JEDDAH: Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 Saudis desiring to travel to Western countries have faced many difficulties while applying for visas.

Back in May, the Agence France Presse news agency published a report that Saudi Arabia accused France, Germany and Italy of discrimination over what it said were unreasonable delays for its nationals to secure visas to visit those countries.

Saudi applicants are forced to submit more documentation and wait much longer than citizens of neighboring countries for Europe’s Schengen visa, the Foreign Ministry said.

The Schengen visa allows visitors to travel freely through 15 countries with a visa from a single embassy. Usually, the visa takes up to two or three weeks. Although there are no passport checkpoints between some European countries, the Schengen visa is vital when the traveler wants to return to his country from another European destination.

“There are conditions of course that needs to be fulfilled. But a Saudi citizen is rarely rejected when applying for a visa,” said a source at the French Consulate.

While British visas are not part of the Schengen system the British Embassy is the least hectic when it comes to visa issuance. The British visa only takes up to three days to be finalized.

According to a previous report, the number of Saudis visiting the United Kingdom is on the rise. British officials say 79,000 visas were issued in Saudi Arabia by the end of September this year, an increase of about 1,000 from the same period last year.

On the other hand, Malaysia, which is also a desired destination for Saudis, does not require a visit visa except for those wishing to invest or do business. A Saudi citizen could stay in Malaysia for three months without a visa but with no extension to the visit.