Saudi Arabia bans short-term visas for 14 countries ahead of Hajj
Saudi Arabia will stop giving short-term visas to people from 14 countries, including India, starting April 13, 2025.
The decision comes just weeks before the annual Hajj pilgrimage and is meant to help manage large crowds and improve safety during the season.
The ban includes business visit visas, e-tourist visas, and family visit visas. People from the listed countries who already have valid visas can still travel to Saudi Arabia before April 13, but they must leave by April 29.
The 14 countries affected are India, Egypt, Pakistan, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Nigeria, Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Libya.
Saudi officials say that many people entered the country last year using the wrong type of visa during Hajj, which led to overcrowding and serious problems.
The new rule is meant to avoid similar issues this year, according to local news reports.
This move follows earlier changes made in February 2025, when Saudi Arabia stopped giving one-year multiple-entry visas to people from the same 14 countries.
At the time, they were only allowed to get single-entry visas for up to 30 days.
Saudi Arabia has also released new dates for Umrah visas. These will be given out from the 14th of Dhu Al Hijjah until the 1st of Shawwal every year.
Source: globalsouthworld
