Saudi Arabia expands tourist eVisa to 66 countries with 90 day stay limit

Saudi Arabia's tourist eVisa, once limited to a narrower pool of nationalities, now covers 66 countries with a one-year, multiple-entry permit allowing stays of up to 90 days per visit.

From single-entry trips to a year of re-entry

The tourist eVisa launched in September 2019 as a shorter-term entry document. It now runs 365 days from issue, permits multiple entries and caps each stay at 90 days within that window, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the GOV.SA tourism portal.

The eligible pool reached 66 countries after Bahamas, Barbados and Grenada were added, the ministry confirmed. The list spans seven North American states, 40 European countries, 14 in Asia, three in Africa (Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa) and two in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand).

Permitted purposes have also broadened. The visa now covers tourism, family visits, events, entertainment and Umrah outside the Hajj season. Study and Hajj remain excluded and it doesn't authorize paid work inside the Kingdom.

What applicants pay and file

Applications run fully online through the official eVisa portal, with approvals typically arriving by email within 24 hours. Eligible nationalities can also get the same visa on arrival at Saudi international airports, according to UK FCDO guidance.

• Fee: roughly SAR 535 (about $142), including mandatory health insurance
• Insurance coverage: up to SAR 100,000, per UK FCDO
• Passport validity: at least six months on entry
• Age: 18+; minors apply through a parent or guardian
• Channel: online portal or airport kiosk on arrival

Separate tracks sit alongside the 66-country list. Residents of the US, UK and EU, plus visit-visa holders from the US, UK and Schengen area, can apply regardless of passport nationality. UAE residents of any nationality qualify for their own one-year multiple-entry eVisa and GCC citizens remain visa-exempt for 90 days.

Who actually needs to move

Remote workers from any of the 66 countries can now string together repeat visits of up to 90 days without re-filing each time, useful for anyone testing Riyadh or Jeddah as a base before committing to a work-authorized route. The tourist eVisa still doesn't legalize employment inside the Kingdom, so anyone taking a local contract has to switch to a work and residence visa, a distinction worth reading closely against Saudi Arabia's residency rules before booking a long stint.

Muslim travelers planning Umrah gain the clearest practical win: one payment of roughly $142 now covers a year of pilgrimage trips outside Hajj season, replacing the older cycle of single-purpose visas.