Travellers with US/UK/Schengen visa can receive VOA in Saudi
Dhaka: Saudi Arabia has resumed visa-on-arrival facility for valid visa holders for the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Schengen area, effective immediately.
Citizens of any country holding visas for one of the three aforementioned destinations and travelling on one of the country’s national carriers – Saudia, Flynas or Flyadeal – can now receive a 12-month tourism visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia without needing to apply in advance, reported Saudi Press Agency on March 25.
Visitors holding a valid US, UK or Schengen visa must have used it at least once to enter the issuing country or region in order to qualify for a visa on arrival in Saudi.
Visitors will also need to purchase Covid-19 insurance, which they can do at any of Saudi Arabia’s international airports.
Citizens of any country eligible for the e-visa facility may also receive a visa on arrival, regardless of the airline they are travelling with.
On this note, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Minister of Tourism and Chairman of Saudi Tourism Authority, said, “Restoring the visa-on-arrival programme marks the final step in returning Saudi to a pre-pandemic level of openness and makes it one of the most accessible destinations in the world for leisure, business and religious travel.”
Earlier, on March 6, Saudi Arabia lifted all of its Covid-related entry restrictions.
Visitors to Saudi Arabia no longer need to present proof of vaccination or a PCR test to enter the country. The red list of countries not allowed entry has been discontinued. Institutional quarantine requirements have been entirely removed, and social distancing rules have been lifted. Masks are required in enclosed public places only.
“Saudi Arabia has emerged from the pandemic with a burgeoning leisure and entertainment sector that includes some of the largest events in the world as well as a compelling cultural tourism offer and an increasing number of local companies dedicated to tourism,” mentioned Al-Khateeb.
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