Saudi allows all fully vaccinated expats to return

Expats who have received two doses of the vaccine in Saudi Arabia before they departed for their home country will be permitted to return

Saudi Arabia has announced that its expat residents who are fully vaccinated can now return to the kingdom. Officials have clarified that only expats with valid residency documents who have received two doses of the vaccine in Saudi Arabia before they departed for their home country will be permitted to return.

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Saudi imposed a travel ban on several countries earlier this year including the UAE, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Lebanon. The new regulation includes those travelling from or transiting through any of the banned countries during the 14 days preceding the request to enter the kingdom.

Previously, the ban only permitted Saudi citizens, foreign diplomats, health practitioners and their families to travel back from the countries. Expats stranded abroad due to the travel restrictions were able to have their residence permits extended until August 31 2021 automatically and for free.

A source from the Ministry of Interior said that the latest decision was based on the improving Covid-19 situation in Saudi Arabia.