Two concurrent developments in Saudi Arabia are materially impacting short-term business travel, namely seasonal visa controls around the annual Hajj period and a noticeable increase in Business Visit Visa (BVV) rejections. Organisations relying on frequent business travel or temporary project deployment should reassess visa strategy and travel planning accordingly.
Enhanced immigration controls implemented around the annual Hajj period may include temporary suspensions or restrictions on certain short-term visa categories. In parallel, the reported increase in Saudi Business Visit Visa (BVV) rejections is particularly affecting frequent travellers and repeat short-term visitors. Together, these trends signal a tightening interpretation of permissible activities under visit visa categories and increased scrutiny of short-term travel into the Kingdom.
Each year, Saudi authorities implement enhanced immigration controls to manage travel volumes and prevent misuse of non-pilgrimage visa categories during Hajj.
Heightened controls typically apply during:
Visa Categories Previously Affected:
In recent seasons, authorities have temporarily paused or restricted the issuance of:
Nationalities Impacted
In the most recent Hajj cycle, short-term visa issuance was temporarily suspended or limited for nationals of the following countries:
| Nationalities impacted | |
| Region | Countries |
| Africa | Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan |
| Middle East | Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon |
| Asia | India, Pakistan, Indonesia |
In parallel, we are observing a sharp increase in BVV refusal rates, even outside peak Hajj restrictions.
Key trends include:
This suggests closer alignment between visa type and actual on-the-ground activities, with authorities applying a narrower interpretation of what constitutes permissible “business visit” activity.
Organisations sending employees to Saudi Arabia for short-term assignments or frequent business travel should anticipate elevated immigration risk.
Key considerations include:
Without proactive planning, companies may face:
Early review and planning are becoming critical as enforcement practices evolve.
We support organisations with:
We continue to monitor regulatory updates and will share further guidance as new information becomes available. For tailored advice, 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, KSA and Bahrain Lead
Adel Moumen
Senior Manager Middle East Immigration
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