COVID-19: Saudi embassy in Manila to begin receiving work visa applications

Cairo: The Saudi embassy in the Philippines has said it will start receiving applications for work visas as of Monday from recruitment agencies only.

The mission based in Manila warned Saudi citizens against dealing with social media accounts or individuals for labour recruitment, confirming that hiring should be handled through authorised offices in Saudi Arabia to avoid fraud.

The embassy added in a series of tweets that holders of exit and return visas should contact airlines and do testing for detecting the coronavirus. The mission provided a list of authorized testing centres across the Philippines.

“No person holding a work, residency, visit or exit and return visa will be allowed to enter the kingdom without presenting a negative virus result based on a test at a credible centre authorised by the competent agencies in the Philippines,” it added.

The test should be done up to 48 hours before arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Those holding expired visas are required to check with the Saudi visa service centre TASHEEL-VFS authorised by the Foreign Ministry starting from Wednesday, September 23, to finalise related procedures and pay fees, the embassy noted.