Saudi Arabia has announced the suspension of the issuance of “block work visa quotas” for citizens of 14 countries, including Pakistan, until June 2025. A block work visa is a pre-approval granted by the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development that permits companies to employ a fixed number of foreign workers.
The countries affected by this decision include Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco.
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This move comes ahead of the Hajj season and aims to regulate immigration, control overcrowding, and prevent unauthorized Hajj pilgrimages. As a result, new visa applications under this scheme will not be accepted, and existing applications may face delays or rejection. Individuals holding visas but yet to enter Saudi Arabia might also experience difficulties at entry points.
In addition to the block work visa suspension, Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted the issuance of Umrah, family visit, business, and tourist visas for multiple countries.
These restrictions are expected to remain until the end of June 2025, with a possibility of easing after the Hajj season concludes.
The Zil Hajj crescent was sighted in Saudi Arabia on May 27, with the Kingdom declaring June 6 as the first day of Eid-ul-Azha and Hajj scheduled for June 5.
