Visa policy of Saudi Arabia
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Visitors to Saudi Arabia must obtain a visa, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
Some visitors are eligible to obtain a visa online or on arrival while others needs to apply at one of the Saudi diplomatic missions in advance. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
Visa policy map
Freedom of movement
Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries enjoy freedom of movement in Saudi Arabia and may enter with a national ID card.[2]
Non-ordinary passports
Holders of diplomatic, official or service passport of the following countries may enter without a visa for 90 days (unless otherwise stated):
1 - Indefinite Stay
2 - 90 days within any 180 days
3 - 30 days
Agreements were signed with Tajikistan in September 2024, Kyrgyzstan in March 2024, Cyprus and Uzbekistan in April 2024 and Kosovo in January 2024 and are pending ratification.[3][4][5][6]
Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)
Nationals of the following countries may obtain an electronic visa waiver (EVW) instead of a visa:
On the 2nd of August 2023, the Twitter account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that with immediate effect Saudi Arabia launched an electronic visa waiver for citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to enter Saudi Arabia.[7]
The waiver can be used for single-entry with a maximum stay of 6 months. The waiver can be used for tourism, business, education and medical reasons, according to the published infographic.
E-Visa or Visa on arrival
Saudi Arabia started to issue tourist visas online and on arrival from 28 September 2019. Holders of passports of the following countries / territories can obtain an e-Visa online for a fee prior to arrival or on arrival to Saudi Arabia and this visa is valid for 90 days:[8][9]
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- Substitute visa
Since January 2020, holders of a US, UK or Schengen visas have been eligible for a Saudi eVisa upon arrival, as long as the other visa is still valid and it has been used at least once to travel to the respective country/area.[10][11][12] This eligibility is only permissible through airlines based in Saudi Arabia, such as Saudia, Flynas and Flyadeal.[13][14]
History
On 1 September 2022, a decree was announced allowing residents of GCC countries to apply for Saudi e-Visas online and residents of the United States, United Kingdom and European Union may apply for a visa on arrival.[15]
On 6 August 2023, Saudi Arabia announced the expansion of its visitor e-visa scheme to the nationals of eight countries:[16]
On 17 October 2023, Saudi Arabia added 6 new countries to e-visa pool:[17]
In May 2024 Saudi Arabia added 3 new countries to eVisa eligibility:[18]
Saudi Arabia is considering issuing eVisas to Vietnamese visitors to boost tourism.[19]
For a period of time, citizens of Qatar were banned from entering Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain unless they were married to a local person. (Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict) [20][21]
Admission refusal
Since the introduction of the e-visa program in September 2019, the Ministry of Tourism mentions on their website that having an Israeli stamp on the passport does not disqualify someone from visiting Saudi Arabia.[22]
Saudi Arabia does issue special visas for some important Israeli business ventures.[23]
Hajj visas
A special visa category exists for pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia on the Hajj. Applications are encouraged to be done via licensed travel agents and are being accepted between 14th Shawwal and 25th Dhu al-Qadah.[24]
Muslim female passengers arriving to perform Umrah[25] or Hajj must either be accompanied by an immediate male family member such as a father, brother, husband, or son, who must be aged 18 years or older; or be over 45 years of age and travelling within a group of female passengers of the same age, who are accompanied by a group leader until their departure.
Development of tourist visas
In December 2013 Saudi Arabia announced its intention to begin issuing tourist visas for the first time in its history. Council of Ministers entrusted the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities with visa issuing on the basis of certain regulations approved by the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs.[26] A limited tourist visa programme was cancelled in March 2014.[27] In December 2014 the Saudi Arabian authorities reiterated that tourist visas will not be reintroduced. However, in April 2016, former Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef announced that plans to start issuing tourist visas as part of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify Saudi economy and leading it away from an oil dependent economy. Saudi Arabia has welcomed Uber and Six Flags parks in its initial steps towards amplifying the tourism sector.[28] In November 2017 it was announced that Saudi Arabia would begin issuing tourist visas and online application in 2018.[29]
Non-Muslims (of whatever nationality) are not allowed to travel to the City of Mecca and the City Centre of Medina.
