Saudi E-Visa Countries: See if Your Nationality Is Eligible

Introduction

Saudi Arabia is gearing up to be the world’s next top travel destination, and it’s making itself more accessible to more nationalities across the globe. With its wealth of natural wonders, architectural marvels, rich heritage, and delicious cuisine, it’s no wonder many travelers are setting their sights on Saudi Arabia for their next holiday or business trip. Planning a trip to Saudi Arabia? Read on to check if you can apply for a visa with the following list of Saudi e-visa eligible countries.

The Saudi e-visa

We’ve mentioned how it’s now easier for travelers to apply for a Saudi visa. For some, they no longer need to physically appear and queue at a Saudi embassy or lug around hard copies of documents to apply for a Saudi visa. They also don’t need to be interviewed by the embassy anymore.

Traveling to Saudi Arabia has become more of a breeze thanks to the Saudi electronic visa or Saudi e-visa. In 2019, the country’s Ministry of Tourism introduced the e-visa program to provide opportunities to tourists and visitors from eligible countries to explore the country’s tourist spots, take part in entertainment events, and immerse themselves in Saudi culture.

The Saudi e-visa program makes it easier for citizens from eligible countries to secure a Saudi visa. It allows foreign nationals entry into Saudi Arabia for various purposes such as tourism, business, and Umrah.

Countries eligible for a Saudi e-visa

Currently, there are 63 countries eligible for a Saudi e-visa. These include the following, broken down into different regions:

NORTH AMERICA
	Canada
	Panam
	Saint Kitts and Nevis
	United States of America
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

Apart from eligible nationalities (including dual citizens from eligible countries), permanent residents in the US, EU, or the UK; holders of visit visas (Schengen, US, UK); and residents in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates), as long as they have been an Oman resident for more than three months.

How the Saudi e-visa works

Now that we know who is eligible for a Saudi e-visa, let’s understand how it works.

Under the new e-visa system, eligible travelers arriving in Saudi Arabia don’t need a visa sticker stamped on their passports. Instead, these are replaced by a printed e-visa featuring a QR code. This QR code will contain all the essential data and information about the passenger, effectively functioning as a digital visa. The e-visa can be accessed online and will be instantly delivered via email. Under an e-visa, you can typically stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days.

Requirements

To apply for a Saudi e-visa, you will typically need to prepare the following:

• Passport with at least 6 months validity
• A completed visa application form
• Passport-sized photos (in JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or BMP file formats; not bigger than 100 KB; and 200×200 pixels in dimension)
• Travel Insurance

Application

To apply for a Saudi e-visa, visit KSA Visa–Saudi Arabia’s unified platform for visa applications–and select the e-visa of your choice, and fill out the online application form.

Apart from indicating whether you would like to apply for a single or multiple-entry visa, you’ll also need to provide your personal information and passport details, as well as upload a digital passport-size photo with a white background.

Based on your submitted application, the form will generate the corresponding visa validity: 365 days or 1 year for a multiple-entry visa and 90 days for a single-entry visa. Both single and multiple-entry visas are valid for a total of 90 days.

Visa fees

The visa application fee includes $80 for the visa fee (refundable), $10.50 for the visa digital service fee (non-refundable), $10.50 for the insurance digital service fee (non-refundable), and the insurance fees.
Note that the insurance fee will vary depending on your chosen medical insurance provider). You can pay via international debit or credit card.

Processing time

Now that you’ve completed your online visa application form, it’s time to wait. The processing time can take anywhere between 1 minute to 3 business days, so make sure you get an e-visa ahead of time. You’ll know if your visa has been approved once you receive an e-mail from KSA Visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

We now know the essentials about the Saudi e-visa: what it is, which countries are eligible for it, how long the e-visa is valid, and how you can easily apply for it online through KSA Visa. You may still have more burning questions about the topic, which is why we’ve compiled the following answers to frequently asked questions for your reference.

Can tourists visit Makkah and Al Madinah?

The holy city of Makkah may only be visited by Muslims. Meanwhile, Al Madinah is open to all
tourists. Many locations around Makkah are also open to tourists to learn about Saudi Arabia’s local culture and history.

