Saudi Arabia removes visa requirement for Pakistani diplomatic passport holders
New visa agreement signed
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a new Saudi Arabia visa exemption agreement for people travelling on diplomatic and official or special passports.
The agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Under the agreement, eligible holders of a diplomatic passport and official passport will be able to travel between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia without obtaining a visa, according to officials.
Easier official travel
The new Pakistan Saudi Arabia visa arrangement is aimed at making official travel and high-level meetings between the two countries easier.
Officials said the Saudi Arabia visa exemption will help facilitate institutional exchanges and regular contact between government representatives.
The agreement is expected to reduce visa-related procedures for people travelling for official duties. The new arrangement applies to the specified passport categories rather than introducing visa-free travel for all Pakistani citizens.
What the agreement covers
The agreement specifically covers a diplomatic passport and an official passport, including the special passport category mentioned in the agreement.
This means eligible Pakistani officials travelling to Saudi Arabia and eligible Saudi officials travelling to Pakistan can benefit from the new arrangement.
The Pakistan Saudi Arabia visa agreement is expected to support more frequent official visits and institutional communication between the two countries.
Ishaq Dar announced the development on social media after signing the agreement. He said the step would help strengthen high-level engagement and institutional exchanges between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
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Stronger Pakistan-Saudi ties
The Saudi Arabia visa exemption is another step in the wider relationship between Islamabad and Riyadh.
The two countries have maintained close cooperation in diplomatic, economic and strategic matters. The latest agreement focuses on making official-level interaction more convenient.
Dar said the agreement would contribute to the countries’ “enduring and brotherly strategic partnership” and help advance cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The development could also make it easier for government officials to attend meetings, conduct institutional exchanges and participate in bilateral discussions.
What it means for travellers
For ordinary Pakistani travellers, the latest agreement does not mean that Saudi Arabia has introduced general visa-free entry.
The diplomatic passport and official passport categories are the main focus of the agreement. Other travellers will continue to follow the applicable Saudi visa rules.
The Pakistan Saudi Arabia visa arrangement therefore mainly affects government officials and other eligible holders of the covered passports.
