You need a visa or eVisa to travel to Saudi Arabia. We explain whether you are eligible for the practical eVisa and what you need to consider when traveling to Saudi Arabia.
If you wish to travel to Saudi Arabia, you must apply for a valid entry permit. Depending on your home country and the purpose and duration of your stay in Saudi Arabia, you will need an electronic eVisa, a transit visa, or a classic visa from an Embassy or Consulate.
Exception: Citizens of countries that belong to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are exempt from the visa requirement in Saudi Arabia and can move freely in the country with an ID card or passport. The GCC includes Saudi Arabia and its neighboring countries:
To simplify and speed up the visa application process, Saudi Arabia has launched an electronic visa service (eVisa). With the new eVisa, the country opens its doors to travelers from 57 eligible countries who wish to visit the Saudi Kingdom for a short period of time.
The convenient eVisa can be applied for with just a few clicks through an online form. Countries that qualify for an eVisa to Saudi Arabia include:
| eVisa Saudi Arabia: eligible countries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Andorra | Australia | Austria |
| Azerbaijan | Belgium | Brunei | Bulgaria |
| Canada | China | Croatia | Cyprus |
| Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland |
| France | Georgia | Germany | Greece |
| Hungary | Iceland | Ireland | Italy |
| Japan | Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan | Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malaysia |
| Maldives | Malta | Monaco | Montenegro |
| New Zealand | Netherlands | Norway | Poland |
| Portugal | Romania | Russia | San Marino |
| Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | South Africa |
| South Korea | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland |
| Tajikistan | Ukraine | United Kingdom | United States |
| Uzbekistan | |||
Furthermore, holders of US, UK, and Schengen visas as well as permanent residents of the US, UK, and EU are also eligible to obtain an eVisa for Saudi Arabia.
If you want to travel to Saudi Arabia with an eVisa, then you must meet the following requirements in addition to your citizenship:
The application for a Saudi Arabia eVisa takes only a few minutes on the website of our partner iVisa. Please have a valid email address ready, along with a valid passport, proof of residency, and if necessary your valid Schengen, UK, or US visa.
The eVisa for Saudi Arabia is valid for one year from the date of issue and allows multiple entries with a maximum stay of up to 90 days at a time. It allows entry into Saudi Arabia for the following purposes:
If your eVisa for Saudi Arabia is rejected, you will be informed by e-mail. Potential reasons for a rejection can be, for example, false or misleading information. The visa fees paid will generally not be refunded in case of a rejection.
If you do not qualify for an eVisa, contact your local Saudi Arabian Embassy or Consulate.
At the Saudi Arabian border, the officials in charge will decide whether you are allowed to enter or not. Have the following documents ready:
Answer all questions of the border officials truthfully and stay friendly, and nothing should stand in the way of your entry into Saudi Arabia.
When entering Saudi Arabia, please observe the current entry requirements, including all safety instructions.
Before entering the country, inform yourself exactly about the valid import regulations. Saudi Arabia is a very conservative society that has extremely strict norms and laws. For example, the import of drugs, weapons, alcohol, pork, and pornographic material is strictly prohibited and violators can be punished very severely.
Bringing in religious writings, pictures, or video material can also lead to problems at the border. Various other products can only be brought into the country with a special permit from the Saudi Arabian authorities.
Do you have further questions about the visa for Saudi Arabia? Then you will surely find the answer in our FAQ:
Yes, if you change planes in Saudi Arabia, you need a transit visa or stopover visa. You can apply for the transit visa online within a few minutes. With certain airlines (Saudia Airlines, Flynas Airlines), it is possible to get your transit visa for free as part of your flight booking.
The transit visa allows a single entry into Saudi Arabia, can be applied for at the earliest 90 days before you travel, and is valid for a maximum of 96 hours after crossing the border. Basically, you are allowed to leave the airport with the transit visa, provided that you do not stay longer in the country than the allowed 96 hours.
In principle, travelers from countries that qualify for the eVisa in Saudi Arabia can also apply for a Visa on Arrival directly at an airport or point of entry at the Saudi Arabian border for tourist purposes. Visa on Arrival is also available for holders of tourist or business visas from the US, UK, and Schengen Area.
However, to avoid possible delays or problems upon entry, it is generally recommended to obtain an eVisa in good time before departure. In addition, the payment of the fee for the Visa on Arrival can only be settled with a credit card or via the Saudi Arabian payment service provider MADA.
The Hajj (also Hadj or Haj), the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, must not be carried out with an eVisa for Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, you must apply for a special Hajj visa from the Saudi Arabian authorities.
However, you can use the eVisa to embark on a short pilgrimage, the so-called Umrah. Unlike the Hajj, which is bound to certain dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar, you can go on an Umrah all year round.
No, an extension of the eVisa for Saudi Arabia beyond the validity period of one year is not possible.