Well, when something seems too good be true, even if we are just talking about a visa to Saudi Arabia, it probably is…
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has now denied that it will issue tourist visas starting in June 2015. Instead, it will continue to focus on building infrastructure to better serve the needs of local tourists; the citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia.
Tourist visas for foreigners may still come one day — the SCTA called it a “postponement” rather than a permanent policy — but don’t expect anything soon, especially when transit visas are no longer available.
Oh well…so much for that!
Matthew, I have read your blogs with much interest given I am planning to travel to Jeddah on Sunday, 15 years after my last trip! You say there are no more transit visas, but I just applied for a transit visa through the new “official” KSA visa facilitation company Etimad and hoping it will be issued. I am travelling from Islamabad to London via Jeddah.
@Yasser: I hope you will be able to obtain the visa — let me know. I believe the policy for issuing transit visas in each country is a bit different, but currently it is a no-go in the USA. Hopefully in Pakistan it will be issued without hassle.
In another country a diplomat told me, that country “never misses a chance to miss a chance.”
Hi. Im a Norwegian who is trying to get a transit visa for Saudi Arabia! Ive applyed 2 times at The Saudi embassy in Oslo, Norway but its been denied both times. Now Im trying too find any info about The subjekt online and when entering The thorn tree forum on LP i fnded up here. Was happy when i read that Saudi Arabia was starting with tourist visas in june 2015 but after The other link ending up here i got depressed again.
Any idea If transit visa is impossible to get a hold of? I see you wrote that Pakistan might be a place to apply, how do you know it might be possible to get it there? Actually travelling there for 3 days in late april, staying in Islamabad.
Regards
Hans Petter
Dear Hans,
My advice would be to try to get the Saudi transit visa while in Pakistan. From what I am hearing now, it is virtually impossible in most western nations to procure one.
Good luck and please report back here if you are eventually able to obtain one.
Best,
Matthew
Sounds like a plan! I will try that. Any idea If there are other countries in The middle east/Arabian penninsula that will issue a transit visa? Also going to Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman on the same trip. When it comes down to The application process, you will need a application form with all details, a photo (3/18kb) and hotel reservations and flights in and out of Saudi, right?
About the flights, ive heard at The embassy in Oslo that The itinerary should be a route that would be the only option, because If you do fly doha -riyadh/riyadh – oslo this route will be denied for a more easy route doha – oslo instead!
Do i need to fly any spesific route to apply for a transit visa?
Thanks again for replying, i will post more If i do get a visa some day:)
My trip was JFK-JED-DXB and I could have easily flown JFK-DXB direct on Emirates but Saudia was half the price — price may be a key part of your argument. Thankfully visas are much easier in Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman.