Saudi Arabia has announced a new visit visa policy for 14 countries

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new visit visa policy 2025 for 14 countries, including Pakistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen. 

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

Pakistani passport holders can travel visa-free to 12 countries

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

Saudi Arabic New Visit Visa Policy 2025

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 also need to submit applications and biometrics at trusted visa centers.

Saudi authorities are tightening control over the Hajj, and they allocate Hajj quotas for each country.

Saudi Arabia multiple-entry visa allows visitors 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 requests 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.