Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) announced on Sunday the start of receiving applications from citizens, who want to travel to countries facing travel ban, to meet some specific humanitarian cases.

The Jawazat cited humanitarian cases such as permanent residency abroad; death of a relative, accompanying a citizen who is receiving treatment abroad; and citizen who is donating organs to relatives who are receiving treatment abroad.

The citizens can start travel procedures through the Ministry of Interior’s Absher platform without the need of personally visiting any Jawazat offices.

The directorate called on those who want to benefit from the service to enter the Absher platform, then choose the following options: “My services,” then “Passports”, then “Tawasul”, then “Exceptional travel permits”.

After that they need to choose the main service “Permits for citizens for exceptional departure for countries facing travel ban” and then choose the specific humanitarian case in accordance with the terms and conditions that are spelled out on the website.

Currently, there are 10 countries that are facing travel ban. They are India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Brazil, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Lebanon.

Earlier, the Ministry of Interior issued orders to allow direct entry of expatriates who took two doses of vaccine against coronavirus from Saudi Arabia to enter the Kingdom.

The authorities had allowed earlier direct entry to Saudi citizens, as well as to foreign diplomats, health practitioners and their families from the countries facing travel ban. All other segments are required to spend 14-day quarantine in a third country before their entry into the Kingdom.