Saudi Arabia Bans Multiple-Entry Visas For Indian Tourists And Nationals From 13 Other Countries

In a major new development, Saudi Arabia has announced sweeping changes in its visa regulations, barring multiple-entry visas for travellers from as many as 14 countries, including India, who will now be granted access to the country only on a single-entry visa.According to reports, the changes in Saudi Arabia visa rules, which came into effect on February 1, 2025, have been implemented to prevent travellers from these 14 nations from unauthorisedly performing the Hajj pilgrimage by arriving in the desert kingdom on long-term visit visas.Saudi Arabian officials say that unauthorised Hajj pilgrims have emerged as a major challenge in recent years, resulting in overcrowding which has led to tragedies, such as the deaths of over 1,200 pilgrims who died due to extreme heat and overcrowding last year.What The New Rules Mean For Indian TouristsAs per officials, the Saudi government has banned multiple-entry visas for travellers from Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen. Additionally, Riyadh banned the one-year multiple-entry visa for tourism, business, and family visits from these 14 countries for an indefinite period.Saudi Arabia Opens Up More Visa Services For Indian TravellersUnder the revised visa rules, citizens of the above-mentioned nations can only apply for single-entry visas, which are valid for a period of 30 days and allow them to stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days. The new rules will not effect Hajj, Umrah, diplomatic and residency visas.Saudi officials have claimed that multiple-entry visas are often misused, especially by travellers from countries that are now barred. They said that some travellers misuse long-term visas to overstay for work or to perform Hajj without proper authorisation. The country maintains a strict control over the Hajj pilgrimage, with each foreign nation being allocated a specific quota to prevent overcrowding. However, despite strict norms, the issue has gained more importance as tourists use long-term visas to circumvent these rules.Last year, more than 1,200 pilgrims died due to extreme heat and overcrowding, raising questions about the issue of unregistered Hajj pilgrims and prompting Saudi authorities to address the critical issue.While officials have termed the suspension of multiple-entry visas as a “temporary” measure, no specific timeline has been given about if or when the matter will be reviewed. Authorities said they will measure the impact of the new visa rules before any further action is taken on the issue.(With inputs from a news source)