Travel with MENA question

[Henia 11]

Just out of curiousity does anyone know if I need visas to various MENA countries, if I am legally married to a MENA man and have a residency pending in Algerie? I am asking since I know anyone with MENA citizenship can travel within the MENA without a visa...and there is page on my husband's passport (I think others countries do this too) for the name and photo of his wife and children... I am mainly interested knowing about NA (Maroc, Tunezia and Egypte) and Saudi Arabia...I think this would make my life easier in the future if I did not need visas...anyway just wondering...

[Henia 11]

Nobody wants to reply?

[amal 4]

you know, i'm not really sure...but that's a fantastic question. I guess I just assumed we'd travel to those countries without a problem .....I hope someone has the answer ....

amal

[~Jess~ 0]

i am pretty sure that MOST arab countries we can travel to and obtain a visit visa in airport, as for Saudi, nope there are no 'visit' visas or tourist visas allowed there except in a tourist group..............

[Henia 11]

you know, i'm not really sure...but that's a fantastic question. I guess I just assumed we'd travel to those countries without a problem .....I hope someone has the answer ....

amal

No actually I have found the answer to my question regarding countries I stated in the orginal post, but am not sure about other countries in the ME.

• Egypte you aquire a tourtist visa upon arrival
  
• Tunezia requires no visa for US citizens (my native country is also included in this )
  
• Maroc doesnt either...Libya issues no visas for tourtists (the few that are issued are for family members of nationals)
  
• Dubai requires a visa for no US citizens (unfortunately does require one for my country and also for all MENA, which I found strange since countries like France, Greece, Japan and Spain.
  
• Saudi Arabia requires a visa for people except nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.Also tourtist and pilgram passes are processed differently in SA. One may aquire a pilgrim pass which is valid for 2months and elhamdullah is free through if a travel agent arranges it for you. A tourtist visa or family visa is only obtainable if invited by a Saudi born national and sponsored by this national with a introduction letter and authorisation from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Even though their national website says that processing takes about week for Pilgrim visas I have talked to people in the USA and also here in Algerie who said their process took more like 2-3months. I donnow...Allahu Allem!
  

Anyway I will be sooo happy when I get my *legal* residency status here in Algerie. I thought by being marrried to an Algerien I donnot have to apply for visas when entering, but I do. Only residents donnot have to it seem.

[dawnnhatem 0]

I saw the question earlier and had no clue so I just stayed out of it, but its an interesting topic.

Henia-Do you think about what you would need for algerian citizenship? I would imagine that an algerian passport holder could travel as freely as they wanted through the ME, but I have nothing to support that. I am curious tho, whats the point of being able to write a spouse into his passport, if you are still required a passport and visa of your own to travel? It would seem that being written into his passport would allow you to leave your passport in your pocket at any ME border his passport could cross. No experience here to draw from so I don't know anything here.

Interesting question

Dawn

[mybackpages 0]

Remember the boarder is closed between Maroc and Algeria. Morocco allows crossings from Algeria, but Algeria will not allow crossings from Morocco. You may have to fly in an out of Morocco. But definately worth the trip

[dawnnhatem 0]

[*]...Libya issues no visas for tourtists (the few that are issued are for family members of nationals)

whoa - I believe Tripoli Libya welcomes all the european tourists they can get...can your Hungarian (thats you, right?) passport not get you in anytime?

[Henia 11]

whats the point of being able to write a spouse into his passport, if you are still required a passport and visa of your own to travel?

This is my whole question...whats the point? Ye it doesnt make sense...

[*]...Libya issues no visas for tourtists (the few that are issued are for family members of nationals)

whoa - I believe Tripoli Libya welcomes all the european tourists they can get...can your Hungarian (thats you, right?) passport not get you in anytime?

I am not sure about that, but it would make sense to open the border for city of Tripoli...I asked my husband about the borders and he said Libya is closed...so that is what I based that comment on...Sorry if I am wrong...I think I will google it.

Yes my Backpages, I do remember the border btwn Maroc and Algerie is closed...hmmmm not sure why thou...I am going to ask my husband...but maybe cos of the terrorism here? They really concerned about terrorism here and it a top propiorty here... that is why there are police and military everywhere.I donnow...

[mybackpages 0]

whats the point of being able to write a spouse into his passport, if you are still required a passport and visa of your own to travel?

