New system for Saudi visa applicants
Manama, March 18, 2014
A biometric enrolment for visa applicants to Saudi Arabia from Bahrain has been made mandatory.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Affairs Ministry initiated the project which will be run by VFS TasHeel, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
As well as the biometric system, applicants will have to submit fingerprints and photo identification.
The Saudi government has instituted the new system in an effort to ease the travel process for individuals visiting the kingdom.
Madhan Gopalakrishnan, CEO, VFS TasHeel, a joint venture between VFS Global (A division of Kuoni Travel Group, Switzerland) and TasHeel, Saudi Arabia, said: “We are pleased to be fulfilling the role assigned to us by the Saudi MoFA, which is to facilitate a smooth, streamlined visa application process for travelers to the kingdom.”
Saudi Arabia's MoFA has mandated that VFS TasHeel will handle biometric enrollment services in Bahrain, including those for Hajj and Umrah travelers.
Although the company does not process Hajj and Umrah visa applications, it will be responsible for providing the biometric enrollment services for all Saudi visa applicants willing to travel to the kingdom.
The Saudi Visa Services Centre is located at the Bahrain Financial Harbour, Manama. - TradeArabia News Service
