Saudi Arabia's cabinet, seeking to boost state revenues in an era of low oil prices, approved proposals to raise a range of government fees including visa charges and fines for some traffic violations, the official SPA news agency said on Monday.

Cheap oil has slashed the government's revenues from oil exports, saddling it with a budget deficit that totalled nearly $100 billion last year and forcing it to find new ways to raise money.

New visa fees approved by the cabinet include a charge SR2,000 ($532.9) for one-time entry. However the state will bear this fee if a visitor is coming to the kingdom for the first time to perform Haj or Umrah.

The six-month multiple exit/re-entry visa fee will cost SR3,000 ($799.4),  while a one year visa will cost SR5,000 ($1,332.3) and a visa for two years will be charged at SR8,000 ($2,131.7).

The exit/re-entry visa fees will be as follows:

• SR200 ($53.2) for a single trip for two months as maximum and SR100 ($26.6) for each additional month, within the limits of the duration of the residence permit’s validity.

• SR500 ($133.2) for multiple trips for three months and SR200 for each additional month within the limits of the duration of the residence permit’s validity.

A transit visa fee will be also be charged at SR300 ($79.9) and a departure visa fee will cost SR50 ($13.3) for those leaving the kingdom through seaports.

The cabinet also approved changes to civil aviation fees, SPA said without giving details, and set heavy fines for "drifting", in which thrill-seeking Saudi motorists spin and skid their cars at high speed.

SPA did not say how much money the government expected to raise with the new fees, which could affect business travel to Saudi Arabia and visits by family members of the nearly 10 million foreigners estimated to live and work in the kingdom.

The new fees are expected to come into effect on Muharram 1, 1438, corresponding to October 2, 2016. – Reuters