Saudi Arabia GACA updates entry mechanism for arrivals shortens institutional quarantine

General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued instructions to all airlines operating in Saudi Arabia’s airports to update entry mechanism and procedures for residents and visitors arriving from countries not on Saudi Arabia’s entry banned list, and to reduce the period of institutional quarantine.

First: A non-vaccinated individual or who has received only one dose of the approved vaccines in Kingdom, provided that he/she submits a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 72 hours before departure for Saudi Arabia.

The institutional quarantine in saudi shall be for a period of five days. Furthermore, two PCR tests shall be taken; the first within 24 hours from arriving and the second on the 5th day of the institutional quarantine. It is a must to adhere to PCRs times as shown on Tawakkalna app. The quarantine ends with the second negative PCR result, taken in Saudi Arabia.

Second: An individual who is immune by a COVID-19 vaccine not approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or who is immune by receiving one of the vaccines approved by the WHO, but not approved in Saudi Arabia, provided that he submits a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for Saudi Arabia.

The institutional quarantine shall be for a period of five days. Furthermore, two PCR tests shall be taken; the first within 24 hours from arriving and the second on the 5th day of the institutional quarantine. It is a must to adhere to PCRs times as shown on Tawakkalna app. The quarantine ends with the second negative PCR result, taken in Saudi Arabia.

GACA stated that dependents are allowed to enter with their immune relatives according to the following:

First: Unvaccinated dependents under 18 years old shall be subject to home quarantine procedures for five days. A PCR test shall be taken on the 5th day. This is in addition to implementing all precautionary measures approved by the Ministry of Health.

Second: Institutional quarantine procedures are applied to unvaccinated dependents aged 18 or older. This will be effective as of Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at 12 noon.

GACA stressed that the resident must take the second COVID-19 vaccine in the Kingdom after the end of the institutional quarantine, and whoever is fully immune by vaccines approved by the WHO, but not approved in the Kingdom, currently the Sinopharma vaccine and the Sinovac vaccine, should receive a booster dose from one of the vaccines available in the Kingdom after arrival.

Arriving passengers must register in “Quddum” platform before arriving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting that quarantine procedures will be applied according to the protocols of the Ministry of Health for those who show a positive PCR test during the period of institutional quarantine, and recovery from infection with the coronavirus is not considered as a justification for not applying the institutional quarantine.

GACA pointed to the amendment of the home quarantine procedures for Saudi citizens. The home quarantine is for non-vaccinated individuals for five days. A PCR test shall be taken on the 5th day. This is in addition to implementing all precautionary measures approved by the Ministry of Health.

GACA stressed that according to the instructions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, only those who received one of the vaccines approved in Saudi Arabia can enter all places, activities, events and government and private facilities and use public transportation. — SPA

Saudi Arabia allows and resume direct entry of fully vaccinated expats from ban countries

Saudi Arabia allows direct entry of fully vaccinated expats from countries facing travel ban including India & Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued directives to allow direct entry of fully vaccinated expatriates from countries facing travel ban, Saudi Gazette has learnt from diplomatic sources.

Diplomatic missions of the concerned countries have received the directive.

This will be applicable only to those foreigners who have left the Kingdom on exit and reentry visa after taking two doses of vaccine against coronavirus from Saudi Arabia.

Currently, the countries facing the travel ban are India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Afghanistan & Lebanon.

Embassy is pleased to inform that Saudi Authorities have announced that Indian nationals who have travelled to India after receiving both doses of the vaccine in Saudi Arabia will be able to return to the Kingdom directly without need for quarantine in a third country.

Saudi quarantine packages 2021 For Passengers travelling with Philippine airlines

Saudi Institutional Quarantine Packages for Philippine Airline PAL Passengers

Philippine Airline PAL Passengers who wish to avail of complete institutional quarantine packages (including a 7-day institutional quarantine hotel reservation, full board meals, airport-hotel transfers, medical insurance, 2 RT-PCR tests upon arrival, etc.) may contact our PAL GSAs in KSA:

E-mail: musafirservices@gmail.com

View available institutional quarantine packages

*PAL passengers are required to book their institutional quarantine packages with PAL’s accredited travel partners. Otherwise, passengers might not be accepted in the flight.

