The Saudi Arabian government has temporarily suspended the issuance of new short-term visas for citizens of 14 countries as part of efforts to regulate travel ahead of the upcoming Hajj season. Nationals from these countries who already hold valid visit visas are advised to check with their local Saudi embassy before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
Starting April 2025, citizens from the following countries will be unable to apply for short-term visas, including single and multiple-entry business visas, e-tourist visas, or family visit visas:
In addition, nationals from these countries who hold valid visit visas and need to enter Saudi Arabia from April and until the 15 of June are advised to check permissibility of travel with their local Saudi embassy before travelling.
If the nationals from the countries listed above are already in Saudi Arabia it’s also advised that they register an Absher account when in the Kingdom to verify the expiry dates of their visas and permissible stay in the Kingdom on the link here.
As always, business travellers on a visit visa are only allowed to conduct permissible business activities during any trips to the KSA.
This decision has been made to address logistical challenges and overcrowding from the previous Hajj season and was made in order to improve coordination of arrivals, optimise visa management and guarantee a safe Hajj.
Regular travel into Saudi Arabia and visa issuance for nationals from the list above is expected to resume from 15 June 2025, although this has not been confirmed officially.
What this means
These changes will affect select foreign employees who are travelling to Saudi Arabia for business, leisure and family visits purposes. Companies should review their current population, assess if there are any employees impacted by this change and look at alternative options to enable their travellers to travel to Saudi Arabia, as an attempt to minimise disruption.
Depending on the situation, the new regulations may require employers to adjust travel itineraries to ensure compliance.
How we can help
At Vialto Partners we possess the necessary expertise to help you navigate the ever-changing Immigration landscape within Saudi Arabia and we can support you with understanding how these changes could impact your business. We can advise you as to the visitor and business visa requirements, conduct assessments and ensure overall Immigration compliance.
We will continue to closely monitor and provide timely guidance on updates and changes announced by the Saudi Arabian Government.
For tailored advice on how these changes may affect your business or employees, please contact our team.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner
Ali Ibrahim
Director, Middle East Immigration
Ahmed Amer
Manager, Middle East Immigration
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