India and Saudi Arabia Announce Mutual Visa Waiver for Official Passports

India and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral visa waiver agreement on December 18, 2025, aimed at facilitating official travel and bolstering high-level exchanges under the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC). The pact was inked in Riyadh by Indian Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan and Saudi Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdulmajeed bin Rashed Alsmari. It grants mutual short-stay visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, streamlining visits for government officials, delegations, and diplomats. This reciprocal arrangement is expected to enhance coordination across SPC committees covering political, security, economic, cultural, and consular domains.

The agreement reflects deepening strategic ties, building on the SPC established in 2019 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Riyadh. Co-chaired by Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the council has driven cooperation in energy, defence, trade, investment, and technology. Recent momentum includes Saudi Arabia's interest in India's UPI ecosystem and joint ventures in renewables. Bilateral trade exceeded $52 billion in FY24, with Saudi Arabia as India's fourth-largest trading partner and a key crude oil supplier.

This visa facilitation aligns with India's Gulf outreach, easing bureaucratic hurdles for frequent official interactions. It complements existing people-to-people links, with over 2.6 million Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia contributing significantly through remittances and skilled labour.

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The signing underscores mutual commitment to operationalising SPC outcomes, fostering regular dialogue amid evolving regional dynamics. Officials view it as a practical step toward realising the partnership's full potential in shared priorities like Vision 2030 and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

As implementation begins, the waiver is anticipated to accelerate engagements, reinforcing India-Saudi Arabia relations as a cornerstone of stability and prosperity in West Asia. The development signals a continued elevation of ties from buyer-seller to comprehensive strategic collaboration.

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