This is my whole question...whats the point? Ye it doesnt make sense...

[*]...Libya issues no visas for tourtists (the few that are issued are for family members of nationals)

whoa - I believe Tripoli Libya welcomes all the european tourists they can get...can your Hungarian (thats you, right?) passport not get you in anytime?

I am not sure about that, but it would make sense to open the border for city of Tripoli...I asked my husband about the borders and he said Libya is closed...so that is what I based that comment on...Sorry if I am wrong...I think I will google it.

Yes my Backpages, I do remember the border btwn Maroc and Algerie is closed...hmmmm not sure why thou...I am going to ask my husband...but maybe cos of the terrorism here? They really concerned about terrorism here and it a top propiorty here... that is why there are police and military everywhere.I donnow...

It has a lot to do withthe conflict between Morocco and Algeria over the Westrn Sahara region. Long story there.

[Henia 11]

It has a lot to do withthe conflict between Morocco and Algeria over the Westrn Sahara region. Long story there.

Ahhhh ok my husband briefly told me about that issue.

[hollyw 0]

Henia, I'd be really curious to know what you've found out about this... are you trying to get your Algerian residency right now? What step do you have to go through to get it?

My husband and I have talked about this because we plan on visiting his family at least once a year and it'll be a pain in the @ss if I have to get a visa each time we would like to go. I'm assuming I'm out of luck because I know that we will never actually LIVE there, but I would really like to know what you've found out about the residency requirements.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Just out of curiousity does anyone know if I need visas to various MENA countries, if I am legally married to a MENA man and have a residency pending in Algerie? I am asking since I know anyone with MENA citizenship can travel within the MENA without a visa...and there is page on my husband's passport (I think others countries do this too) for the name and photo of his wife and children... I am mainly interested knowing about NA (Maroc, Tunezia and Egypte) and Saudi Arabia...I think this would make my life easier in the future if I did not need visas...anyway just wondering...

Each country has its own regulations. Some require a visa from certain countries, but not from others -- so as you've found out, it depends on which passport you're travelling with. And, as you now know, you can't "travel on your husband's passport" -- each person must have his/her own.

Most countries allow U.S. citizens to obtain a vistor's visa for a limited time period upon arrival at the airport/border, but not all of them. Some Muslim countries allow travellers with passports from other Muslim countries to visit without a visa or fee. The fees and time limits vary -- you'll have to check each individual country for the specific rules. Luckily, the answers are usually at your fingertips on the net !

Hope you get to see all the beautiful places !

-MK

[doodlebug 3]

Along the same lines, to get into Saudi Arabia do you just have to have the proof that you are a Muslim or do you also have to be invited by someone who lives there?

[Henia 11]

Henia, I'd be really curious to know what you've found out about this... are you trying to get your Algerian residency right now? What step do you have to go through to get it?

My husband and I have talked about this because we plan on visiting his family at least once a year and it'll be a pain in the @ss if I have to get a visa each time we would like to go. I'm assuming I'm out of luck because I know that we will never actually LIVE there, but I would really like to know what you've found out about the residency requirements.

Well upon arrival I had to declare myself at the local police station....one of the steps to being married in Algerie... the ploice officer there told us about this...also if you plan to live (for anytime) in Algerie you would to gain residency via marriage or work. Also for our marriage to be approved (yes approved) we had to declare I wanted to live in Algerie. They said the process takes about 6 months to get the final ID card...inchallah it will make my life alot easier, traveling alone (ei: passing through the checkpoints, esp if I am driving) reentering Algerie without a visa or visa fees/wait time,if and when we apply for the DCF more prove (I guess)..I have been actually *trying* to go through this process but as you know the government here is corrupt...the ploice officer seems to think I am rich (I wish) and since my husband has a very good job wants us to *pay* him to do the investigation (yes anything to do with foreigners take an investigation...really all the investigation is they see you and want money from you)...well since we *paid* him to hurry along our marriage process (basically ensure that our file did not sit on his desk for months) we thought he was not going to ask for any more money....hahahaa we were wrong. Snaps we have already *paid* 5 corrupt people to get our marriage certificate here...ye nothing happens "normally" here...it is who you know and how many dinars in your pocket.

Anyway I was thinking to ask JPaula about this, she seems to know alot more then I do about things here...also I know some American and English ladies living here who could help me... I will get back to you inchallah Holly!