al-Hammad of ministry of Interior’s (MoI), Ahmed Salem, joint secretary of MOI and senior MOI officials attended the launching ceremony.

Following a special ceremony to launch the service, Salman Al-Shahwain, Director of Ministry's General Department of Expatriates, said the launch of the service will make easy for citizens and expatriates to get family visa.

According to the new step, an expatriate who plans to invite his wife or junior children will not need to visit the headquarters of the ministry, he added.

Expatriates can apply for e-Visa by clicking www.moi.gov.sa which shows the guidelines in English and Arabic languages.

When contacted, Mohammed Ayub, acting chief of mission, Bangladesh Embassy, Riyadh, told banglanews: “We came to know that the Ministry of Interior’s (MoI) of Saudi Arabia has launched online service of issuing visit visas for expatriates’ family members. But we are not informed anything officially about the initiative.”

BDST: 1020 HRS, FEB 12, 2015