What it is
A one-year, multiple-entry tourist visa applied for and issued online. No embassy visit.Source: visa.visitsaudi.com
What the Saudi eVisa is and is not
The eVisa is the tourist visit visa of Saudi Arabia, introduced in September 2019 and issued electronically by the Ministry of Tourism. It is the same visa whether you apply on the portal yourself or through an agency; the agency only handles the paperwork.
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Tourism and leisure | Paid work |
| Visiting family and friends | Study |
| Events, conferences as an attendee | Hajj |
| Umrah outside the Hajj season | Entry to Makkah during the Hajj closure period |
Business meetings with a Saudi company are technically permitted as a visitor, but a company that invites you formally will usually ask you to hold a MOFA business visit visa instead.
Source: visitsaudi.com visa regulations
Eligible countries for the Saudi eVisa
Citizens of these 66 countries can apply for the eVisa online or obtain the same visa on arrival at Saudi international airports. The list was last expanded in May 2024 when the Bahamas, Barbados and Grenada were added.
North America and the Caribbean
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.
Three further routes qualify people whose passport is not on the list: a valid residence permit in a GCC country (section 3); a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa or permanent residency in the US, UK or EU, which gives a visa on arrival; and the free 96-hour stopover visa when flying Saudia or flynas.
Source: visa.visitsaudi.com; Saudi Ministry of Tourism, May 2024
Saudi eVisa for GCC residents, including UAE residents
If you hold a residence permit in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman or Qatar, you can apply for the eVisa regardless of your nationality. The portal lists "valid residence in the GCC countries" as a separate eligibility route; select it instead of your nationality when you start the application.
- Residence permit valid for at least three months at the time of application.
- Any profession. The old approved-occupation list no longer applies.
- First-degree relatives (spouse, children, parents) and domestic workers travelling with the resident are eligible on the same route.
- The fee, validity and 90-day rule are identical to the citizen route.
UAE residents should read the dedicated Saudi visa for UAE residents guide for AED pricing, the agency option, driving to Saudi Arabia via Al Ghuwaifat and the position for Indian, Pakistani and Filipino passport holders. Residents of the other four states have the Saudi visa for GCC residents page.
Source: visa.visitsaudi.com eligibility rules
How much the Saudi eVisa costs and how to pay
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| eVisa fee | SAR 300 | Fixed for all eligible routes |
| Medical insurance | About SAR 30 to SAR 900 | Set by the insurer inside the portal. Higher for applicants over 60 and for wider cover |
| VAT | 15% | Applied to fees at checkout |
| Typical total | SAR 340 to SAR 480 | About USD 90 to 130, or AED 335 to 470 |
Payment is by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Mada card on the portal. Fees are not refunded if the application is refused, withdrawn or unused. A UAE agency handling the application for you charges an all-inclusive rate of roughly AED 700 to 900, which covers the government fee, insurance and the service; the breakdown is on the UAE residents page.
Source: KSA Visa portal fee schedule
Documents and photo requirements
You upload two things: a passport scan and a photograph. Everything else is typed into the form.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Passport | Ordinary passport, machine readable, valid for at least six months from your planned entry date. Diplomatic and special passports use a different process |
| Photograph | Recent, colour, plain white background, full face looking at the camera, neutral expression, no glasses, no hat or head covering except for religious reasons and then with the face fully visible. Portrait format, at least 200 x 200 pixels, JPEG |
| Residence permit | GCC residents only. A clear copy showing validity of three months or more |
| Contact details | Email address the PDF is sent to, mobile number, home address |
| Travel details | Planned entry date and port of entry. Flights and hotels are not required to apply |
| Minors | Under 18s are added to a parent's or guardian's application after the adult is approved |
Source: visa.visitsaudi.com requirements
How to apply for the Saudi eVisa on the official portal
01 / Portal
Go to visa.visitsaudi.comCreate an account with your email. This is the only government site for the tourist eVisa.
02 / Route
Choose your eligibilitySelect Tourism, then either your nationality or "valid residence in the GCC countries". Click show eligible visas and pick the eVisa.
03 / Form
Complete the applicationEnter names exactly as printed in the passport, passport number and dates, address, entry date and port. Upload the passport scan and photo.
04 / Insurance
Select insuranceChoose a plan from the approved insurers listed. Cover begins on your declared entry date.
05 / Pay
Pay by cardSAR 300 plus insurance and VAT. Save the application number shown on the confirmation page.
06 / Receive
Download the eVisaThe approved visa arrives by email as a PDF and can also be downloaded from your portal account. Carry a copy with your passport.
Applying from the UAE is exactly the same process. The portal does not care where you are when you apply, only which eligibility route you use.
Processing time and how to check status
The portal's published window is up to three working days. In practice most applications from eligible nationalities and GCC residents are approved within minutes to 24 hours. Longer waits usually mean a manual review of the passport scan, a nationality-based security check or a public holiday in Saudi Arabia.
Checking status
- Log in to visa.visitsaudi.com and open your application; the status shows as under process, approved or rejected.
- Use the status check page with your application number and passport number if you applied without an account.
- Approved visas are emailed as a PDF. Check spam if the status shows approved but no email has arrived.
Saudi government offices work Sunday to Thursday. An application submitted on Thursday evening may not be reviewed until Sunday, so apply by mid-week for weekend travel and at least a week ahead of any fixed booking.
Source: KSA Visa portal
Validity, multiple entry and extension
- Validity: one year from the date the visa is issued, not from first entry.
