Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign visa waiver deal for diplomatic and official passport holders
Agreement signed by foreign ministers on UN General Assembly sidelines
NEW YORK – Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement covering holders of diplomatic and official or special passports.
The agreement was signed in New York today, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. It removes short-stay visa requirements for eligible passport holders travelling between the two countries, according to official statements from both sides.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Dar announced the development on X, saying the arrangement would facilitate high-level engagement and institutional exchanges between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Pleased to announce that on the sidelines of #UNGA2026,
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) September 21, 2026
I signed today with my brother, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan @FaisalbinFarhan, the “Agreement between Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of… pic.twitter.com/9w1F2z41f5
For eligible travellers, the change concerns diplomatic and official/special passports, rather than ordinary Pakistani or Saudi passports. Saudi Arabia's official news agency described the arrangement as a mutual exemption from short-stay visa requirements, aimed at simplifying procedures, strengthening coordination and expanding cooperation.
Easier official travel
The agreement is expected to make travel for government officials and other eligible passport holders more straightforward, particularly for bilateral meetings, institutional exchanges and other official engagements.
The signing comes as Islamabad and Riyadh continue to expand cooperation across diplomatic, economic and security areas. During their meeting in New York, Dar and Prince Faisal also discussed bilateral relations, regional developments and efforts to contain tensions through diplomatic means.
The Pakistani side said the two foreign ministers also discussed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation under the pact, alongside regional peace, stability and security.
The latest agreement follows a series of developments aimed at deepening Pakistan-Saudi ties. In August, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, establishing a framework for closer security cooperation. The Strategic Political and Defence Committee created under the agreement held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on August 31.
Pak-Saudi travel links
The visa agreement applies specifically to diplomatic and official or special passport holders, so ordinary passport holders should continue to follow the applicable visa rules for tourism, business, family visits, Umrah and other forms of travel.
Saudi Arabia has separately introduced measures affecting travel by Pakistani visitors. In July, Riyadh launched a multiple-entry Umrah visa with one-year validity, allowing eligible pilgrims to enter the Kingdom multiple times with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days per year, according to the information provided for the development.
Pakistan's visa framework also provides Saudi citizens with access to visa-on-arrival arrangements and e-visa facilities under its current regime, according to Pakistan's Consulate General in Jeddah.