Tourists, Umrah pilgrims covered in Saudi’s Covid travel ban: DFA

The agency said that issuance of entry visas to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of Umrah and travel to Prophet’s Mosque in Medina as well as the issuance of tourist visas are suspended indefinitely. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA – Filipino tourists and those holding Umrah visas are covered by Saudi Arabia’s temporary travel ban on several countries recently imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in an advisory dated March 4, said the following will be temporarily denied entry to the Gulf state: Umrah visa holders and tourist visa holders “from countries judged to pose a particularly high risk of spreading the virus, including the Philippines.”

The agency said that issuance of entry visas to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of Umrah and travel to Prophet’s Mosque in Medina as well as the issuance of tourist visas are suspended indefinitely.

Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca or Medina that can be performed at any time of the year. Also, it is not compulsory.

Meanwhile, Filipinos with work visas and those on a business visit may still enter Saudi Arabia.

“Filipinos who hold visas for employment, work visit, business visit, and family visit are still allowed entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” its advisory read.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah are closely monitoring the situation and are coordinating with the concerned agencies of the Saudi government.

Any Filipino national en route to Saudi Arabia who may encounter any issues or problems regarding the travel restriction is advised to contact the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh at (+966-11) 482-0507 or the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah at (+966-12) 667-0925 and (+966-12) 669-6303.