Last updated: 16 October 2026
No, ordinary Pakistani passport holders cannot travel to Saudi Arabia without a visa. The visa exemption agreement Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed on 22 September 2026 covers only diplomatic and official or special passports, which are issued to government officials. Workers, families, students and pilgrims travelling on an ordinary passport still need a visa, exactly as before.
Posts on social media have described the deal as “visa-free Saudi Arabia for Pakistanis”. That is not what was signed. Here is what the agreement does, who it covers, and what ordinary travellers need.
What Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Signed
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan signed the agreement in New York on 22 September 2026, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (Dawn). Dar named it on X as the agreement on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official or special passports (Business Recorder).
Dar said the step would further facilitate high-level engagement and institutional exchanges between the two countries. Saudi-side reports describe it as a mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements for eligible diplomatic and special passport holders.
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Follow on WhatsAppWho Is Covered and Who Is Not
| Passport | Visa for Saudi Arabia? |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic passport | Visa requirement removed under the agreement, once it takes effect |
| Official or special passport | Visa requirement removed under the agreement, once it takes effect |
| Ordinary Pakistani passport (green) | Visa still required: work, family visit, Umrah or another visa |
Start date: neither government has announced when the agreement takes effect. Agreements of this kind usually start after both countries complete their legal procedures, so official travellers should confirm with their foreign ministry before relying on it.
What Ordinary Pakistanis Need for Saudi Arabia
- Work visa: your employer in Saudi Arabia applies. You pass the Wafid medical, give fingerprints at a Tasheer centre and receive an e-visa with a QR code.
- Family visit visa: a relative living in Saudi Arabia applies. At the Islamabad Tasheer centre it costs PKR 34,619 before medical insurance. See how to apply for a family visit visa.
- Umrah visa: see the Umrah visa rules for the 1448 AH season.
- Fingerprints: Tasheer runs six centres in Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and Quetta), still widely called Etimad. See how to book a Tasheer appointment.
- Check your visa: once it is issued, do a Saudi visa check by passport number.
Pakistanis already in Saudi Arabia who need passport or NADRA services can find the details in our guide to the Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pakistanis go to Saudi Arabia without a visa now?
No, not with an ordinary passport. The agreement signed on 22 September 2026 removes the visa requirement only for holders of diplomatic and official or special passports. Pakistanis travelling on an ordinary passport still need a work, family visit, Umrah or other visa before they fly to Saudi Arabia.
Who is covered by the Saudi-Pakistan visa exemption?
Only holders of diplomatic passports and official or special passports, which are issued to government officials and people travelling on state business. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the aim is to make high-level and institutional visits easier. Ordinary passport holders, including workers, families and pilgrims, are not covered.
When does the Saudi-Pakistan visa exemption start?
Neither government has announced a start date. Agreements like this usually take effect after both countries complete their own legal procedures. Until an official start date is published, even diplomatic and official passport holders should confirm the arrangement with their foreign ministry before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
What visa do ordinary Pakistanis need for Saudi Arabia?
It depends on the purpose: a work visa applied for by the employer, a family visit visa applied for by a relative living in Saudi Arabia, or an Umrah visa. In Pakistan, applicants give fingerprints at a Tasheer centre, often still called Etimad, and can check the visa online with their passport number.
Sources: Dawn, 22 September 2026; Business Recorder (Ishaq Dar on X); Arab News Pakistan; Gulf News; Tasheer (vc.tasheer.com) for centres and fees.