- Entries: unlimited. Every eVisa is multiple entry; there is no separate application for it.
- Stay: up to 90 days on each visit.
- Extension: not possible. The eVisa cannot be extended from inside Saudi Arabia. Leave before day 90 and re-enter if the visa is still valid, or apply for a new eVisa after expiry.
- Overstay: SAR 100 per day plus possible deportation and entry ban. Since June 2025 a 30-day grace period allows a fine-free final exit after expiry. Details are in the overstay guide.
Source: visa.visitsaudi.com eVisa terms; Saudi Ministry of Interior, June 2025
Insurance is compulsory
Every eVisa includes a medical insurance policy from a Saudi-licensed insurer, chosen and paid for inside the portal. You cannot substitute your own travel policy, though you may carry one in addition. The policy covers emergency treatment in the Kingdom for the visit and starts on your declared entry date. If the visa is issued after that date, the cover starts from issue. Applicants over 60 are quoted a higher premium; the exact figure appears before payment.
Source: KSA Visa portal insurance step
Why Saudi eVisa applications are refused
Refusals are uncommon for eligible applicants and almost always traceable to one of these:
- Name, date of birth or passport number typed differently from the passport.
- A photo with a coloured background, glasses, a shadow, or a face that is not fully visible.
- Passport validity under six months, or a hand-written or damaged passport.
- Applying on the citizen route with a nationality that is not on the list, instead of the GCC resident or visa-on-arrival route you actually qualify for.
- A GCC residence permit with under three months left.
- A previous overstay, unpaid fine or entry ban in Saudi Arabia.
- Applying for a child before the parent's visa is approved.
If refused, the fee is not returned. You can reapply once the cause is fixed; there is no waiting period.
If you are not eligible for the eVisa
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| You hold a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa, or US, UK or EU permanent residency | Visa on arrival at Saudi airports. See Saudi visa on arrival |
| You are transiting on Saudia or flynas | Free 96-hour stopover visa applied for during the flight booking |
| You have a host in Saudi Arabia | Family visit or business visit visa through visa.mofa.gov.sa, initiated by the host |
| You are going for Umrah on an ineligible passport | Umrah visa through a licensed operator on nusuk.sa |
| You are in the UAE on a visit visa | See options for visitors in the UAE |
| None of the above | Consulate visa with a sponsor |
Official portal, apps and using an agency
Official channels
- visa.visitsaudi.com: the only government site for the tourist eVisa. It appears in search as KSA Visa or Visit Saudi.
- Nusuk app (iOS and Android): Umrah permits and Rawdah bookings once you hold the eVisa.
- Absher and Tawakkalna apps: services, fines and permits for people inside Saudi Arabia. Neither issues the eVisa.
- There is no official mobile app for applying; the portal is mobile-friendly in a browser.
Using an agency in the UAE
Agencies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will complete the same portal application for you, check the passport scan and photo before submission, match the insurance to your age and dates, and follow up if the file stalls. Before paying anyone, check the DET trade licence number (Arabiers' is 1176592), confirm the total is above the SAR 300 government fee, pay only to a company account, and verify the issued visa on the portal before you fly. Any site charging for a "Saudi eVisa" that is not visa.visitsaudi.com is a third party.
Frequently asked questions
visa.visitsaudi.com, run by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. Every other site charging for a Saudi eVisa is a third-party service.
On the same portal, choosing either your nationality or the GCC resident route. The six steps in section 6 apply wherever you are. UAE-specific pricing and road-entry rules are on the UAE residents guide.
SAR 300 plus insurance and 15% VAT, typically SAR 340 to 480 in total. Through a UAE agency about AED 700 to 900 all inclusive.
Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Mada cards on the portal. Agencies in the UAE usually also accept bank transfer.
Minutes to 24 hours for most applicants, up to three working days for manual reviews.
A passport scan and a photo. GCC residents also upload the residence permit. Nothing else is uploaded.
Recent colour photo, white background, full face, neutral expression, no glasses, no head covering unless religious and the face is fully visible, JPEG, at least 200 x 200 pixels.
Yes, always. One year, unlimited entries, 90 days per visit.
Yes, on the GCC resident route, with a residence permit valid for three months or more and any profession.
One year from the date of issue.
No. Leave before the 90 days end and re-enter if the visa is still valid, or apply again after expiry.
Yes. It is bought inside the portal from an approved Saudi insurer and cannot be replaced by your own policy.
Log in to the portal or use the status page with your application and passport numbers. Approved visas are emailed as a PDF.
The portal status changes to approved and the PDF arrives by email, usually within the hour of approval.
No official app for applying. The portal works on a phone browser. Nusuk, Absher and Tawakkalna are for services after you hold the visa.
Passport details typed incorrectly, a non-compliant photo, passport validity under six months, applying on the wrong eligibility route, a residence permit with under three months left, or a past overstay.
Only if your nationality is on the eligible list or you hold a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa or permanent residency there. The eVisa is cheaper and avoids the queue.
Yes, outside the Hajj season, with a permit booked on the Nusuk app.
There is no separate 7-day Umrah visa. Eligible travellers use the tourist eVisa; others buy an Umrah package through a licensed operator on Nusuk, where the price depends on the package rather than a fixed visa fee.
Yes. Licensed travel agencies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi submit the portal application on your behalf. Check the DET licence, confirm the fee includes the SAR 300 government charge, and verify the visa on the portal before travelling.