What should I do if my tourist visa application is rejected?

If your tourist visa application is rejected, you must visit the nearest Saudi embassy/consulate to apply for a new visa.

My visa application status says it is “pending with applicant”. What does this mean?

This means that your application might have missing information or there is a problem with your photo.

Is the process different if you apply for a visa as an individual versus as a group?

You are free to apply either as a group or as an individual. If you would like to apply for a visa as a group, this option is just to facilitate the payment process.

Do I need medical insurance so I can apply for a Saudi tourist visa?

The tourist visa fee already includes health insurance with coverage of up to 100,000 Saudi riyals. For a list of included hospitals, contact the insurance company.

Does the selected guardian have to be with the child when entering Saudi Arabia?

The selected guardian is not required to enter Saudi Arabia with the child, so long as a first-degree relative will be accompanying the child, such as his/her father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, or grandmother.

How can I inquire about the travel insurance company?

To inquire about an insurance company, visit the website of Saudi Arabia’s Council of Health Insurance (CHI) and inquire about the health insurance with your passport number.

Can the e-visa be modified if there was a mistake in the tourist’s information?

No, it is not possible to modify an issued e-visa in case there were mistakes in the application information. If the mistake was other than nationality or passport number, then the issued tourist visa can be canceled.

Does an error in one visa affect the validity of other visas issued as a group?

A mistake in one visa does not affect the group.

I didn’t receive the activation email in my inbox. What should I do?

If you didn’t receive the activation e-mail in your inbox, check your spam (junk mail) folder. If you still can’t find the application, contact KSA Visa.

How can you cancel a Saudi e-visa?

Note that you cannot cancel a Saudi e-visa application once it has been submitted and paid for. The Saudi e-visa application is also non-refundable.

How can I check my Saudi e-visa status?

To check the status of your Saudi e-visa application, log in to your KSA Visa account and check out the “Order Tracking” tool at the top. Just enter your application or visa number and your passport number so the system can generate the status of your e-visa application.

Does Saudi Arabia have a visa on arrival?

Yes, Saudi Arabia offers a visa on arrival to eligible travelers. The Saudi visa on arrival is available to foreign nationals from eligible countries; permanent residents of the US, UK, or the EU; active US, UK, or Schengen visit visa holders; or GCC nationals or residents. Those eligible for a Saudi e-visa are also eligible for a Saudi visa on arrival.

How can I print my Saudi e-visa?

If you wish to print your visa, print the electronic copy you received via e-mail. If you did not receive a copy, visit https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/visaservices/searchvisa (from the website of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to print it from the platform.

How much is the Saudi Arabia visa on arrival?

The Saudi visa-on-arrival fee amounts to SAR 480 ($127.98), which already includes the cost of health insurance and taxes. Note that visa fees are non-refundable.

What is the Saudi electronic visa waiver?

A Saudi e-visa waiver allows eligible visitors to apply for a visa waiver request to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under a Saudi e-visa waiver or e-visa exemption, British nationals can enter Saudi Arabia for up to six months for a single entry.

Can Indian citizens apply for a Saudi e-visa?

Indian citizens may apply for a Saudi e-visa if they hold dual citizenship from eligible countries; if they have an active US, UK, or Schengen visit visa; or if they are residents in a GCC nation.

Conclusion

As Saudi Arabia gears itself to be the world’s next top travel destination, it is making itself more accessible to more nationalities worldwide with the launch of the Saudi e-visa. Under the Saudi e-visa program, travelers don’t need to go through manual processes to apply for a Saudi visa. Instead, they can apply for a Saudi visa online and wherever they may be. The application takes only minutes and once issued will be sent via e-mail.

Currently, 63 nationalities are eligible for a Saudi e-visa; along with permanent residents of the US, UK, or EU; active US, UK, or Schengen visit visa holders; as well as GCC nationals or residents. This includes dual citizenship, too.

For more information on countries eligible for a Saudi visa, visit KSA Visa.

Image by freepik