New requirement for Monkeypox testing for certain Saudi visa applications

23 January 2024 - The Saudi Arabian consulates in twelve countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States of America (USA) have instituted a policy requiring a negative monkeypox test result for work, residence, and dependent residence visa applications. This test must be administered by an approved medical center.

Please note a few country-specific variations:

• Canada necessitates the test for all types of visa applications.
• Germany and the USA mandate that the test result be issued within 21 days of the visa application submission.
• Some countries necessitate an attestation of the test result or attestation specifically by local health offices or hospitals. 
• A monkeypox declaration form (confirming no symptoms) must be filed as part of the business visa application in the UK.

Deloitte’s view

We anticipate a gradual implementation of this requirement across multiple Saudi Arabian consulates worldwide. This new requirement poses a financial impact due to extra test charges and potential delays in the onboarding process.

It is currently unclear if this requirement extends to other visa categories like tourist, business, or temporary residence visas. We will maintain vigilance and provide updates as more information becomes available.