Saudi tourist eVisa for GCC residents and US, UK or Schengen visa holders

Yes, GCC residents of most nationalities can get a Saudi tourist eVisa online, and so can many holders of a used US, UK or Schengen visa. A weekend in AlUla from Dubai, a family trip to Riyadh from Doha, or Umrah from Kuwait outside the Hajj season: Saudi Arabia is close to home for millions of Gulf residents. Many of them hold passports that are not on Saudi Arabia’s standard eVisa list. Indian, Filipino, Egyptian, Pakistani, Nigerian and Bangladeshi passports are all examples.

The part many people miss: your passport is not the only thing that counts. Saudi Arabia lets some travellers apply online because of where they live or which visa they already hold. That covers residents of the other GCC countries, holders of a used US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa, and permanent residents of the US, UK or EU.

This guide sets out those conditions as the Saudi authorities publish them, checked on 6 October 2026. Voyfaro does not apply for or issue visas, and is not affiliated with any government.

Saudi eVisa for residents and visa holders: quick answer

• GCC nationals (Emirati, Kuwaiti, Qatari, Bahraini, Omani) do not need a visa. Visit Saudi says they can travel with their ID or passport.
• GCC residents of other nationalities can apply online for a tourist eVisa if their GCC residence permit is valid for at least 3 months beyond the date they enter Saudi Arabia, and their passport for at least 6 months.
• US, UK or Schengen visa holders can apply online if their visa is a tourist or business visa, is still valid, and has an entry stamp from the country that issued it. Visit Saudi says digital entry stamps are not accepted.
• Schengen warning: since 10 April 2026, Schengen countries no longer stamp passports. They record entries digitally in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Read literally, Visit Saudi’s wording means a Schengen visa only qualifies if it carries a physical Schengen entry stamp from before that change. If yours does not, get written confirmation from the KSA Visa platform or the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book.
• Permanent residents of the US, UK or EU are listed for a visa on arrival, and the online platform lists permanent residency as a qualifying condition too.
• Where to apply: Visit Saudi sends residents and visa holders to the KSA Visa platform at ksavisa.sa, run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Fee: Visit Saudi lists SAR 339.44 (about USD 90.50) for this eVisa. Medical insurance is not included; you buy it during the application.
• Validity: single entry, valid for 3 months, or multiple entry, valid for 1 year. Each stay can be up to 90 consecutive days, according to Visit Saudi.
• Umrah: allowed, but not during the Hajj season. You book Umrah through the official Nusuk platform. Hajj needs a separate Hajj visa.
• Processing: the KSA Visa FAQ says a maximum of 3 working days after you apply and pay, sometimes longer.

Who this applies to

This route is for people whose passport is not on Saudi Arabia’s standard eVisa list, but who live in the Gulf or hold a qualifying Western visa or residence. Some examples:

• An Indian or Filipino nurse who lives in Dubai on a UAE residence visa
• An Egyptian engineer who lives in Kuwait or Qatar
• A Bangladeshi or Pakistani resident of Oman or Bahrain
• A Nigerian traveller who holds a used UK visit visa, or a valid Schengen visa with a physical entry stamp from before April 2026
• A Sri Lankan or Kenyan permanent resident of an EU country

If your passport is already on the standard eVisa list, you do not need this route. Visit Saudi lists 67 such nationalities, including the US, Canada, Australia, most EU countries, Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, South Africa and China. They apply on the main eVisa portal, where Visit Saudi shows a fee of SAR 395 with medical insurance included. UK citizens see a separate set of options on the Visit Saudi checker.

Not every passport can use the residence route. When we tested the Visit Saudi “Find out what type of visa you need” checker, Chadian, Ethiopian, Iranian, Libyan and Palestinian passports were not offered the GCC-resident or US, UK or Schengen options. They were shown the embassy and authorised visa office routes only. Diplomatic and special passports also have to apply through a Saudi embassy, not online.

Route 1: you live in another GCC country

Visit Saudi lists these requirements for GCC residents applying for the eVisa:

• A residence visa from one of the GCC countries, valid for at least 3 months beyond your date of entry into Saudi Arabia
• A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry
• For travellers under 18, a parent must apply for an eVisa first

The Ministry of Tourism’s Tourist Visa Regulations also say the GCC-residence route covers first-degree relatives travelling with the resident, and domestic workers travelling with their sponsors.

What about your job title? The Ministry of Tourism’s regulations say the GCC-residence route applies “for the professions published” on visitsaudi.com. On 6 October 2026, the Visit Saudi visa requirements page listed no profession restriction, only the 3-month validity rule. The KSA Visa form does ask for your profession, so enter it as it appears on your residence documents.

Family members. Visit Saudi’s FAQ says that once you have submitted your own application, you can apply for first-degree family members (husband, wife, parents and children) from your account.

No visa on arrival for this route. For GCC residents, the Visit Saudi checker shows the eVisa and the transit/stopover visa. It does not show a visa on arrival. Apply before you travel.

Route 2: you hold a US, UK or Schengen visa

Visit Saudi lists these conditions for first-time visitors who apply for the eVisa on the strength of a US, UK or Schengen visa:

• Your US, UK or Schengen visa or residence permit must still be valid
• It must be a business or tourist visa
• It must have an entry stamp from the issuing country. Digital entry stamps are not accepted

The KSA Visa platform describes the same condition as a valid tourist or business visa from the US, UK or Schengen area, “used to travel at least once”. The Ministry of Tourism’s regulations say the visa “shall have been used at least once to enter the country granting the visa”, and that first-degree relatives travelling with the holder are covered too.

