Saudi Arabia — Visa Overview
About Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is one of the world's most extraordinary and rapidly emerging travel destinations — a kingdom of breathtaking contrasts, ancient heritage, and visionary ambition. The birthplace of Islam and home to the two holiest cities in the world — Makkah and Madinah — Saudi Arabia carries a spiritual and historical significance that is unparalleled. Yet beyond its sacred sites, the Kingdom is transforming at an extraordinary pace, opening its doors to the world as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and emerging as one of the most exciting new tourism destinations on the planet.
Riyadh — the dynamic capital — captivates with its futuristic skyline, world-class museums including the National Museum and Diriyah, and a vibrant cultural and culinary scene that reflects the Kingdom's confident modernisation. Jeddah — the cosmopolitan gateway city on the Red Sea — enchants with its UNESCO-listed Historic District of Al-Balad, stunning waterfront corniche, thriving art scene, and some of the finest seafood in the region. AlUla is perhaps Saudi Arabia's most extraordinary revelation — an ancient landscape of rose-red rock formations, Nabataean tombs, and the magnificent Hegra — Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site — rivalling Petra in Jordan for sheer visual magnificence.
The Red Sea coastline offers some of the world's most pristine and untouched diving and snorkelling experiences, while NEOM — the visionary mega-city being built from scratch — represents one of the most ambitious urban development projects in human history. Abha in the Asir region enchants with its cool mountain climate, terraced villages, and vibrant cultural festivals, while the Empty Quarter — Rub' al Khali — offers a desert experience of unparalleled scale and silence. Saudi Arabia is a destination that rewards every curious traveller with experiences that are genuinely unlike anywhere else on earth.
What is a Saudi Arabia Tourist Visa?
The Saudi Arabia Tourist Visa is an official travel authorisation issued by the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, permitting eligible foreign nationals to visit Saudi Arabia for tourism and other permitted short-term purposes. Depending on the applicant's nationality, entry into Saudi Arabia is possible through one of four routes — Visa Exemption, eVisa, Visa on Arrival, or Consulate Visa.
Important — Saudi Arabia Has Discontinued Physical Sticker Visas
Effective 20 February 2024, Saudi Arabia officially discontinued physical sticker visas for all tourist, visit, work, and residence visa categories issued by Saudi Embassies and Diplomatic Missions worldwide. All such visas are now issued as fully digital electronic visas carrying a unique QR code — downloaded from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal and verified electronically at the border. No physical stamp is placed in the passport for these categories.
The only visa categories that continue to be issued as physical sticker visas through Saudi diplomatic missions are:
- Diplomatic visas
- Special visas
- Education visas
- Transit visas
These four categories are not applicable to tourist or business travellers and do not affect Luxury Tours's client base. All sticker visas issued before 20 February 2024 remain valid until their stated expiry date.
Entry Routes — Saudi Arabia
Route 1 — Visa Exemption (No Visa Required)
The following nationalities are fully visa-exempt and may enter Saudi Arabia without any visa application whatsoever:
GCC Member States — Bahrain · Kuwait · Oman · Qatar · United Arab Emirates
GCC nationals enjoy complete freedom of movement in Saudi Arabia and may enter freely using their national ID card or passport — no application, no eVisa, and no fee of any kind required.
Russia — Following the mutual visa exemption agreement between Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation, effective 11 May 2026, Russian ordinary passport holders may enter Saudi Arabia visa-free for up to 90 days.
Route 2 — Saudi Arabia eVisa
The Saudi Arabia Tourist eVisa is available to nationals of 66 eligible countries — applied for entirely online through the official Saudi eVisa portal — visa.visitsaudi.com — in three simple steps. No embassy visit, no passport submission, and no in-person appointment is required. The visa is issued as a fully digital document linked electronically to the applicant's passport — no physical sticker.
Validity: 1 year from the date of issue
Entries: Multiple entry
Permitted Stay: Up to 90 days per visit
Permitted Activities: Tourism, leisure, events, family and relatives visits, and Umrah (excluding Hajj season)
Not Permitted: Hajj, study, work, or any non-tourism activities
Passport Validity Required: Minimum 6 months from the date of arrival
eVisa — Eligible Countries (66 Countries)
North America Bahamas · Barbados · Canada · Grenada · Panama · Saint Kitts and Nevis · United States
Europe Albania · Andorra · Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia · San Marino · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Ukraine · United Kingdom
Asia Azerbaijan · Brunei · China (including Hong Kong and Macau) · Japan · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Malaysia · Maldives · Singapore · South Korea · Tajikistan · Thailand · Turkey · Uzbekistan
Africa Mauritius · Seychelles · South Africa
Oceania Australia · New Zealand
If your country is not on this list, please contact Luxury Tours — our team will advise on the correct visa application route through the nearest Saudi Arabia Embassy or consulate.
