Saudi Arabia temporarily bans visas for 14 nations including India | Know why

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the issuance of Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries ahead of the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage. The countries impacted by the move are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco. The suspension comes into effect from April 13 and will continue until mid-June, coinciding with the conclusion of Hajj 2025, which is scheduled between June 4 and June 9.

According to official sources, the decision has been taken to prevent unauthorized participation in the Hajj pilgrimage. Authorities stated that in previous years, several individuals entered Saudi Arabia on Umrah, business, or family visit visas and overstayed illegally to perform Hajj without proper registration. This has led to overcrowding during the pilgrimage and posed serious logistical and safety challenges.

In one incident during the Hajj in 2024, at least 1,200 pilgrims were reported dead due to extreme heat and overcrowding. Saudi Arabia follows a quota system to regulate the number of pilgrims from each country. The authorities have stated that individuals bypassing this system by using non-Hajj visas contribute to the mismanagement of crowd control and facilities during the pilgrimage.

Officials have also cited concerns regarding violations of visa terms, with some individuals using business or family visit visas to engage in unauthorized employment within the Kingdom. This, according to authorities, has caused disruptions in the labor market and breaches of visa regulations. Individuals found violating the visa rules may face a five-year entry ban into Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah clarified that the temporary suspension applies only to Umrah, business, and family visit visas. Diplomatic visas, residency permits, and Hajj-specific visas remain unaffected by the restriction. Individuals holding valid Umrah visas are permitted to enter the Kingdom until April 13, after which new visa issuances under these categories will pause until the end of Hajj.