Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign agreement to waive visas for diplomatic, official passport holders

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement abolishing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official and special passports, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday.

Dar said the agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2026 United Nations General Assembly session with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

In a post on X, Dar described the agreement as an important step that would facilitate high-level engagement and institutional exchanges between the two countries.

He said the move would also contribute to strengthening Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s “enduring and brotherly strategic partnership” across areas of mutual interest.

The agreement specifically covers holders of diplomatic and official/special passports from both countries, according to Dar.

Last week, Pakistan also reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and the trilateral Makkah Defence Alliance, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said. He said details of when, where and how Pakistani forces might be used would remain confidential for operational reasons.

The statement came amid renewed tensions involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia, including reports of attacks targeting the kingdom. Khan said Pakistan was pursuing peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy rather than coercive measures.

Earlier in July, Saudi Arabia introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for one year from the date of issuance, allowing pilgrims to enter the kingdom multiple times with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days annually, the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Under the new visa rules, pilgrims must purchase an Umrah service package from an approved provider through the Nusuk digital platform for each visit. They must also obtain an Umrah permit through the Nusuk application before arriving in Saudi Arabia.

The visa is deactivated after each departure and can be reactivated for subsequent visits once regulatory requirements are met. However, it will not be available during the Haj season, from the first of Ziqad to the 13th of Zilhaj. Saudi authorities said the initiative would provide greater flexibility in planning Umrah trips while integrating digital and operational services.

Nearly 43 million pilgrims performed Umrah in 2025, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics.