Saudi embassy in Islamabad starts same-day visa processing for Pakistanis, ambassador announces
The Saudi ambassador says the Islamabad embassy now processes Pakistani visas the same day. Pakistan offered Riyadh tax-free oil storage at the same meeting.
At a glance
- Saudi Ambassador Rajeh bin Tami Al-Baqami said on Friday, October 30, 2026, that the embassy in Islamabad has introduced same-day processing of visa applications for Pakistani citizens.
- The announcement came in a meeting with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik; details such as visa categories and fees were not given.
- Pakistan told Riyadh it has approved a tax-neutral bonded policy letting Saudi firms hold commercial oil reserves in Pakistan.
- Malik also pitched a planned petroleum storage and refining complex at Hub, Balochistan, able to take the largest crude carriers.
Saudi Arabia's embassy in Islamabad has introduced same-day processing of visa applications for Pakistani citizens, Ambassador Rajeh bin Tami Al-Baqami announced on Friday, October 30, 2026. He said the step is meant to make travel easier and strengthen business, cultural and people-to-people links. The announcement came during a meeting with Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, where the two sides also discussed Saudi oil storage on Pakistani soil.
What applicants know, and what they don't yet
The headline is simple, but the fine print has not been published. As of Friday night, here is where things stand.
| Question | Answer so far |
|---|---|
| Who announced it? | Ambassador Rajeh bin Tami Al-Baqami |
| Who benefits? | Pakistani citizens applying through the Saudi embassy in Islamabad |
| What does it speed up? | Processing of visa applications at the embassy |
| Which visa types? | Not specified |
| Do fees or documents change? | Not stated |
| Does it cover consulates in other cities? | Not stated |
| Start date | Described as already introduced; no separate date given |
For now, anyone planning a trip should treat this as faster handling of a complete application rather than a new visa type. Travellers should confirm with the embassy or its authorised visa channels before booking anything around a one-day turnaround.
The change matters to a lot of people. More than two million Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia, and large numbers travel there every year for Umrah, so visa delays are a constant complaint and a source of agents' fees.
The oil offer on the same table
Malik used the meeting to make Pakistan's pitch as a storage hub for Saudi crude. He told the ambassador that Pakistan has approved a tax-neutral bonded policy, benchmarked against energy hubs such as Fujairah and Singapore. Saudi companies could keep commercial oil reserves in Pakistan with no local tax liability.
The timing is no accident. With the Strait of Hormuz largely shut by the Iran war and risks around the Bab al-Mandab, Malik argued that Pakistani storage would give Riyadh a way around both chokepoints and an easier route to Asian buyers.
He also described other openings for Saudi money:
- A complex at Hub, Balochistan: a major petroleum storage and refining project, being developed under the guidance of Technip Energies UK, with capacity to handle Very Large Crude Carriers. He said it has the backing of the prime minister and the chief of defence forces, and could serve Central Asian and Chinese markets.
- Refinery upgrades: Pakistan's programme to modernise existing plants and move to Euro 5 fuel standards.
- LPG supplies and commercial deals: the two sides also discussed LPG and wider energy trade, along with minerals.
Malik also thanked Saudi authorities at Yanbu port for giving priority to crude shipments bound for Pakistan. Yanbu, on the Red Sea, has become a vital loading point since Gulf exports through Hormuz collapsed.
Why Riyadh's attention matters now
Malik said he had conveyed Pakistan's solidarity to Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during a recent visit to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is facing Houthi drone and missile attacks and wants alternatives for its oil, while Pakistan needs investment and secure fuel. Neither side announced a signed investment deal on Friday, so the storage plan and the Hub complex remain proposals.
The next signal to watch is a notice from the embassy setting out how same-day processing works in practice.
Questions people are asking
Can Pakistanis get a Saudi visa in one day?
The Saudi ambassador says the embassy in Islamabad has introduced same-day processing for Pakistani applicants. The categories covered and the rules for applying have not yet been published, so applicants should check with the embassy.
Does same-day processing apply to Umrah and work visas?
This has not been stated. The ambassador spoke of visa applications in general, to help travel and business, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
