Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia: 14 nationalities targeted by Saudi authorities!

Saudi Arabia considerably tightens its visa policyThis is particularly true for nationals of fourteen countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.

Since February 1, 2025, the Saudi authorities have suspend multiple-entry visas for 14 nationalities, a decision that will have a direct impact on tourist, business and family travel. This measure, far from being insignificant, comes against a backdrop of fight against abuse and of the desire to better supervise pilgrimages in Mecca.

The new rule applies to travelers from Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen. This applies both to residents of these 14 countries and to residents of these nationalities with a residence permit (in Europe, for example)!

In concrete terms When they apply for a visa on the Internet, they find themselves with a status of "visa holder".Send to embassy” (“Send to the embassy") to finalize the process.

Single-entry, time-limited visas

No more multiple-entry visas valid for one year for these nationalities. Henceforth, only single-entry visas limited to 30 dayswill be issued. This new rule obliges travelers of the 14 nationalities concerned to carefully plan their stay in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a clear warning: any breach of the new migration rules will result in sanctions or administrative complications.

No one knows how long this will last.

The reasons behind this radical change

The Saudi authorities justify this tightening of the screws by pointing to abuses in the use of long-stay visas. Some travelers have allegedly taken advantage of these authorizations to perform the Hajj without official registration, or to illegally extend their stay. This situation has led to tragedies, such as during the Hajj 2024, when over 1,200 pilgrims died due to extreme weather conditions and an influx of unregistered participants. Saudi Arabia therefore wishes to limit risks allowing access only to duly authorized pilgrims.

Temporary measures or lasting change?

While the Saudi authorities present this measure as a temporaryHowever, no date has been announced for a possible review of this policy. The government plans to evaluate the effects of this decision before any new direction is taken. In the meantime, nationals of the 14 countries concerned must comply with the new rules.

Tighter controls at all levels

In addition to visa restrictions, Saudi Arabia is implementing a policy of reinforced migration control. Moroccans are among the thousands of illegal migrants arrested and expelled from the country. The Saudi authorities have also set up a permit required for pilgrimage to Meccaunderlining a desire to regulate access to the country at all levels.

In summary, what changes for travellers in the 14 countries concerned? - Suspension of multiple-entry visas - Issuance of single-entry visas for up to 30 days - Risk of penalties for non-compliance with rules - Permit required for Hajj - Tighter border controls and expulsions of illegal migrants

Saudi Arabia is thus clearly signalling its intention to regulate access to its territory more strictly and to tighten the rules on pilgrimage, to the detriment of certain facilities granted in the past to travellers of fourteen nationalities.

OK, but how do we go about it?

According to our information, these nationalities are still able to obtain a visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia. If you are in this situation, be sure to confirm this with your airline. Some travelers have noted overzealousness on the part of low-cost airlines, which are unaware of this option.

The "visa at the embassy"This is also a solution, but is more restrictive. According to our information, e-Visas already issued can still be used for these nationalities.

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