Saudi Arabia eVisa
Everything you need to apply for your Saudi Arabia eVisa: the requirements, the documents, and the steps from start to approval.
Official Saudi Arabia government portalOverview
The Saudi Arabia Tourist eVisa is the Kingdom's online travel authorisation, applied for and issued through the official Visit Saudi portal. It is a full visa rather than a simple permit, and once approved it is valid for one year from issue, with multiple entries, allowing a stay of up to 90 days on each visit. You can use it for tourism, to attend events and concerts, for short business meetings, to visit family and friends, and to perform Umrah outside the Hajj season.
It does not authorise paid employment, study toward a qualification, or long-term residence, which require their own visa categories sponsored inside Saudi Arabia. Citizens of more than sixty eligible countries, including most of Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and many others, can apply online; nationalities outside that list apply through a Saudi diplomatic mission instead. The eVisa links to the passport you apply with, so you must travel on that same document, and your stay cannot exceed 180 days in total across a single one-year period.
The Hajj pilgrimage is governed by a separate permit system and is not covered by this service, which files the Tourist eVisa only. Your application is prepared in your own language, each entry is confirmed against your passport, and it is submitted to the Saudi authority so nothing is left to chance.
Requirements in detail
The Tourist eVisa asks for fewer documents than a consular visa, but every detail must match your passport precisely. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended arrival, with the personal information you enter copied exactly from the photo page. You also provide a recent digital passport-style photograph: a clear, high-resolution image on a plain light background, your face fully visible and centred, with no filters, heavy shadows or headwear that obscures your features.
Be ready to confirm your accommodation in Saudi Arabia and a return or onward flight, and to give a valid email address, which is where your approved eVisa is delivered. The official fee charged through the Visit Saudi process is SAR 535, and it is important to understand what that single figure covers: it bundles the government visa fee, a mandatory medical insurance policy for the duration of your stay, and the platform processing charge. You pay one all-inclusive price that includes that official charge and the service fee, with the official portion itemised on your receipt so the gov fee and the service fee are never blended.
The single most common avoidable error is a mismatch between the name or passport number on the application and the passport itself; one mistyped character can hold up your approval or your boarding, so every field is checked before submission.
What you'll need
Have these ready before you begin your application. Requirements can vary by nationality and trip purpose.
- Passport with at least six months validity
- Recent digital passport photograph
- Confirmed accommodation in Saudi Arabia
- Return or onward flight booking
- Email address for eVisa delivery
- Payment method (one all-inclusive price)
How to apply
Three steps from start to approval.
Complete the form
Answer the official questions online. Your draft is saved for 30 days, so you can finish once your documents are to hand.
Pay securely
You see the one all-inclusive price before you pay. We check your application for completeness before it reaches the government portal.
Receive by email
Your approved travel authorisation arrives by email. Bring it, or a copy, together with the passport you applied with when you travel.
On arrival
Carry both a printed copy and a digital copy of your approved eVisa when you travel. The airline checks your authorisation at the departure gate, and Saudi border officers review it again on arrival, so having the approval easy to show keeps both steps smooth. Travel on the exact passport you used to apply, because the eVisa is linked electronically to that document.
The authorisation lets you board and request entry, but the final admission decision rests with the border officer at your point of entry, who may ask briefly about your trip and your accommodation. Saudi Arabia observes conservative dress norms in public, so pack modest clothing that covers the shoulders and knees for both men and women, and keep your accommodation details and onward ticket within reach in case they are requested.
Government processing time
What the issuing authority typically takes once the application is submitted.
Government processing: the Saudi tourism eVisa authority typically decides within 1 to 2 business days of submission, and approvals often arrive even faster, sometimes the same day. VisitPass review: Standard 1 to 3 business days; Rush 1 business day; Super Rush in under 6 hours. Although turnaround is usually quick, plan ahead and apply well before your departure, ideally a week or more, so a busy period, a public holiday or a query about your details never puts your trip at risk.
The application is checked for completeness, submitted to the authority, and the confirmation issued by email.
At a glance
- Validity
- 1 year
- Maximum stay
- 90 days per visit
- Entry type
- Multiple
Who can apply
Available to citizens of more than 60 countries through the Saudi visa.visitsaudi.com portal. Tourist eVisa is valid for one year with multiple entries up to 90 days per visit and 180 days total. Hajj and Umrah visas are issued through separate religious-visa channels and are not covered by this service.
Saudi Arabia help desk
Have questions about your eVisa? Email the Saudi Arabia desk and we reply within 24 hours.
saudi@visitpass-online.com