Saudi Arabia has unveiled a world-first digital journey system that may challenge vacationer visas in minutes for eligible Visa cardholders, marking one of the vital vital shifts in world mobility and journey processing to this point.
Saudi Arabia introduced the “Visa by Profile” initiative on the inaugural TOURISE convention to streamline worldwide journey, take away friction for high-value guests and speed up visa decision-making by means of deep digital and regulatory integration.
Developed by the Saudi Tourism Authority in partnership with the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, the Ministry of Inside, and the Ministry of Tourism the system permits certified travellers to acquire an digital vacationer visa utilizing solely their passport particulars and Visa card data.
Saudi Visa visa
The platform makes use of travellers’ credit score scores to confirm monetary solvency, addressing the necessities of vacation spot international locations whereas simplifying approvals for hundreds of thousands of potential guests.
Set to launch in 2026, with growth as extra banks and card issuers be a part of, the Visa by Profile mannequin absolutely automates visa issuance by means of coordinated connectivity between authorities entities, airports, credit score bureaus and monetary establishments.
Minister of Tourism and TOURISE Summit chairman Ahmed Al-Khateeb mentioned: “Visa by Profile is about entry — entry to alternative, mobility, and connection.
“By bringing collectively monetary establishments and tourism authorities, we’re constructing a wiser framework for world journey that streamlines processes and expands entry at scale.
“This marks a wider transformation in how nations facilitate motion — with quicker selections, extra environment friendly techniques, and a seamless expertise for travellers worldwide.”
Pioneering initiative
Vice Minister of Overseas Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji mentioned: “This pioneering initiative has been launched to facilitate the entry of eligible Visa credit-card holders to the Kingdom by means of the built-in platform, in coordination with the collaborating banks with Visa.
“Eligible guests will be capable of acquire an instantaneous digital vacationer visa with ease and comfort.
“This globally unprecedented step is a part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to advertise tourism openness, ease mobility and entry for guests, and simplify procedures — strengthening Saudi Arabia’s place as a number one world tourism vacation spot and enriching guests’ experiences as they discover the Kingdom’s wealthy cultural and tourism choices.”
Rajiv Garodia, Visa’s world head of presidency options, mentioned: “Our collaboration with TOURISE and Saudi authorities our bodies on the Visa by Profile initiative builds on the Kingdom’s present visa framework, making the method quicker, safer, and extra user-friendly.
“By enabling safe, seamless visa approvals, we’re eradicating friction and making a seamless digital pathway that advantages travellers, governments, and companions alike.”
Saudi tourism push
The initiative kinds a part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to modernise its journey infrastructure and place itself as one of many world’s most accessible tourism markets.
By linking monetary verification with journey authorisation, Visa by Profile goals to set a brand new world benchmark for digital-first border administration, utilizing built-in knowledge techniques to cut back delays and streamline the expertise for each travellers and authorities.
