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Important update on vaccine requirements for travelers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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30 January 2025 - Effective 10 February 2025, all passengers traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) must comply with new vaccination requirements, depending on their country of origin and purpose of visit.

The requirements are as follows:

 


Arriving from/
Purpose of Visit


Vaccine(s) Required

Other Requirements (Documentation, etc.)

 

          Exemptions

All visa types:
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania

Poliovirus

Passengers must present a vaccination certificate for oral polio vaccine issued at least 4 weeks prior to arrival and not exceeding 6 months; or a vaccination certificate for inactivated polio vaccine issued at least 4 weeks prior to arrival and not exceeding 12 months.

1. Transit passengers transiting through the listed countries:

     a)  Transit time must not exceed 12 hours.

     b)  Passengers must not leave the transit area.

2. Transit passengers transiting through the Kingdom from the listed countries: Passengers must not leave the transit area within 12 hours.

All visa types:
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda

Yellow Fever

Vaccination certificate obtained at least 10 days prior to arrival in the Kingdom.

1. Transit passengers transiting through the listed countries:

     a)  Transit time must not exceed 12 hours.

     b)  Passengers must not leave the transit area.

2. Transit passengers transiting through the Kingdom from the listed countries:

     a)  Passengers must not leave the transit area within 12 hours.

     b)  Children under 9 months old.

All visa types:
South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela

Yellow Fever

Vaccination certificate obtained at least 10 days prior to arrival in the Kingdom.

Umrah specific (regardless of the arrival country):
Umrah Visa Holders, or those intending to perform Umrah on any visa type

Quadrivalent Neisseria
Meningitis

Must hold a vaccination certificate issued at least 10 days prior to arrival and not more than 3 years for the polysaccharide type, or 5 years for the conjugated type.

Children under the age of 1 are exempt from the meningococcal vaccine.

 

*In cases where there is an overlap, passengers may be required to have taken 2 or more of the listed vaccines.

Deloitte’s view

This significant update affects all individuals planning to travel to Saudi Arabia.

We advise that organizations and travelers ensure full compliance with these
updated health regulations to avoid travel delays or denied entry. Maintaining
accurate and up-to-date vaccination records will be crucial.

Deloitte is available to assist clients in understanding and adhering to these new requirements, ensuring a seamless travel process.

 

 

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