Latest travel restrictions across the Middle East

Bahrain

Entry ban:
o        for travellers who have been to Iran, Iraq or Lebanon in the 14 days prior to travel to Bahrain. This does not apply to nationals of Bahrain and other GCC countries, foreign residents in Bahrain as well as those with a special approval from the Ministry of Interior; they will be subject to a quarantine.

Restrictions:
o        all travellers must have a pre-arranged visa for travel to Bahrain as no visa-on-arrival is issued to nationals of all countries; this does not apply to diplomats;
o        border crossing at the King Fahad Causeway, linking Bahrain with Saudi Arabia, has been closed.
o        the endorsement of new residence visa stickers (including residence renewal applications) is limited to foreign nationals with select positions only, and if the applicants must travel internationally; otherwise paper visa printouts will serve as the permits until further notice.

Quarantine:
o        for all passengers arriving in Bahrain.

Travel ban:
o        for nationals of Bahrain travelling to Iran.

Egypt

Entry ban:
o        for Qatari nationals.

Restrictions:
o        suspension of all commercial flights to/from Egypt until March 31;
o        border with Sudan is now closed.

Iraq

Entry ban:
o        for nationals of Mainland China and Iran;
o        for foreign nationals who have visited Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Iran, Italy, Japan, Macau SAR, Singapore, South Korea or Thailand in the 14 days prior to travel to Iraq.

Restrictions:
o        suspension of movement between Iraqi Kurdistan and Federal Iraq until March 28 for Iraqi and foreign nationals, excluding diplomats, medical personnel and security forces;
o        no travel to Iraq from Iran until April 1;
o        closure of all government agencies in Basrah until March 22, and suspension on issuance of security passes until further notice.

Quarantine:
o        for nationals of Iraq and foreign residents in Iraq who have visited Mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Macau SAR, Singapore, South Korea or Thailand in the 14 days prior to travel to Iraq.

Iraqi Kurdistan

Entry ban:
o        for nationals of Albania, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom;
o        for foreign nationals who have visited Bahrain, Mainland China, France, Hong Kong SAR, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Macau SAR, Singapore, Spain, South Korea or Thailand on or after January 1, 2020.

Restrictions:
o        visa issuance stopped for nationals of Albania, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Mainland China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom;
o        closure of all government agencies and suspension of all immigration processes until March 26 (the government announced public holidays for private and public sectors until March 26);
o        suspension of movement between the governates in Iraqi Kurdistan and between Iraqi Kurdistan and Federal Iraq until March 28 for Iraqi and foreign nationals, excluding diplomats, medical personnel and security forces;
o        no commercial flights until March 28.

Quarantine:
o        for no less than 30 days for nationals of all countries, including nationals of Iraq.

Jordan

Restrictions:
o        closure of all land, sea and air borders for all passenger traffic;
o        closure of all government agencies until further notice;
o        suspension of movement between the governorates effective March 19.

Kuwait

Entry ban:
o        for all travellers (regardless of nationality) other than Kuwaiti citizens, immediate relatives of Kuwaiti citizens and foreign residents in Kuwait.

Restrictions:
o        closure of all government agencies until March 29;
o        suspension of all commercial flights to/from Kuwait until further notice.

Concessions:
o        expired work and residence permits for foreign nationals outside Kuwait can be renewed by employers in Kuwait;
o        validity of all categories of visit visas has been extended by additional two months;

Lebanon

Entry and transit ban:
o        for all travellers (regardless of nationality). This does not apply to nationals of Lebanon and those who have a valid residence permit for Lebanon.

Restrictions:
o        closure of all government agencies until March 29.

Morocco

Restrictions:
o        suspension of all commercial domestic and international flights from March 15;
o        closure of all government agencies until April 02.

Concessions:
o        although not officially announced yet, it is expected that foreign nationals in visitor status whose visa has expired due to current situation, will be allowed to extend it.

Oman

Entry ban:
o        for all travellers (regardless of nationality) other than Omani citizens.

Restrictions:
o        suspension on the issuance of all in-country and out-of-country visas (this does not apply to applications submitted on or before March 17, as well as Residence Cards which continue to be processed);
o        suspension of all operations, including services related to civil status, passports and residency, effective March 23 until further notice.

Travel ban:
o        for nationals of Oman travelling abroad.

Pakistan

Restrictions:
o        suspension of all commercial flights to/from Pakistan effective March 22;

Qatar

Entry ban:
o        for all foreign nationals (regardless of nationality) effective immediately. Qatari nationals may enter Qatar but are subject to a 14-day quarantine. Passengers transiting through the airport in Doha are allowed to continue their journey, provided that have valid documents for their next destination;
o        Nationals of Qatar must use their passport for entry.

Restrictions:
o        no new entry visa applications (i.e.: work visa, business visa, family visa) are processed for applicants of all nationalities in Qatar Financial Centre Free Zone (QFC);
o        no new residence permit applications are processed for applicants of all nationalities in Qatar Financial Centre Free Zone (QFC);
o        all Qatar Visa Centres are closed until further notice;
o        suspension of all in-person immigration applications submission.

Saudi Arabia

Entry ban:
o        for all travellers (regardless of nationality) other than Saudi citizens until March 31.

Restrictions:
o        closure of all government agencies except those related to public health and security as well as the military sector until March 31;
o        suspension of all commercial flights to/from Saudi Arabia until March 31;
o        border with Jordan is closed for all passenger traffic;
o        border crossing at the King Fahad Causeway, linking Bahrain with Saudi Arabia is closed;
o        entry into and exit from Qatif governorate (from Saihat in the South to Safwa in the North) is temporarily suspended. Residents who are currently outside of the governorate will be allowed to return to their homes. Work of all government departments and private institutions in Qatif governorate is suspended;
o        suspension of processing of all categories of visa applications at many consular posts, including Egypt, India, Jordan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates.
Concessions:
o        foreign nationals whose residence permit and / or exit-re-entry visa expired while being outside Saudi Arabia are expected to be able to renew their permits through one of the electronic portals Absher or Muqeem (this option is currently unavailable but expected to be activated shortly);
o        foreign nationals whose visit visa expired while being in Saudi Arabia, including visas for business and for tourism, can renew the visa through one of the electronic portals Absher or Muqeem.

Travel ban:
o        for nationals of Saudi Arabia and foreign residents in Saudi Arabia travelling to Bahrain, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Tunisia

Entry ban:
o        for all travellers (regardless of nationality) other than Tunisian citizens due to the closure of borders.

United Arab Emirates

Entry ban:
o        for all travellers, regardless of nationality (including GCC citizens) other than nationals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and diplomats. Passengers transiting through the UAE airports are allowed to continue their journey, provided that have valid documents for their next destination.

Restrictions:
o        suspension of processing of all new employment entry permit applications for foreign nationals who are outside of the UAE; all new residence entry permit applications for foreign nationals who are outside of the UAE; all new mission entry permit applications; and all new applications for a visit visa (for tourism, etc.). The suspension includes all in-progress applications.
o        applications for individuals who apply for an employment or a residence visa while they are in the UAE in a visitor status will be allowed to continue their process. Similarly, those who renew their visa in-country are not affected.

Travel ban:
o        for nationals of the United Arab Emirates travelling to Iran and Thailand.