In order to curb the spread of deadly corona virus (Covid-19), Saudi Arabia has imposed travel ban from various countries including India, Pakistan and many others having as these countries are still suffering from heavy waves of Covid-19.

With thousands of people stuck in India, Pakistan and other travel ban countries, the most asked question now a days is How people from Pakistan, India and other banned countries can travel and enter Saudi Arabia?

Which Countries have Travel Restrictions and Currently Banned by Saudi Arabia?

Initially, Saudi Arabia enforced travel ban for 20 countries starting from February 2, 2021 including Pakistan, India and another 18 countries with higher spread of Covid-19 second wave. Direct travel from all these countries to Saudi Arabia was banned except for some specific cases (e.g. medical) and only outbound flights from KSA to these countries were kept operational to allow people to go to these countries from Saudi Arabia.

However, the list of travel ban countries by Saudi Arabia was revised on May 30 by lifting the restrictions conditionally from 11 countries and leaving just 9 countries in the travel ban list. India & Pakistan are still in the ban list. The 11 countries which got the ban lifted included UAE, Germany, Sweden, USA, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, UK, Switzerland, Japan & France.

The List of Countries which are still in the inbound travel ban list of Saudi Arabia include:

• India
• Pakistan
• Egypt
• Indonesia
• Turkey
• South Africa
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Lebanon

Additionally, KSA has enforced inbound travel ban for another 4 countries starting from 4th July 2021 which include:

• Afghanistan
• UAE
• Ethiopia
• Vietnam

How People from travel ban Countries can Go to Saudi Arabia?

Now coming the most important question that how iqama holders, family members or any kind of visa holders who are stuck in the travel ban countries can go back to Saudi Arabia? The answer is that people from banned countries including India, Pakistan and others are not allowed to enter Saudi Arabia without spending at-least 14 days in another country which is not in the ban list. Not only people who are citizens of these banned countries but also, any other people who visit these banned countries will have to spend at-least wo weeks in another country before they travel to KSA.

So if you are in Pakistan or India or in any other country from the travel ban list, you can travel to Saudi Arabia only if You spend 14 days in another un-banned country. E.g. many people from Pakistan and India managed to reach Saudi Arabia by opting for travel packages which include staying in some other country for 15 days (e.g. in Kenya, Sri Lanka,  Azerbaijan etc. ). For this purpose make sure that:

• You are fully vaccinated as these countries also apply various Covid related restrictions and people should enter these countries with vaccination certificates and negative PCR tests (requirements may vary from country to country though).
• Double check and make sure that the country you choose for your quarantine is not in the banned list and also its better to choose a country where Covid cases are much lower as a country with higher number of Covid cases may fall itself in KSA ban list and in that case you might suffer even more.
• Check with different agents about the flights, hotels and other expenses for different countries and do a research at your own as well before making a decision as some countries maybe very heavy on your pocket if you are planning to travel with family.
• Make sure that you carry your Exit Re-Entry paper with you so that immigration staff at these intermediate destinations can better understand your travel situation and you onboard conveniently in KSA flights from there.
• Make sure that you update your vaccination status in KSA MOH portal before you travel.

Update:

With latest travel guidelines issued by Saudi Arabian authorities, people from these banned countries are also able to travel directly to Saudi Arabia if they have a valid Resident Permit (Iqama) and if they have taken two doses of Covid-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia before exiting the country.

Your health status in Tawakkalna should be full immune and also Sehaty Medical Report should have details of your two doses taken inside KSA.