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Reviewed July 2024
The Saudi e-visa allows foreign nationals entry into Saudi Arabia for non-essential and non-religious purposes. The visa covers tourism-related activities and Umrah (excluding Hajj season), but not studying.
Read on as Wego dives into everything you need to know while applying for a Saudi e-visa.
Table of Contents
Saudi e-visa news
Saudi Arabia has now expanded its electronic visa (e-visa) program to include citizens from three additional countries, including Barbados, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and Grenada. Individuals from these nations now have the option to apply for their visas online or obtain them upon arrival at Saudi entry points.
The move further aligns with the Ministry of Tourism’s strategic objectives aimed at bolstering the Kingdom’s global connectivity, fostering economic diversification, and realizing the ambitious targets set forth in Vision 2030 for the tourism sector.
Moreover, the objectives encompass surpassing a 10% contribution of the tourism industry to the GDP and generating one million employment opportunities.
Types of Saudi e-visa
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has divided its e-visa into the following categories:
Electronic tourist visa
An electronic tourist visa or e-visa allows international visitors from 63 countries to visit Saudi Arabia to participate in tourism-related activities such as events, family and relatives visits, and leisure.
Saudi instant visa
The Saudi Instant Visa is a new e-visa entry permit granted to individuals with permanent residency in the United Kingdom, the United States, or European Union countries or those with valid visas from the UK, the US, or the Schengen Area. The application process is online, and the e-visa is issued promptly upon fulfilling all requirements.
For detailed information on Saudi instant visas, we recommend checking out our dedicated article:
Umrah e-visa
The Umrah e-visa, also known as the Saudi e-visa, encompasses tourism-related activities and Umrah, excluding the Hajj season. It is a multiple-entry visa valid for one year, enabling eligible travelers to stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days.
For detailed information on Umrah e-visas, we recommend checking out our dedicated article:
Saudi e-visa application
For GCC residents
To apply for the Saudi e-visa, GCC residents need to follow the steps given below:
- visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (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 e-visa via email.
For other eligible countries
Applicants residing in one of the eligible countries mentioned below can apply for the Saudi e-visa by following the steps given below:
- visit and register on the Visit Saudi e-visa portal
- fill out the application form, accurately
- make the required visa fee payment
Once approved, you will receive your Saudi e-visa via email.
Saudi e-visa eligible countries
The countries eligible to apply for the Saudi e-visa online are as follows:
North America: Canada, Panama, US, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada.
Europe: Andorra, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom,
Asia: Brunei, China (Including Hong Kong And Macau), Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Tajikistan, Turkey, Thailand, Uzbekistan
Africa: South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.
For GCC residents: Saudi e-visa is only permitted to GCC residents with certain additional requirements.
The following applicants are eligible to apply for an e-visa entry permit known as the Saudi instant visa:
- individuals who hold permanent residency in the UK, US, or European Union countries
- applicants who possess valid visas from the UK, US, or Schengen Area
The following nationalities will receive an e-visa upon successful completion of their visa application and processing: Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Kenya, Morocco, Thailand, Yemen, Uganda, Vietnam,
General requirements
For GCC residents
To be eligible to apply for the Saudi e-visa, GCC residents must meet the following conditions:
- the minimum age of applicants is 18 (for children under 18, the parent is required to apply first)
- when applying, the applicant’s passport must be valid for at least six months. Applicants also must have a residency visa from a GCC country that has been valid for 3 months
- for religious tourists, please note that visa holders can perform Umrah anytime except during the Hajj season
- applicants must complete separate visa applications for each member of their direct family and must accompany the member upon entering Saudi
For other eligible countries
The following are some of the requirements to apply for a Saudi e-visa:
- the minimum age requirement for applicants is 18 years old
- travelers under the age of 18 must have an individual above 18 years old acting as their guardian
- when applying, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entering Saudi Arabia. For US citizens, an extended validity of 6 months after the passport expiry date is acceptable.
Required documents
For GCC residents
To be eligible to apply for the Saudi e-visa, GCC residents must have the following documents:
- a residency visa from a GCC country that has been valid for 3 months
- a passport valid for at least six months
- a parent application is mandatory for children under the age of 18
For other eligible countries
To be eligible to apply for the Saudi e-visa, eligible applicants must have the following documents:
- return ticket
- booking accommodation (only the address is required)
- a hard copy of the visa, although it is advisable to have a soft copy available.
- a passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of entering Saudi Arabia. For US citizens, an extended validity of 6 months after the passport expiry date is acceptable for the application.
Saudi e-visa validity
The Saudi e-visa offers a convenient and comprehensive travel option with a one-year validity. It allows multiple entries and permits stays of up to 90 days per visit.
Ensure that you don’t exceed the duration of your visa or let it expire without renewing it. Saudi security agencies have issued a clear warning against any delay in reporting the departure of visit visa holders, as the kingdom intensifies efforts to combat illegal expatriates.
The Saudi General Directorate of Public Security has explicitly stated that individuals who procrastinate reporting the departure of invited visitors may face fines of up to SR50,000 or a maximum jail term of six months.
Saudi e-visa price
The visa price for the Saudi e-visa is as follows:
For GCC residents
The cost of a Saudi e-visa for GCC residents is SAR 300 (USD 79), which includes full health insurance fees.
For other eligible countries
The cost of a Saudi e-visa is SAR 535 (USD 142), which includes a fee for full health insurance during the stay in Saudi Arabia.
Please note that the visa application fee is non-refundable.
