In the coming months, the Saudi Arabian government will expand the e-visa program to applicants in an additional 11 countries applying for business visas, short-term work authorization and work visas. These individuals will receive an e-visa with a QR code instead of having a visa sticker endorsed in their passports. Specifically, the e-visa program was already implemented in Yemen on July 26, and will be implemented in these select countries on the following dates: Sudan (August 2); Uganda (August 7); Lebanon (August 9); Nepal (August 14); Türkiye (August 16); Sri Lanka (August 21); Kenya (August 23); Morocco (August 28); Thailand (August 30); and Vietnam (September 4). However, as authorities become accustomed to this change, affected individuals should carry a printed copy of their issued e-visa on standard A4 sized-paper when boarding a plane to Saudi Arabia to facilitate entry. The Saudi Arabian government already implemented this e-visa program on May 1, 2023, for applicants in eight countries, including India and the United Arab Emirates and recently expanded the program to applicants in Pakistan.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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