Saudi Arabia Opens Up More Visa Services For Indian Travellers

Saudi Arabia has launched two new visa facilities for Indian travellers as part of its Saudi Vision 2030 strategy to welcome 7.5 million visitors from the South Asian country by the end of the decade.Indian tourists will now be able to access electronic visas (eVisa) and visa-on-arrival services if they meet certain conditions. For instance, those with a valid tourist or business visa from the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK) or any Schengen country, along with proof of entry stamps, are eligible for an eVisa. Travellers who meet the aforementioned conditions can also apply for a visa on arrival. Permanent residents of the USA, UK or Schengen countries, or individuals possessing a valid residence visa from a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country with a minimum validity of three months beyond the entry date into Saudi Arabia, are also eligible for an eVisa.Indian tourists were previously granted stopover visas back in March 2024. These are valid for up to 96 hours and can be obtained 90 days in advance at the Saudia airline website for a nominal fee. All three of these visa options are valid for those wishing to perform Umrah.Those not eligible under the aforementioned criteria can apply for their visa through Tasheer centres across India. The process encompasses document preparation, appointment booking, application submission, biometric enrollment and passport collection. Currently, there are 10 visa facilitation centres in Mumbai, New Delhi, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Kolkata and Kozhikode, with plans to add more dedicated centres in additional cities.(With inputs from multiple news agencies)