The TOURISE forum, in its inaugural edition, launched the "Visa by Profile" initiative, a world-first step that allows eligible travelers holding Visa cards to obtain their electronic tourist visa within minutes using only their passport and card details.
The initiative was developed by the Saudi Tourism Authority in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with Visa and participating banks, with the aim of simplifying the visa issuance process, reducing barriers to travel and attracting tourists through digital integration between government entities and the financial sector, according to the Saudi Press Agency website.
The initiative relies on assessing travelers' creditworthiness to ensure financial solvency and facilitate approval procedures, with participation open to all interested banks. It is scheduled to be launched globally in 2026 and will continue to expand as more banks and credit card providers join.
Minister of Tourism and Chairman of TOURISE Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb explained that the initiative represents a fundamental shift in facilitating global travel by uniting the efforts of financial institutions and tourism entities to build a smarter framework that enhances the flexibility of the experience and broadens access.
For his part, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Elkhereiji affirmed that the platform enables eligible Visa cardholders to obtain a tourist visit visa electronically and instantly, in an unprecedented step that reflects the Kingdom's efforts to facilitate visitors' entry and strengthen its position as a global tourist destination.
Visa's Global Head of Government Solutions, Rajiv Garodia, stated that the cooperation with TOURISE and government entities strengthens the Kingdom's visa framework and provides a faster, more secure and easier process through an integrated digital system serving travelers, governments and partners.
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