The Travel and Tourism Offices Committee of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has contacted the concerned officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss solving the problems facing Saudi nationals in obtaining entry visas to countries of the European Union, Canada and Australia. The committee said the embassies of these countries demand fulfillment of difficult conditions and procedures, such as, attaching a bank account statement of the visa applicant and proof of hotel reservations. Apart from this, after a wait of up to 40 days, the applicant may be surprised to find that the duration of the issued visa is only between one to three months The committee expressed surprise at such treatment by these countries despite the existence of strong commercial, economic and tourism ties between them and the Kingdom. These countries are also among the biggest trading partners of the Kingdom. The committee drew attention to what it claimed is discrimination in the treatment of Saudis compared to nationals of other GCC countries. While Saudi nationals face many obstacles to obtain a visa, nationals of other GCC countries get visas within a few days. The committee drew attention to the fact that an improvement has taken place in procedures for Saudis to obtain travel visas to the USA and Britain when earlier there were many obstacles, especially after September 2001. However, a Saudi national can now get visas to these two countries easily with a validity of several years.
