FACTCHECK: No, Saudi Arabia Did Not Place Nigeria and 13 Other Countries on Travel Ban

BY: Mustapha Lawal 

Claim

Saudi Arabia placed Nigeria and 13 other countries on travel ban.

Verdict

False. This claim is not supported by any official communication from Saudi authorities. The Saudi Tourism Authority has debunked the memo, confirming it as unofficial and misleading.

Full Text
A viral memo circulating on social media claims that Saudi Arabia has imposed visa restrictions and entry bans on Nigeria and 13 other countries, including Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia.  The document alleges that from April 13, 2025, citizens from these countries would not be allowed to apply for new short-term Saudi visas such as business, tourism, and family visits, and even those with valid visas would be denied entry. It also warned that non-compliance could result in a five-year entry ban.

FactCheckAfrica decided to verify this as spread of false diplomatic information such as travel bans can create unnecessary panic, disrupt travel plans, and foster mistrust between nations. In this case, many intending travelers and businesses have expressed concern over the alleged restrictions, especially with the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage approaching.

Verification 

The widely circulated memo, which surfaced in late March 2025, listed 14 countries, including Nigeria, allegedly affected by a sweeping visa and entry ban into Saudi Arabia. The document gained traction across WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, and blogs.

However, TheCable, a reputable Nigerian news platform, reached out to the Saudi Tourism Centre, which denied issuing such a circular. According to the response from the Saudi authorities, no new visa restrictions have been placed on any of the countries mentioned in the fake memo.

The only legitimate directive currently in effect pertains to the Hajj season. As clarified by the Saudi Tourism Centre:

“Anyone holding a Tourist visa is not permitted to perform Hajj, enter, or stay inside Makkah during 01 Thul Quda to 14 Thul Hijjah 1446 AH (29 April to 11 June 2025).”

This is a standard policy issued annually to control unauthorized access to the holy sites during Hajj. It does not amount to a visa ban for any country.

It’s important to cross-check travel advisories with official government channels or embassies before acting on viral messages or screenshots.

Conclusion

There is no official Saudi policy banning or restricting visa applications or entry for Nigerians or citizens of the 13 other countries listed in the viral memo. The only current restriction is a Hajj-related policy limiting access to Makkah for tourist visa holders during the pilgrimage season. Travelers are advised to verify such claims from credible sources such as Saudi embassies, consulates, or recognized news organizations like TheCable.