FG denies Saudi Arabia visa ban on Nigerians

The  Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed reports claiming that the Saudi Arabian authorities have placed a visa ban on Nigerians and 12 other Nationalities. 

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said that Saudi authorities officially confirmed yesterday that a viral memo suggesting Nigeria’s inclusion in the list of visa banned nations was false.

He described the document, which named Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia,  Morocco.  India, Pakistan and seven others as the affected countries, as misleading and inaccurate.

The statement reads

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to categorically refute the false claims circulating online, alleging that Nigeria has been included in a list of countries facing an entry ban into Saudi Arabia from April 13, 2025.

The Saudi Arabian authorities have officially denied the validity of this viral memo, which falsely claims that several countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and others, would be subject to visa restrictions and an entry ban.

The Saudi Tourism Centre has confirmed that no such directive exists, and that the only official travel guidelines currently in place pertain to the Hajj pilgrimage.

For clarity, the only restriction applies to tourist visa holders during the Hajj season. Individuals holding a tourist visa are not permitted to perform Hajj, enter, or stay in Makkah between April 29 and June 11, 2025 (corresponding to 01 Thul Quda to 14 Thul Hijjah 1446 AH). The Hajj visa remains the sole authorised entry permit for pilgrims during this period.”

The ministry urged the public to disregard the ‘misleading’ document and to always verify travel information from official sources before taking action.

“Spreading unverified information can cause unnecessary confusion and disrupt travel plans. For accurate and up-to-date information, travelers are advised to consult official Saudi government sources, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or accredited diplomatic channels,” it stated.

On Monday, reports were rife online with claims that Nigerians and citizens of 13 other countries had been temporarily suspended by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from applying for certain categories  of visas as preparation for this year’s hajj pilgrimage to the holy lands of Mecca and Medina begins.

The 13 other countries allegedly listed were: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, India, Tunisia, Iraq, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Yemen, Jordan and Indonesia. According to the report, the Saudi authorities claimed the suspension aimed to prevent unregistered individuals from attempting the pilgrimage without official permits, which poses safety and logistical challenges.