Saudi Arabia to increase visa fees for foreign visitors
Manama: All visas issued by Saudi Arabia will be subject to the new fee increases announced on Monday by the cabinet, an official from the Saudi foreign ministry has said.
The fee increases apply to work, visit, residency, Umrah and pilgrimage visas and the only exceptions are covered in bilateral agreements between the Saudi kingdom and other countries, the deputy undersecretary for consular affairs at the foreign ministry, Tameem Al Dosari, said in remarks published by Saudi daily Okaz on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia will bear the visa fees only for those who perform Umrah or pilgrimage for the first time, he added.
Saudi Arabia is home to around nine million foreigners who make up one-third of its total population.
All foreigners are required to apply for visas to enter the kingdom for work or visit or to perform Umrah or pilgrimage.
Source: GulfNews
