The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has announced that from June 1 this year, Saudi citizens with passports issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will no longer need to obtain a visa in order to enter the territory of Singapore.
According to a statement issued by ICA, apart from Saudi diplomatic passport holders, all other Saudi nationals intending to enter Singapore must apply for an entry visa before June 1, 2023, VisaGuide.World reports.
“There is strictly no refund of the visa processing fee for those who have already submitted or received the outcome of their entry visa applications,” the statement reads.
In addition, the same source said that to apply for a visa, Saudi citizens can submit their application online using the electronic service through a strategic partner or a local contact in Singapore. At the same time, ICA advises applying for an entry visa within 30 days prior to arrival in Singapore.
Such a move comes after a Saudi-Singaporean committee met for the second time in Singapore in November last year to discuss ways to boost trade between the two countries. Several initiatives in the fields of transport, logistics and infrastructure, energy and industry, digital economy, investment and finance, tourism and culture were discussed at the meeting.
Singapore is known as a sunny and tropical island and is also a major tourist attraction in Southeast Asia. Singapore covers an area of 710 square kilometers and is inhabited by five million people from four major communities – Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian.
Based on the VisaGuide Passport Index, as of March 2023 Singapore’s passport is ranked second in the world, which means that Singaporeans can travel visa-free to 158 countries around the world. However, to make an entry to the remaining countries, Singapore passport holders must apply for a visa in advance.
Previously, the three Balkan countries – Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro also lifted their requirements for Saudi citizens. In this regard, the Saudi Embassy in Albania added that citizens from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Thailand can enter Albania and Kosovo without a visa starting from April 20, 2023 until December 31 of this year, while Montenegro until October 31.
Regarding the visit to Montenegro, Saudi citizens are required to travel with a tourist group and not alone. Besides, they must also arrive in the country on a direct flight from the Kingdom.
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