A memo circulating on social media claims that Saudi Arabia has imposed visa restrictions and entry bans on Nigeria, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and 10 other countries.
The memo suggests that starting from April 13, 2025, citizens of these countries will be barred from applying for new short-term visas, including business, tourism, and family visit visas. It also claims that even those with existing valid visas would be denied entry, with a possible five-year entry ban for non-compliance.
The Claim
The memo claims that Saudi Arabia has imposed a travel ban on Nigeria and 13 other countries, preventing their citizens from applying for short-term visas.
The Findings
FactCheck247’s investigation reveals that this claim is false.
According to TheCable, a Nigerian news outlet, the Saudi Tourism Centre was contacted regarding the memo and denied issuing such a directive.
The Saudi authorities confirmed that no new visa restrictions have been imposed on the countries listed in the document.
The only current directive is related to the upcoming Hajj season.
The Saudi Tourism Centre clarified that, “Anyone holding a Tourist visa is not permitted to perform Hajj, enter, or stay inside Makkah during 01 Thul Quda to 14 Thul Hijjah 1446 AH (29 April to 11 June 2025).”
This is a standard annual policy to regulate access to the holy sites during Hajj, but it does not represent a visa ban for any country.
The Verdict
The claim is false. The Saudi Tourism Authority has officially debunked the memo, confirming that it is misleading and unofficial.