🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia visa requirements

Forget the old days of Saudi Arabia being a closed book. Most Westerners get a tourist visa on arrival now. You'll need to check your specific passport, but many major nationalities walk straight into a 90-day visa.

Who Gets In Easy, Who Doesn't

Saudi Arabia has made it significantly easier for tourists to get a visa. US, UK, EU, and Australian citizens can typically get a 90-day tourist visa on arrival or via the eVisa portal. This is the simplest route. For many other nationalities, the process is also straightforward. You can apply for an eVisa online before you travel. This usually takes 5-30 minutes to complete and approval often comes within 24 hours.

However, some passport holders still need to apply for a visa in advance through a Saudi embassy or consulate. This often applies to citizens of countries with less diplomatic ties or higher visa refusal rates. If you're unsure, a quick check on the official Saudi visa website or with your local embassy is the best bet. Don't rely on outdated information; things change fast here.

How Long Can You Stay and What Are the Traps

The standard tourist visa grants you 90 days of stay, and it's typically a double-entry visa. This means you can leave Saudi Arabia and re-enter once within the visa's validity period. The visa itself is usually valid for one year from the date of issue. Pay attention to the expiry date on your visa stamp or eVisa confirmation.

The biggest gotcha? Overstaying. Fines for overstaying are steep. You'll face a penalty of SAR 1,000 (about $266) for the first day of overstay, followed by SAR 500 (about $133) for each subsequent day. On top of that, you could face deportation and a ban from re-entering the country for several years. Make sure your exit date is well before your visa expires. Also, ensure your passport gets properly stamped on exit; this is critical for future travel.

Working Remotely on a Tourist Visa: A Grey Area

Can you technically work remotely on a Saudi tourist visa? The official line is no. The tourist visa is for tourism, visiting family, or attending events. Saudi Arabia has separate visa categories for business and employment. However, the enforcement of remote work on a tourist visa is a bit of a grey area. Many digital nomads do work from cafes and co-working spaces using their tourist visas without issue.

Authorities are generally more focused on people attempting to gain employment with local companies or conduct business operations that require a different visa. If you're just hopping on Zoom calls for your international clients and spending money in the local economy, you're unlikely to face scrutiny. Just don't try to set up a local business or get a Saudi bank account tied to employment. Keep a low profile and focus on your remote tasks.

What’s New on the Saudi Visa Front

Saudi Arabia has been rapidly modernizing its visa system. The biggest recent change was the significant expansion of the eVisa programme in late 2022. This opened up online visa applications to a much wider range of nationalities, making entry much simpler. They've also adjusted fees periodically, so always check the current cost on the official portal before applying.

Currently, there are no widespread suspensions or major new restrictions for tourist eVisa holders. The focus remains on encouraging tourism and business travel. The government is heavily invested in its Vision 2030 plan, which includes boosting tourism numbers significantly. This means they're generally welcoming to visitors who adhere to the visa rules. Keep an eye on the official Saudi visa portal for any updates, as this landscape can shift.