Russia and Saudi Arabia activate 90 day mutual visa waiver for tourists

Inside the mutual visa waiver

Russia and Saudi Arabia activated a mutual visa-exemption agreement on May 11, 2026, letting Russian and Saudi citizens cross between the two countries without a visa for short stays. The deal was signed in Riyadh on Dec. 1, 2025 and timed to the 100th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

The waiver covers ordinary passport holders, making Russia the first country to hold this kind of mutual arrangement with Saudi Arabia at the ordinary-passport level. Russian nationals can now stay up to 90 days per calendar year, either in one continuous trip or split across multiple visits, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.

Who the waiver covers

Permitted purposes are limited to tourism, business meetings and visiting relatives and friends. Work, study, residency and Hajj or Umrah are excluded and still require the relevant visa.

• Tourists: Leisure trips, including Red Sea and city travel, fall within scope.
• Business travelers: Meetings and conferences are allowed, though paid work inside Saudi Arabia isn't.
• Family visits: Trips to see relatives and friends are explicitly listed.
• Remote workers: Russians working online for foreign clients can stay during the 90-day window, but can't take local employment.

Long-term expats seeking iqama, employment or enrollment in Saudi universities still need formal sponsorship and the appropriate residence or work permit. Saudi Arabia doesn't yet offer a dedicated digital nomad visa.

What travelers need at the border

No consular fee applies because no visa is issued in advance. Russian citizens travel on a valid ordinary passport, with at least six months of validity beyond the intended stay in line with existing Saudi entry norms.

At immigration, officers may ask travelers to state the purpose of the visit and confirm it falls within the permitted categories. Proof of onward travel and accommodation remain standard requests under Saudi entry rules.

Anyone planning Umrah, Hajj, study or work in the Kingdom must still apply through the Saudi e-visa system or the relevant pilgrimage or sponsorship channel, with fees and documentation handled online before departure.

Read our full Saudi Arabia guide for the complete picture.