Route 3 — Visa on Arrival (VOA)
Nationals of countries on the eVisa eligible list — as well as holders of a valid US, UK, or Schengen visa that has been used at least once and carries an entry stamp from the issuing country — may obtain a Visa on Arrival at Saudi Arabian airports and seaports. First-degree relatives travelling with eligible VOA holders are also covered under this provision. Permanent residents of the US, UK, or EU also qualify.
Key conditions for VOA via US/UK/Schengen visa:
- The visa must be valid — not expired
- The visa type must be tourist or business
- The visa must have been used at least once — an entry stamp from the issuing country must be present in the passport
- If the qualifying visa is in an expired passport, both old and new passports must be carried
- Payment for Visa on Arrival is accepted by credit card and MADA only — cash is not accepted
Saudi Arabia recommends applying for the eVisa in advance through the official portal to avoid queues at the border.
Route 4 — Consulate Visa (Fully Digital)
Nationalities not eligible for the eVisa or Visa on Arrival — including Indian nationals, Pakistani nationals, Bangladeshi nationals, Nigerian nationals, Egyptian nationals, Filipino nationals, and most other African and Asian nationalities — must apply for a Saudi visa through the Saudi Embassy or consulate in their country of residence. Since 20 February 2024, all consulate visas are issued as fully digital electronic visas with a QR code — no physical sticker is placed in the passport. The digital visa is verified electronically at the Saudi border via QR code scan.
Important for Indian Nationals: Since February 2025, Saudi Arabia is primarily issuing single-entry visas valid for 30 days to Indian nationals. Multiple-entry visas may be granted at the sole discretion of Saudi immigration authorities. Applications are processed through the Saudi Embassy in New Delhi, the Consulate in Mumbai, or authorised visa facilitation centres. Processing typically takes 4 to 7 working days.
Do You Need a Saudi Arabia Visa? — UAE, India & KSA
UAE Nationals: UAE nationals are fully visa-exempt as GCC members — no visa, no eVisa, and no application of any kind is required. Entry is granted on presentation of the UAE national ID card or passport.
UAE Residents of Other Nationalities: The visa requirement is determined entirely by the passport held — not by UAE residency status. UAE residents holding passports of one of the 66 eVisa eligible countries may apply online through visa.visitsaudi.com. UAE residents holding a valid, previously-used US, UK, or Schengen visa may qualify for Visa on Arrival. All other UAE residents must apply for a consulate visa through the Saudi Embassy or consulate. Luxury Tours will confirm the applicable route based on the applicant's specific passport nationality at the time of enquiry.
Indian Nationals: India is not on Saudi Arabia's eVisa eligible list. Indian nationals holding a valid, previously-used US, UK, or Schengen visa may qualify for Visa on Arrival. All other Indian nationals must apply for a Saudi consulate visa — issued digitally with no sticker in the passport. Luxury Tours will confirm the applicable category and process at the time of enquiry.
Permitted Activities
- Tourism, sightseeing, leisure travel, and recreational activities
- Visiting family and relatives
- Attending events and entertainment activities
- Umrah — permitted outside the Hajj season. Umrah access is subject to the regulations and decisions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at all times. Saudi authorities may temporarily or permanently suspend, restrict, or modify Umrah operations based on government policies, public health, security, or other official considerations. As of the date of publication, Umrah is permitted in accordance with prevailing regulations.
Not Permitted:
- Hajj pilgrimage — requires a separate Hajj visa
- Study or academic pursuits
- Work or any revenue-generating activity
Important Entry Requirements
- Passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of arrival in Saudi Arabia.
- Travel insurance covering the full duration of stay in Saudi Arabia is mandatory — must include emergency medical coverage of up to SAR 100,000.
- Female visitors no longer need a mahram (male guardian) to travel to Saudi Arabia independently — solo female travel is fully permitted.
- Modest dress is required in public spaces and at religious and heritage sites.
- Visitors are required to respect local laws, customs, and traditions at all times.
- An approved visa does not guarantee entry — final entry permission is granted by Saudi immigration authorities upon arrival.
- Israeli passport holders are subject to a permanent entry prohibition into Saudi Arabia.
Processing Time
- eVisa: Typically within minutes to a few hours through the official online portal.
- Visa on Arrival: Processed at the immigration counter or self-service kiosk upon arrival — credit card or MADA payment only.
- Consulate Visa: 4 to 7 working days from the date of application submission.
General Disclaimer
All visa decisions — including approval, refusal, validity, and permitted stay — rest solely with the Ministry of Tourism and relevant Saudi Arabian authorities. Luxury Tours acts as a professional visa assistance provider only. Submission of a complete application does not guarantee visa approval or entry into Saudi Arabia.
