Saudi Arabia Visa Ban: The 14 countries for which Saudi Arabia has changed visa rules include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Iraq, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Yemen.
Saudi Arabia bans visas for 14 countries ahead of Hajj: Saudi Arabia has changed its visa rules. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has temporarily banned visas of 14 countries of the world including India-Pakistan. This ban will also apply to family, business and Umrah visas. According to the government’s decision, now multiple entry visas of these countries will not be available, such visas have been temporarily suspended. The Saudi government will now issue only single entry visas. However, this ban has been imposed only till mid-June i.e. till the completion of Haj. Visa services may become normal again after June.
In such a situation, the big question is how much trouble will the change in Saudi Arabia’s visa rules cause to Indians. Who will be more troubled by the decision of visa ban, in fact, a large number of Indians go to Saudi Arabia every year. Let’s know…
Ban imposed on 14 countries
The 14 countries whose visa rules have been changed by Saudi Arabia include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Iraq, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia and Yemen. Obviously, these are the countries from where most of the pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj pilgrimage. It is clear from the government’s decision that the rules have been changed temporarily to maintain order during the Haj pilgrimage. In fact, more than 1000 people died in a stampede during Haj pilgrimage last year, which caused great embarrassment to the Saudi government at the global level.
New rules implemented to prevent unauthorized entry
A large number of people who died in a stampede during Haj in Saudi Arabia last year were unauthorized Haj pilgrims. That is, such passengers who went for Haj pilgrimage without registration, that is, they did not have Haj permit, due to which the system collapsed and people died. Actually, the multiple entry visa issued by the Saudi government is a long term visa, which allows foreign citizens to visit Saudi Arabia several times a year. Taking advantage of this visa, many passengers used to stay in Saudi Arabia during Haj and travel to Mecca city for Haj without registering, which increased the crowd. The new rules will put a stop to this.
How much will it affect Indians
Many Indians have multiple entry visa of Saudi Arabia, such visa holders can travel to Saudi Arabia several times in a year. The government has temporarily banned these visa holders. Actually, these people go on Haj pilgrimage without registration. Now people who register for Haj pilgrimage will be issued a single entry visa, which will be valid only for one month. This will affect those Indian Muslims who travel to Mecca city for Haj without registering. Apart from this, the change in rules will also affect a large number of Indians whose family or business is in Saudi. They will have to apply for a single entry visa to meet family or for business. The Saudi Foreign Ministry has said that if someone stays illegally in Saudi Arabia despite the ban, he can be barred from entering Saudi Arabia for five years.
