Saudi Arabia allows Haya card holders 60-day entry to Qatar World Cup

With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 fast approaching, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a smart move to welcome Saudi Arabia Haya card holder football fans by allowing them to stay in the country for up to 60 days.

The announcement came with certain conditions to be followed to the dot. A unified national platform should be used to obtain an e-Visa. Details of further action are yet to be announced. Fortunately e-visa holders are allowed to enter and exit Saudi Arabia multiple times during the validity of their visa.

The Kingdom will allow all FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 fans holding a Haya Card to spend up to 60 days in the country during the World Cup season, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday. The tournament will be held in Qatar from 20 November 2022 to 18 December 2022. 

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry adds that applications for entry visas to the country will be accepted subject to the following terms and conditions.

Ten days before the start of the mega event, Haya card holders will get permission to enter the country. All visitors are required to obtain an electronic visa through the Unified National Platform for Visas. The statement said the ministry will announce further details on the procedures for submitting visa applications and the mechanism for obtaining visas at a later date.

The Haya Card, the main entry permit for all international visitors landing between 1 November 2022 and 23 January 2023, serves as stadium access alongside match tickets. A revamped registration system and operational processes office have been introduced to ensure a better experience for fans. Ticket-holding local and international fans are required to submit applications for a digital Haya Card, which gives fans the ability to plan their movement along with free use of public transport while attending the many events and activities accompanying the tournament. It has been confirmed that fans who get tickets and register on the Digital Haiya platform can register on the tournament's official accommodation platform to choose the most suitable accommodation for them. Activation of Digital Haya Card will begin in early November 2022. Currently, its application is available in Arabic and English, but five official FIFA languages ​​will be added later.