Saudi Arabia and Russia Agree to Mutual Visa-Free Travel

Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation have signed a landmark agreement that grants visa-free travel to citizens of both countries.

The visa waiver applies to all passport categories, including diplomatic, special, and ordinary. It permits citizens of both nations to enter visa-free for purposes such as tourism, business, and personal visits. Under the agreement, individuals may stay for up to 90 days per year, either in a single trip or over multiple visits.

However, the agreement excludes travel for employment, study, residency, or religious pilgrimage (Hajj), all of which still require traditional visa procedures.

The agreement was formalized on Monday during the Saudi–Russian Investment and Business Forum in Riyadh. Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, and Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the deal, with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, head of the Saudi side of the Joint Saudi–Russian Committee and Minister of Energy, also in attendance.

Officials from both sides described the agreement as a step toward easing travel procedures, promoting mutual visits, and expanding cooperation in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange. It is also expected to bolster sectors that contribute to closer ties between the two countries.

This deal is especially notable for Saudi Arabia, as it marks the first mutual visa exemption agreement the Kingdom has signed that includes holders of ordinary passports. 

The move reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify international partnerships and attract more visitors as part of its Vision 2030 economic reform agenda.