RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia don announce temporary visa ban wey go affect nationals from 14 countries, including Nigeria, ahead of the upcoming Hajj season. Dis restriction go take effect starting April 13, 2025, and e fit impact business visas, tourist e-visas, and family visit visas.
According to official notice wey dey fly around, Nigerian citizens wey get valid Saudi visas fit still travel go Saudi Arabia until April 13, but dem go need to exit before April 29. Any traveler wey no follow dis deadline go risk penalties, wey fit include five years ban from entering Saudi Arabia.
Officials talk say di new restrictions na part of di efforts to regulate travel as dem dey prepare for Hajj season. Dis decision come after many pilgrims enter di country last year with visas wey no dey designated for pilgrimage, leading to overcrowding.
“Di Kingdom don emphasize di importance of obtaining di appropriate visa type for religious travel and don warn say anybody wey no comply go face legal consequences,” dem talk to Gulf News.
Dis temporary ban na continuation of di measures wey Saudi Arabia implement for February 2025, wey involve suspending one-year multiple-entry visas indefinitely and limiting entry from di 14 countries wey include Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, India, Tunisia, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria.
People with valid multi-entry business visas go still find am hard to travel to Saudi Arabia after April 13, regardless of when dem visa go expire.
Sapa wey get di details from diplomatic sources sey dem issue Umrah visas go start again on di 14th of Dhu Al Hijjah and end on di 1st of Shawwal for di year.
Di recent visa policy dey focused on addressing unauthorized Hajj participation and illegal employment. Many travelers dey use business and family visas to engage in work wey no happen for their visa terms, dis one dey disrupt di labor market.
Saudi authorities don stress di importance of compliance with di new rules to avoid penalties, encouraging travelers to understand say di changes dey meant to enhance safety and manage di inflow of pilgrims better.
Normal visa operations supposed resume after mid-June, according to di Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as dem continue to improve regulation of travel ahead of di important pilgrimage.
