The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has announced approval for banks across Saudi Arabia to accept the Visitor ID, issued by the Ministry of Interior, as a valid identification document for opening bank accounts. The new policy enables visitors to the Kingdom to establish banking relationships using their Visitor ID, which can be verified through authorized digital platforms. The initiative builds upon Saudi Arabia’s recent digital identity initiatives, including the digital ID system for Hajj pilgrims launched by the Ministry of Interior.
The Visitor ID serves as an official identification document specifically designed for visitors to Saudi Arabia. Under the new guidelines, banks can verify these IDs through authorized digital verification platforms, implementing a secure and streamlined account opening process. The development follows the successful implementation of other digital authentication systems in the Kingdom, such as Zain KSA’s Yaqoot service, which enables visitors to authenticate and register mobile SIMs through the Ministry of Interior’s Absher platform.
SAMA reports that the policy update emerged from a periodic review of bank account rules, addressing multiple objectives: keeping pace with regulatory developments, streamlining account opening procedures, promoting financial inclusion, and advancing digital transformation in banking services. The changes support the digital transformation goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which has already led to the implementation of numerous digital identity and authentication systems across government services.
The new system enables various categories of visitors, including pilgrims and tourists, to access banking services more efficiently during their stay in the Kingdom. Banks across Saudi Arabia will now recognize the Visitor ID alongside other accepted forms of identification for account opening purposes. The change is particularly significant for the millions of religious tourists who visit Saudi Arabia annually, as demonstrated by the Kingdom’s preparation for hosting up to 2 million Hajj participants in 2025 with advanced digital identity systems.
The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader financial sector modernization efforts, which focus on expanding digital solutions and financial services accessibility to a wider population, including non-residents and temporary visitors. The development marks another step in the Kingdom’s comprehensive strategy to establish itself as a leader in digital government services and financial technology in the Middle East region.
Sources: Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), Saudi Gazette, Economic Times, Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
