India and Saudi Arabia Sign Mutual Visa-Exemption Deal for Diplomatic and Official Passports

In a bid to speed up high-level exchanges, India and Saudi Arabia inked a reciprocal short-stay visa-waiver agreement on 18 December in Riyadh. The accord allows holders of diplomatic, special and official passports to enter each other’s territory without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

The move is part of the Strategic Partnership Council agenda unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year. Officials say the exemption will cut red tape for joint working groups on energy, fintech and defence procurement, enabling teams to schedule meetings on short notice without waiting for note-verbale approvals.



Although the deal does not extend to ordinary business travellers, analysts view it as a confidence-building measure that could pave the way for easier mobility for Indian professionals in the Gulf and for Saudi investors eyeing India’s infrastructure projects. Over 2.4 million Indians already work in Saudi Arabia, and faster official travel is expected to smooth policy decisions affecting this diaspora.

Enterprises with government contracts—particularly in oil & gas, renewable energy and smart-city technology—should update their travel policies to recognise the waiver and ensure that eligible staff secure diplomatic or official passport endorsements well before travel.

Border agencies in both countries have 30 days to integrate the exemption into their e-immigration systems; until then, existing visa protocols remain in force.