RIYADH, Jan 31: Foreign businessmen and investors can now get visa for Saudi Arabia within 24 hours directly from its missions abroad, Mohammad bin Ahmed Tayeb, director-general of the Saudi foreign ministry's office in the Makkah region, was quoted saying by the press here on Wednesday.

"We have developed a new system for issuing business visa. Businessmen anywhere in the world can now apply for visa to visit the kingdom without any restrictions," he told the local daily Arab News.

Tayeb said Saudi missions abroad have been instructed to issue business visa within 24 hours.

"Applicants do not need a Saudi sponsor to get visa. They only need a letter from the federation of chambers in their respective countries," he said.

Earlier visas to foreign businessmen were endorsed only on an invitation from a Saudi business house.

Company representatives carrying an invitation from a Saudi chamber but with no business relations with a Saudi firm are also entitled to receive entry visas.

"Saudi embassies can directly issue business visas as they need not wait for any approval from the kingdom," Tayeb said. Although the ministry introduced the new system about a year ago, many people are not aware of the facility.

He also said that people could apply for different visas through the ministry's website: www.mofa.gov.sa