Saudi Arabia Imposes Fines and Travel Bans for Citizens Visiting Restricted Countries
By The Media Line Staff
Saudi Arabia has enacted new rules penalizing citizens who travel to restricted destinations, with fines reaching up to SR30,000 and travel bans of up to two years, following approval by Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif.
The updated measures, effective as of March 31, 2026, are part of the Ministry of Interior’s efforts to regulate travel to designated high-risk countries amid regional tensions. Authorities said the list of restricted destinations will be determined by the ministry after necessary procedures are followed.
Under the new rules, repeat violations carry harsher consequences. Fines may be doubled, and travel bans can be extended for up to 5 years for those who repeatedly travel to prohibited countries.
The regulations also address violations of travel documentation requirements. Providing false information when applying for travel documents can result in fines of up to SR5,000 and possible travel bans.
More serious offenses, including tampering with travel documents, misusing them, or enabling others to use them unlawfully, could lead to fines of up to SR100,000 and travel bans of up to five years. Authorities said such cases will be referred to the Public Prosecution.
Officials indicated that restrictions may apply to specific countries identified as high risk, including locations affected by ongoing conflict. Travel near the Yemen border is subject to additional caution; all travel is advised against within 30 km, and non-essential travel is discouraged within 30–80 km due to military activity.
The regulations also note that exceptions may apply in certain cases, including for individuals aged 60 and older or those with first-degree family ties to residents of restricted countries, in which reduced penalties may be considered.
Separately, authorities said expatriates and visitors with expired visas may use the Absher platform to extend their stays or exit the country without fines until April 18, 2026.
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