Saudi Arabia Introduces e-Visa for Bangladeshis, Eliminating Visa Stickers

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently introduced a new e-visa system, which eliminates the need for visa stickers for work, visits, and transit. The announcement was made by Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan at the embassy in Dhaka on May 1, 2023. With the introduction of the new e-visa system, Bangladeshi nationals will no longer need to obtain a sticker visa of any category, including work visas, to travel to the oil-rich Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has plans to introduce similar e-visa systems in a few other countries as well, as it seeks to streamline its visa application process and reduce costs associated with issuing sticker visas. The envoy hopes that the new error-free e-visa system, which uses both Arabic and English languages, will reduce the hassle, cost, and time involved in obtaining Saudi visas, and will benefit intending Bangladeshi workers and other stakeholders, including recruiting agencies.

What is the new e-visa system introduced by Saudi Arabia?

The new e-visa system introduced by Saudi Arabia eliminates the need for visa stickers for work, visits, and transit. The system allows intending travellers to apply for visas online and once approved, the visa is sent electronically to the applicant's email address. 

The new e-visa system uses both Arabic and English languages and is expected to reduce the cost, hassle, and time associated with obtaining Saudi visas.

Why did Saudi Arabia choose Bangladesh as the first country to implement the new e-visa system?

According to Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan, Saudi Arabia chose Bangladesh as the first country to implement the new e-visa system because of the large number of Bangladeshi expatriate workers in the Kingdom. The KSA currently hosts more than two million Bangladeshi expatriate workers. 

The introduction of the new e-visa system is expected to benefit these workers, as well as recruiting agencies and other stakeholders.

How will the new e-visa system benefit Bangladeshi expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia?

The new e-visa system is expected to benefit Bangladeshi expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia in several ways. Firstly, the new system eliminates the need for visa stickers, which are expensive and time-consuming to obtain. Secondly, the e-visa system uses both Arabic and English languages, making it easier for Bangladeshi nationals to apply for visas online. Thirdly, the new e-visa system is expected to reduce the workload of the Saudi embassy in Dhaka, which currently issues 7000 to 8000 visas per day.

What are the benefits of the e-visa system over traditional sticker visas?

The e-visa system has several advantages over traditional sticker visas. First and foremost, it eliminates the need for physical stickers, reducing costs and making the visa application process more efficient. With e-visas, there is no need to print and paste stickers on passports, which can be a time-consuming and error-prone process.

Additionally, e-visas can be applied for and issued online, making it easier for applicants to access and complete the application process from anywhere in the world. The use of online systems can also speed up the processing time, reducing the waiting time for applicants.

Moreover, e-visas can be easily tracked and monitored, allowing for greater transparency and accountability. This can help prevent fraud and ensure that the visa application process is fair and efficient for all applicants.

Lastly, e-visas can be issued in multiple languages, which can help applicants who may not speak Arabic or English navigate the application process more easily.

What are the future plans of Saudi Arabia regarding e-visa systems?

The Saudi government has plans to introduce e-visa systems in several other countries in the near future. The recent implementation of the e-visa system in Bangladesh is just the beginning of a larger effort to streamline the visa application process and make it more accessible for people from all over the world.

The government is also planning to expand the scope of e-visas to cover more types of visas, beyond the current Umrah visa. This would make it even easier for people to apply for visas to work, visit, or transit through Saudi Arabia.

Overall, the goal of the Saudi government is to make the visa application process more efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly, while also ensuring security and compliance with regulations. The introduction of e-visas is a significant step towards achieving this goal.

How will the new e-visa system help the Saudi embassy in Dhaka?

The new e-visa system is expected to significantly help the Saudi embassy in Dhaka in managing the high volume of visa applications it receives every day. Currently, the embassy issues between 7,000 to 8,000 visas per day, which is a significant workload that requires a lot of resources and personnel.

The implementation of the e-visa system will allow for a more streamlined and efficient application process, as it eliminates the need for physical stickers and paper documentation. This can help reduce waiting times for applicants and allow embassy staff to focus on other tasks such as document verification and customer service.

Moreover, the e-visa system can help embassy staff manage the application process more easily, as it allows for electronic tracking and monitoring of applications. This can help prevent fraud and ensure that the application process is fair and efficient for all applicants.

Overall, the new e-visa system is expected to make the visa application process faster, more efficient, and less resource-intensive for the Saudi embassy in Dhaka.