Full rules were expected to be published by the end of March 2018.[30] In March 2018 the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage announced that the bylaws were ready for adoption and that they would be published by the end of the first quarter of 2018.[31][32]
On September 25, 2018, the General Sports Authority announced the "Sharek International Events Visa" (SIEV), an electronic visa issued concurrently with the purchase of a ticket for qualifying special sporting events, concerts or cultural festivals through sharek.sa.[33][34] The "Sharek" visa allows visitors to enter Saudi Arabia in order to attend the event and its validity ranges from a few days before and after the event itself. Applicants will be able to obtain single-entry, single-exit 30-day visas online for 640 riyals (170.65 USD) and enter from any port of entry. It was reported by the UAE news agency WAM that the Kingdom is set to open the eVisa system to general visitors holding passports from the United States, all Schengen (EU) countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore with more countries to be added later.[35]
On 2 March 2019, Saudi Arabia announced a new visa category that will be issued for foreign visitors to attend sport, entertainment and business events in the country.[36]
On March 5, 2019, the Wall Street Journal reported, "Saudi officials plan to allow citizens of the U.S., much of Europe, Japan and China either visa-free access to the kingdom for tourism or a visa on arrival by the end of [2019]," according to people involved in the effort to introduce these visa reforms. "The effort is meant to make visiting Saudi Arabia about as easy as traveling to neighboring Arab tourist hot spots such as Dubai."[37][38]
On September 27, 2019, Saudi Arabia introduced an e-visa program, allowing people from 49 countries to visit, by applying for a visa ahead of their trip or on arrival. Single entry visa allows a full month stay, while multiple entry visas allow to stay for up to three months. The visa cost 440 Saudi riyals (117 USD), including a health insurance fee. The tourists visiting the country will be obliged to follow the regulations that Saudi Arabia has mentioned on its travel website.[39]
In October 2019, Saudi Arabia modified its policy for the tourists, and announced that it will allow foreign men and women to share hotel rooms without proving they are related. Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage said that only Saudi nationals would be asked for family ID or proof of relationship on checking into hotels. Besides, all women, including Saudis, were permitted to book and stay in hotel alone by providing ID on check-in.[40]
See also
References
- ^ None. "Expats alert: You can now perform Umrah on Saudi visit visa". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ "KSAMOFA". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia eVisa".
- ^ "The National News - New Saudi Arabia Tourist Visas".
- ^ "GACA allows entry of Schengen, UK and US visa holders irrespective of nationalities". 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Saudi visa on arrival for tourists with UK, US, EU visas". Arab News. 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Visa and Passport Requirements".
- ^ Desk, GDN Online. "KSA: Saudi clarifies new entry visa regulations". www.gdnonline.com. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "لا دخول لحاملي تأشيرة الشينقن وأمريكا وإنجلترا للمملكة إلا عبر الطيران السعودي فقط". صحيفة سبق الإلكترونية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-01-14.
- ^ Desk, Saudi Gazette (September 2022). "Saudi Arabia introduces amendments to tourist visa program, enables GCC residents of applying online". saudigazette.com.sa. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Saudi Arabia expands visitor e-visa program to 8 countries". Arab News. 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia adds 6 new countries to e-visa pool". Arab News. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia Expands Electronic Visa Access to Include Three New Countries". 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia considers granting e-visas to Vietnamese tourists". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
- ^ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40173757
- ^ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/6/5/saudi-arabia-uae-egypt-bahrain-cut-ties-to-qatar
- ^ "It is possible to visit KSA with an Israeli stamp on the passport?". Visit Saudi. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
- ^ "Israeli passport? Saudi Arabia welcomes you". Globes. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- ^ "Hajj and Umrah Tourist Visas". www.saudia.com. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
- ^ Gannon, Martin Joseph; Baxter, Ian W. F.; Collinson, Elaine; Curran, Ross; Farrington, Thomas; Glasgow, Steven; Godsman, Elliot M.; Gori, Keith; Jack, Gordon R. A. (2017-06-11). "Travelling for Umrah: destination attributes, destination image, and post-travel intentions" (PDF). The Service Industries Journal. 37 (7–8): 448–465. doi:10.1080/02642069.2017.1333601. ISSN 0264-2069. S2CID 54745153.
- ^ "Tourist visas to be introduced". Arab News. December 6, 2013.
- ^ "Saudi suspends tourist visa scheme - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". www.arabianbusiness.com. March 20, 2014.
- ^ "No tourist visas for foreigners". Arab News. December 27, 2014.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia: Eyeing on Issuing Tourist Visa and Online Application by 2018 - Kwentong OFW". www.kwentongofw.com. November 25, 2017.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to announce tourist visa regulations within two months".
- ^ "SCTH: Bylaws for tourist visas complete". Saudigazette. March 31, 2018.
- ^ SCTH: Tourist visa details and regulations will be announced soon
- ^ "General Sports Authority on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to offer visitor visa for special events from December". U.S. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "Saudi to open e-visa service to tourists". Gulf Business. 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia steps up tourism push with new visas". Arab News. 2019-03-02. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
- ^ "Cloistered Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Aims to Ease Entry for Tourists". Wall Street Journal. 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia set to offer visa-free entry to travelers from U.S. and other countries". MarketWatch. 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
- ^ "Saudi Tourist Visa Program Brings Another Dent on Vision 2030". Mirror Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ "In a first, Saudi Arabia allows foreign men and women to share hotel rooms". NYK Express. Retrieved 5 October 2019.