A visa-free travel regime between Russia and Saudi Arabia is expected to be fully operational within the next few months, Sergey Kozlov, the Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told RBC TV channel.
The diplomat recalled that the two countries signed an intergovernmental agreement on December 1, 2025, to mutually waive visa requirements for holders of all types of passports. "What remains is to complete the necessary domestic procedures in both Russia and Saudi Arabia," he explained. "This will take some time, but it is a relatively short period. I believe we are talking about a few months at most."
Kozlov emphasized that the signing of this agreement was a unique historical event, noting that Saudi Arabia has not established such a document with any other foreign state, with the exception of its immediate neighbors. He also expressed hope that Saudi citizens would be able to travel to Moscow visa-free as early as this summer.
Currently, Russian citizens require a visa to enter Saudi Arabia, which can be obtained online as an e-Visa or granted as a Visa on Arrival. Both options typically allow a stay of up to 90 days and remain valid for one year with multiple entries.
Under the terms of the new draft agreement, citizens of both countries will be permitted to enter each other's territory and stay without a visa for up to 90 days within a single year. To facilitate this, travelers will need to present a valid passport, whether it be a standard foreign, diplomatic, or service passport.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: lawepw/Public Domain
Based on materials from TASS