Saudi Arabia Allows Visa-Free Entry for 23 Countries

Saudi Arabia has released a list of 23 countries whose citizens can enter the Kingdom without a visa, contingent upon specific conditions. This announcement clarifies that the visa-free entry applies only to holders of diplomatic and special passports, excluding ordinary passport holders who must still apply for a visa.

The countries included in this arrangement are: France, Albania, Thailand, South Korea, Malta, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Costa Rica, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Tajikistan, Malaysia, Italy, Japan, Solomon Islands, Mongolia, Russia, China, India, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, and Hungary. The Saudi government emphasized that the visa-free arrangements are not unconditional, and the conditions vary by country.

Notably, no African countries are on the list, meaning citizens from nations such as Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa must continue to follow standard visa application procedures.