As the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the globe, many countries have been forced to take drastic measures in order to prevent the spread of the disease. One such measure is the banning of travel to and from certain countries.
According to the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat), Saudis are now banned from traveling to 16 countries due to high levels of COVID-19 cases in those countries. The banned countries include Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus, and Venezuela.
This ban is in addition to the already existing requirements for travel outside of the Kingdom, which include having a passport with a validity of more than six months for non-Arab countries, and more than three months for Arab countries. For travel to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, a Saudi national ID card with a validity of more than three months is required.
The Jawazat also reiterated that the soft copy of the national ID on Absher and Tawakkalna applications is not sufficient for travel to GCC states, and that the original ID card and family registry must be produced for travel, in addition to a document of proof of dependents inside the Kingdom whose holders are unable to travel to the Gulf countries.
As for health requirements, Saudis who are traveling outside the Kingdom must have received three doses of vaccine against coronavirus, or be more than three months after taking the second dose of the vaccine. There will be exemptions for those groups who have been given exception on medical grounds as per the status on the Tawakkalna application.
The Jawazat stated that those under the age groups of 16 and 12 are required two doses of the vaccine. As for those who are under the age of 12, they are required to keep with them an insurance policy against coronavirus while traveling to outside the Kingdom.Â