Saudi Arabia: E-Visa for Tourism Expanded to More Foreign Nationals

• Eligibility for GCC residents. Foreign residents of a GCC country (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) who meet the below requirements can submit their e-visa applications through the MOFA online portal:
  • The applicant must have been a resident in the GCC for at least three months prior to application submission;
  • The applicant’s occupation must be on the approved occupation list (the list is available on the MOFA online portal); and
  • The applicant must obtain valid health insurance to cover their entire stay in Saudi Arabia.
• Eligibility for foreign nationals with a residence, business, or tourist visa issued by a Schengen Member State, the United Kingdom, or the United States. Nationals of countries that are not on the list of countries eligible for the e-visa for tourism upon arrival, who meet the below requirements can obtain an e-visa upon arrival in Saudi Arabia:
  
  • The applicant must have a valid residence, business, or tourist visa issued by a Schengen Member State, the United Kingdom, or the United States;
  • The applicant must have entered the visa-issuing country at least once prior to traveling to Saudi Arabia; and
  • The applicant must obtain valid health insurance to cover their entire stay in Saudi Arabia.
• Government fee. There is a government fee of SAR 300 for those applying for the e-visa based on residency status in the GCC. The government fee for applicants seeking to obtain the e-visa upon arrival is SAR 463.
• Validity. The maximum allowable duration of stay under a single-entry visa for 90 days is 30 cumulative days; for multiple entries for one year is 90 cumulative days. It is not clear if visa extensions are possible. Those applying for the e-visa upon arrival will be issued a one-year visa with the maximum allowable duration of stay of 90 cumulative days.

Foreign nationals who were previously not eligible for the e-visa for tourism purposes can now obtain one if they hold an immigration status in any of the GCC countries.

Nationals of countries that are not on the list of countries eligible for the e-visa for tourism upon arrival in Saudi Arabia can now obtain an e-visa upon arrival if they hold a valid residence, business, or tourist visa issued by a Schengen Member State, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

Since 2019, nationals of 49 countries have been able to apply for an e-visa for tourism in Saudi Arabia electronically or upon arrival through an e-visa kiosk at select airports. Individuals who are not eligible for the e-visa must apply for a visa in person at a Saudi consular post abroad.

The addition of GCC residents to the e-visa program is aimed at reducing procedural steps in the tourism process with the intention to promote tourism throughout the region.

Saudi Arabia will likely continue to implement relaxed regulations for foreign nationals to promote tourism and bring revenue into the country to aid in its post-pandemic recovery efforts.