Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have signed a visa exemption agreement covering holders of diplomatic and special passports from both countries.
The deal was signed on 6 May 2026 in Ankara by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, following the third meeting of the Türkiye–Saudi Coordination Council.
The agreement does not cover ordinary passport holders at this stage.
What Was Signed
The full title of the accord is the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Mutual Exemption from Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Special Passports,” according to diplomatic sources cited by Anadolu Agency via Türkiye Today.
Reuters had initially reported the deal would cover ordinary and diplomatic passports, but later issued a correction clarifying it applies to special and diplomatic passports only.
Whether the agreement will eventually be extended to ordinary passport holders has not been announced.
What This Means for Travellers
For most leisure and business travellers holding ordinary passports, the immediate impact is limited — standard visa requirements between the two countries remain unchanged for now.
The deal could, however, signal a broader easing of visa requirements down the line.
Saudi citizens already enjoy visa-free access to Türkiye for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, under Türkiye’s current entry rules.
Turkish citizens currently need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia, whether for tourism, business, or religious travel such as Umrah and Hajj. A Saudi tourist e-visa is available through the official Saudi e-visa portal and is valid for one year, with stays of up to 90 days per entry.
Sources
- Türkiye Today — Ankara talks bring Türkiye, Saudi Arabia to new visa exemption deal
- Reuters — Turkey and Saudi Arabia set to scrap some visa requirements, source says
- Thomson Reuters via WHBL — Turkey and Saudi Arabia set to scrap some visa requirements (corrected)
- Turkish Minute — Turkey, Saudi Arabia sign visa exemption deal for select passport holders
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa Information for Foreigners
- Saudi eVisa — Official Tourist Visa Portal for Saudi Arabia
- Republic of Türkiye — Electronic Visa Application System
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