Saudi Arabia restrict multiple-entry visas for visitors from 14 countries including India & Pakistan

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
FEBRUARY 09 (STC): Aiming to curb unauthorized Hajj pilgrimages and ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has announced significant changes to its visa policy, impacting travellers from 14 countries. Visitors from these nations, including India and Pakistan will be restricted to single-entry visas, marking a major shift in travel regulations, effective from February 01, 2025.
The new rule also applies to visitors from Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco,Nigeria, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has indefinitely suspended the one-year multiple-entry visa for tourism, business, and family visits for travellers from these nations.

Key Visa Changes:
•⁠ ⁠Only single-entry visas will be issued to travellers from the the above mentioned countries.
•⁠ ⁠The visa will be valid for 30 days.
•⁠ ⁠Hajj, Umrah, diplomatic, and residency visas remain unaffected.

Notably, the change as per the Saudi authorities, has been made owing to fact that multiple-entry visas were being misused. Some travellers entered the country on long-term visas but remained illegally for work or performed Hajj without proper authorization.
Overcrowding has become a serious issue due to unauthorized pilgrims using long-term visit visas to bypass restrictions, said the authorities.
This issue, according to them, became particularly alarming in 2024 when over 1,200 pilgrims died due to extreme heat and overcrowding. They believe unregistered pilgrims significantly contributed to the crisis, necessitating tighter visa regulations.
However, Saudi officials have described the suspension of multiple-entry visas as temporary, but no timeline has been provided for its review. The government will assess the policy’s impact before deciding on further actions. (STC)