New Saudi Arabia Visa Scheme 2023 for GCC Residents — What Are the Latest Visa Rules?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched a new visa scheme for GCC residents with the primary objective of boosting tourism. According to the latest visa rules, GCC residents now have the option to apply for an eVisa through the Visit Saudi online portal, which enables them to visit Saudi for both Umrah and tourism purposes. Regardless of their occupation, residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations can now obtain a Saudi tourist visa.

Hence, visitors flying to Saudi Arabia are no longer required to go through the hassle of visiting an embassy in person to apply for a visa, making the visa application process simple and more straightforward.

It is worth noting that citizens of GCC countries do not require a visa to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Visa requirement for entry is only for people living in a GCC country with a residence permit.

Applying for the Saudi Arabia visa scheme for GCC residents

To obtain your Saudi eVisa for GCC residents, please consult the following.

Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the Saudi eVisa, GCC residents must meet the following conditions:

• the residency document must be valid for three (3) months.
• the passport must be valid for at least six (6) months
• a parent application is mandatory for children under the age of 18.

Application process

To apply for the Saudi eVisa, GCC residents need to follow the steps given below:

• visit the MOFA website and log in to your account. Register via email if you are a new applicant.
• on the next page, fill out the required information, such as visa and personal details.
• scroll down further to enter details regarding your GCC residency.
• select travel insurance.
• pay the application fee.

Once approved, you will receive your Saudi eVisa via email.

Fees

The eVisa for Saudi Arabia for GCC residents costs 300 SAR (USD 80), in addition to the cost of health insurance.

Rules for GCC residents in the new visa scheme

The Saudi eVisa for GCC residents is available as either a

• Multiple-entry permit valid for 1 year from approval, allowing a stay of up to 90 days
• Single-entry visa valid for 3 months from issue, permitting a stay of up to 30 days

GCC residents must be over the age of 18 to apply for a Saudi eVisa. However, parents are allowed to apply on behalf of their child.

Families must apply for a separate Saudi visa for GCC residents for each individual. They must also enter the country together as a group.

Saudi Vision 2030

As stated by the Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, keeping in mind the aim of KSA’s Vision 2030 to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to gross domestic product to 10 percent, the Kingdom has now planned to invest up to $200 billion and welcome around 100 million visitors by 2030.

Furthermore, the Saudi Ministry of Tourism also stated that around 64 million trips were made by residents in the Kingdom in 2021, with the number of visitors from abroad reaching 5 million in the same year. Moreover, the tourist visas introduced by the Kingdom in 2019 continue to exist without any restrictions for those coming for tourism in the Kingdom.