COVID-19 booster mandatory for Saudi citizens to travel abroad from today

A COVID-19 vaccination center

Saudi citizens will be required to take a COVID-19 booster shot, three months after taking the second dose, to be able to travel abroad starting Feb. 9, the Interior Ministry said.

Those under the age of 16 will be exempt from the new regulation, in addition to those who appear under the exempt category on the Tawakkalna app.

All passengers, except those under eight years, coming to the Kingdom must present a negative PCR or antigen test report within 48 hours of departure or arrival. This is regardless of their immunization status.

Citizens who tested positive for COVID-19 can enter the Kingdom without the need for a negative PCR test if seven days have lapsed from the date of the positive test, provided that the traveller is inoculated with the necessary vaccine doses that are approved by the government.

If the Kingdom-inbound passenger is not appropriately vaccinated, then 10 days must pass before entering the Kingdom.