Institutional quarantine packages must be booked and paid 96 hours before arrival into KSA. Bookings and settlement of payment will be done directly to the packagers mentioned above.

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COVID-19 Health Requirements

Passengers are reminded of the new and additional travel guidelines set by The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to limit the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of all its international passengers.
All arriving passengers, except children under the age of eight are required to:
– Provide a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result from a verified laboratory conducted no later than (72) hours before the scheduled departure to KSA;

– A PRINTED Certificate from a verified lab must include: passenger’s name, passport number or ID which verifies that the passenger tested negative within 72 hours before scheduled the scheduled time of departure.

Effective May 20, 2021, Passengers shall also be required to:
– Obtain, at their own expense, a medical insurance or a present a medical card (for returning residents) that covers the risk of COVID-19 infection;

– Undergo, at their own expense, institutional quarantine for 7 days from the time of arrival at an institutional quarantine facility licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and;

– Take a COVID-19 (RT-PCR) test on the first (1st) day of arrival (within 24 hours of arrival) and on the seventh (7th) day to confirm there are no symptoms before checking out of the institutional quarantine facility.

The following passengers are exempt from institutional quarantine:

A. Immune Passengers exempt from institutional quarantine:

a. Saudi citizens or residents, whose status shows “immune” in the Tawakkalna (COVID-19 KSA) application by completing their vaccinations against COVID-19, those who have passed 14 days after their first dose, or those who have recovered from COVID-19 in a period not exceeding 6 months;

If Tawakkalna app is offline, passengers may validate their vaccination status by registering online through this link: https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/home.

b. Non-residents and first-time visitors who have completed 14 days since receiving all doses of the vaccination by an authorized vaccine by KSA, while providing a certificate or proof in accordance with the requirements set by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Vaccine certificate must have an official stamp/seal or a QR Code from official health authorities or from their local government unit that provided the vaccine.

The following are the authorized vaccines by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

Pfizer Biontech Vaccine (2 doses)
Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine (2 doses)
Moderna Vaccine (2 doses)
Johnson Vaccine (1 dose)
The duration between receiving the last dose (the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or the first dose of a single-dose vaccine) should not be less than 14 days before traveling to KSA.

Passengers must provide a vaccine certificate certified by official health authorities from the country that provided the vaccination. They should keep their vaccine certificates at all times during their stay in KSA.

All ‘Immunized Travelers’ must register their vaccination status before their arriving in KSA. Passengers may register through: https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/home

B. Non-immune Passengers exempt from institutional quarantine are:

a. Saudi citizens, citizen spouses, citizen children and domestic workers accompanying any individuals mentioned in these categories. (Non-immune travelers, in this category, shall comply with home quarantine for a period of 7 days, and take a PCR on the 6th day of quarantine)

b. Non-immune domestic workers accompanying an immune resident. ((Non-immune travelers, in this category, shall comply with home quarantine for a period of 7 days, and take a PCR on the 6th day of quarantine)

c.Immune travelers, (and their companions under the age of 18 years of citizens and residents. Non-immune travelers, in this category, shall comply with home quarantine for a period of 7 days, and take a PCR on the 6th day of quarantine)

d.Those holding a diplomatic visa, diplomats and their residing families, on the basis that they adhere to the quarantine procedure by staying in their homes in accordance to the MOH approved requlations.

e.Cabin Crew

f.Those involved in health supply chain, according to Ministry of Health (KSA Government Health Worker).

– Passengers who test positive for COVID-19 shall undergo isolation for a period of 10 to 14 days, depending on the state of recovery for those whose health status does not require hospitalization. Those who require treatment shall be referred to a hospital if necessary. The required medical insurance should cover the cost for their treatment of COVID-19.

