RIYADH, April 8 – Saudi Arabia has introduced new restrictions on its e-stopover visa policy, limiting eligibility to 18 countries, including Malaysia, as part of a broader effort to manage the flow of travelers ahead of the Hajj season.
As of now, the electronic transit visa will only be available to passengers traveling to or from nations listed under “Group A” by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority. Besides Malaysia, this list includes Canada, the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Thailand, Singapore, and others.
In addition to the geographical restrictions, applicants must meet further criteria: they need to hold a valid visa for one of the listed countries and must have previously entered that country using that visa. This new approach aims to streamline the visa process and ensure compliance with updated travel regulations.
This change is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to simplify travel while preparing for the influx of visitors during the Hajj season.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia has also made the difficult decision to suspend short-term visas for citizens from 14 countries, effective April 13, 2025, just ahead of the Hajj season. These countries include India, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and others.
While the suspension will affect business, e-tourist, and family visit visas, travelers with valid visas can still enter the Kingdom until April 13 but must leave by April 29. After that date, anyone remaining in the Kingdom will be considered in violation of the law.
The new restrictions come after the previous Hajj season, where overcrowding and logistical challenges were exacerbated by pilgrims using non-Hajj-specific visas. Saudi authorities say these measures are necessary to ensure smooth and safe operations for all pilgrims, particularly as the Kingdom braces for another busy Hajj season.
For now, travelers planning to visit Saudi Arabia are urged to stay updated on these changes to avoid any disruptions to their travel plans.
