The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed claims circulating on social media that Ghana has been blacklisted by Saudi Arabia under its electronic tourist visa programme.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry explained that Saudi Arabia’s e‑visa system is determined solely by the Kingdom’s authorities and currently covers sixty‑six countries, primarily G20 members, North America, the European Union, and high‑income Asian economies. Only three African nations — South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles — are included.
Ghana’s absence from the list, the Ministry stressed, does not amount to prohibition or diplomatic failure. “The absence of Ghana from the tourist e‑visa list does not mean that Ghanaian nationals are prohibited from travelling to Saudi Arabia or have been blacklisted,” the statement read.
Ghanaian citizens can continue to apply for visas through the Saudi Embassy in Accra or authorized VFS Tasheer service centres. Additionally, holders of valid and previously used visas from the United States, United Kingdom, or Schengen states may qualify for Saudi visas on arrival or electronic visas, provided they travel via Saudi national carriers such as Saudia or Flynas.
The Ministry emphasized that visa channels for tourism, business, family visits, and Umrah remain fully operational. It urged the public to rely on official sources for travel information and disregard misleading reports suggesting Ghana has been excluded for punitive reasons.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign decisions on immigration, border security, and digital visa systems, the Ministry noted, apply equally to other African countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Morocco, which are also not part of the e‑visa programme.
The Ministry concluded by reassuring prospective travellers that Ghana maintains cordial diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and continues to facilitate legitimate travel for its citizens.
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