Saudi govt unveils new visa policy for Pakistan

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has introduced a new visit visa policy for 14 countries, including Pakistan, here on Saturday.

Saudi authorities have suspended one-year multiple-entry visas for tourism, business and family visits and now visitors from these countries can only get single-entry visas.

Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.

The change is aimed at preventing people from performing Hajj illegally, as some individuals were using long-term visit visas to bypass the official Hajj quota. The new policy came into effect from February 1, 2025.

New visa regulations for these countries

To visit Saudi Arabia, visitors from 14 countries will need to apply for a single-entry visa, which is valid for 30 days and has a maximum stay of 30 days per visit.

They are also required to submit applications and biometrics at Etihad Visa Centers across Pakistan.

Saudi authorities are tightening controls on Hajj, and they allocate Hajj quotas for each country.

Saudi Arabia’s multiple-entry visa allows pilgrims from around the world to explore the kingdom’s rich cultural heritage and modern infrastructure year-round.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the opening of Hajj 2025 registration for domestic pilgrims, including citizens and residents, and appealed to applicants to submit their applications through the Naskh app or the official e-portal.

The ministry stressed the importance of early registration, advising applicants to complete their health information, include accompanying pilgrims, and submit applications for exemption from the Muharram requirement if necessary.

Once these steps are completed, applicants will be notified when Hajj package bookings are available.

The ministry also clarified that priority will be given to those who have not performed Hajj before.