– Please be reminded that the procedures and services from the time of your arrival and in the institutional quarantine facility (transportation, accommodation, meals, PCR test, etc.) where you will quarantine will be at your own expense.

– Failure to comply with these travel requirements and regulations may result to non-acceptance to the flight and makes traveler subject to legal liabilities in addition to being banned from entry to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

With reference to Article 23 of the Civil Aviation Act, effective May 17, 2021, 01:00AM (Saudi Local Time):
– Allow to transport all vaccinated Saudi citizens who received (2) doses of the (COVID-19) vaccine, and who received (1) dose on the condition that 14 days of their 1st vaccination has passed which matched the status on the Tawakkalna app.

– Allow to transport recovered citizens from (COVID-19) on the condition that 6 months from their (COVID-19) infection has not passed, which matches the status on the Tawakkalna app.

– Allow to transport citizens who are younger than the age of 18, on the condition that they provide an insurance policy approved by the Saudi Central Bank, which covers the treatments of (COVID-19) abroad, according to what instructions the concerned entities declare.

All Non-Saudis must submit a negative result (PCR) test from a verified laboratory, and it must be done no later than (72) hours before the scheduled departure to KSA.
All non‑Saudis, except children 8 years and below, must present a negative RT-PCR test result issued by a verified laboratory.
PRINTED Certificate from a verified lab with the passenger’s name, passport number or ID which verifies that the passenger tested negative within 72 hours before STD.
Passengers must be tested at a government-accredited COVID-19 health facility: https://doh.gov.ph/licensed-covid-19-testing-laboratories

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Travel Restrictions

Lifting the suspension of all international flights and travel to the Kingdom:
– The transport of non-Saudi citizen travelers to the KSA coming from the United Kingdom, South Africa as well as from any other country being specified by the competent health authorities, in which the new variant of the new coronavirus (B117) is spread, shall spend no less than 14 days outside the country in which the new coronavirus variant (B117) is spread before entering KSA, with a PCR examination after the expiration of this period, proving that the passenger is COVID-19 infection-free.

Allowing non-Saudis to leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
– Effective December 27, 2020, airlines are permitted to carry non-Saudi passengers outside the Kingdom, taking into account precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19

– This does not include the countries where the new strain of COVID-19 has appeared, according to what is decided by the competent health authority.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saudi has decided to remove the travel ban for inbound / outbound movement starting September 15, 2020, with precaution and requirements. Specifically:
– GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) citizens are permitted to travel to/from the Kingdom.

– Non-Saudi passengers holding a valid visa (Exit/Entry, Residence [Iqamah], and Visit) are permitted to travel to/from the Kingdom.

Expired exit re-entry visas are no longer acceptable because K.S.A already extended all expired exit re-entry visas online till 20 August 2020.
Health practitioners in India and their families are exempt from the suspension of travel to / from countries where COVID-19 has outbreak.
Passengers who have official government invitations are excluded from above.
Temporarily suspending entry into the kingdom for passengers coming from (Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Germany, USA, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Portugal, United Kingdom, Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Lebanon, Egypt, India, Japan) and it included those coming from other countries if they have passed through any aforementioned countries during (14) days preceding the request to enter the Kingdom. This does not apply to Saudi Citizens, diplomats, health practitioners and their families.
Approval of lifting the suspension for Saudi citizen’s travel outside the Kingdom – GACA Document No. 4/67566 (May 18, 2021)
– Saudi citizens are to travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain according to the following conditions:

Passengers must be over the age of 18 years old
The health status in Tawakkalna application must be immune, completed the COVID-19 vaccine doses or a recovered immune, and this does not include those vaccinated with a single dose.
Exception applies to those holding diplomatic bias, diplomats and their accompaniers, official delegations, Cabin crew, and those associated with health supply chains.
Failure to comply with the circular of issued by GACA is an explicit violation of government orders, and legal procedures will be applied in the violator and will be held responsible.