Returning visitors. Visit Saudi says that if you have already entered Saudi Arabia on your Saudi visit visa, and that Saudi visa is still valid, you do not need to show that your US, UK or Schengen visa is still valid.

What this means in practice:

• A UK visit visa that you have never used does not qualify. You need to have entered the UK on it first.
• A US student visa or work visa is not a tourist or business visa, so the official pages do not list it as qualifying.
• Schengen visas and the EES. The European Commission says that as of 10 April 2026 the Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces the stamping of passports, and the system started step by step from 12 October 2025. So a Schengen entry since then may be recorded only digitally, with no stamp in your passport. Visit Saudi says digital entry stamps are not accepted. On its current wording, a Schengen visa only meets the condition if it carries a physical Schengen entry stamp from before the change. In practice, that mostly means an older multi-year Schengen visa that you used before EES. The official Saudi pages do not say anything more about EES. If your Schengen visa has no physical entry stamp, get written confirmation from the KSA Visa platform or the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book, and do not rely on a visa on arrival. Our EES and ETIAS guide explains that change.

Visa on arrival. Visit Saudi also lists a visa on arrival for this group, at passport control, on similar conditions: a valid tourist or business visa, used at least once, with an entry stamp from the issuing country (Visit Saudi says digital entry stamps are not accepted here either, so the Schengen warning above applies). It costs SAR 395 (about USD 105.32) with medical insurance included. Applying online first is safer, because you know the answer before you fly.

Route 3: you are a permanent resident of the US, UK or EU

Visit Saudi says you can get a visa on arrival if you hold a permanent residence permit from the UK, the US or an EU country, and a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry. The KSA Visa platform also lists “Permanent residency in the US/UK/EU” as an applicant condition, and the Ministry of Tourism’s regulations cover first-degree relatives travelling with you.

A student or work permit is not permanent residence, and the official pages we checked do not extend this route to temporary permits.

Fees, validity and how long you can stay

All figures are from the Visit Saudi visa requirements page on 6 October 2026. The Ministry of Tourism’s Tourist Visa Regulations set the base tourist visa fee at SAR 300 under Royal Decree No. (2) of 5/1/1441 AH. The figure you pay is the one shown on the platform before you pay.

A note on stay length. The Ministry of Tourism’s regulations say a single-entry visa allows a stay of up to one month, and a multiple-entry visa a total of 3 months within its year. Visit Saudi’s current page says up to 90 consecutive days for both. Check the permitted stay printed on your visa, and leave before it ends.

Refunds. The KSA Visa FAQ says fees cannot be refunded once a visa is issued, and that a rejected or cancelled application is refunded automatically within 45 to 60 business days. Visit Saudi’s FAQ says tourist visa fees are non-refundable in any case. The two official sources differ, so read the platform’s terms before you pay.

What you can and cannot do on a Saudi tourist visa

You can:

• Travel for tourism, visit family and friends, and go on a cruise. The KSA Visa platform describes the tourism visa this way.
• Make short business trips. Visit Saudi’s FAQ says these include meetings, conferences and workshops that do not involve a business contract or paid work.
• Perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. Visit Saudi says the tourist visa can be used for Umrah, but not during the Hajj season. Book your Umrah or Ziyarah permit on the official Nusuk platform. The KSA Visa platform also says that if you already hold an active Saudi visa, you can perform Umrah without applying for a new one.
• Enter by land. Visit Saudi’s FAQ says eVisa holders can come in through any formal port of entry, so driving in from a neighbouring GCC country is covered.

You cannot:

• Perform Hajj. The Ministry of Tourism’s regulations say tourists must not perform Hajj except on a Hajj visa. Visit Saudi says Hajj needs a specific Hajj visa through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
• Perform Umrah during the Hajj season. The regulations say the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah sets the dates each year. A declaration that applicants sign on the KSA Visa platform also says the visitor must not enter or stay in Makkah from 1 Dhul-Qi’dah to 14 Dhul-Hijjah. The tourist-visa pages do not publish fixed dates, so check the dates for the current year on Nusuk or with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
• Work. The regulations say tourists must not do any paid or unpaid work, and Visit Saudi says the tourist visa does not replace a work visa.
• Overstay. The regulations require you to keep to the validity of your visa and your permitted stay, and say penalties apply under the relevant laws.

Visit Saudi also notes that Makkah is reserved for Muslim visitors, while Madinah is open to all visitors. If you are planning Umrah, our eSIM guide for Umrah and Saudi Arabia covers staying connected in Makkah and Madinah. If you are travelling from Pakistan, see our Umrah from Pakistan guide.

How to apply on the official platform

1. Check your options first. Open the Visit Saudi visa requirements page, choose your nationality, then choose “I am a GCC resident” or “I am a US, UK, or Schengen resident or business or tourist visa holder”. It shows the routes open to you.
2. Go to ksavisa.sa. Visit Saudi’s “Apply Now” button for these routes leads to the KSA Visa platform. Type the address yourself rather than following a link from an advert.
3. Log in with your email address and password, then fill in your personal and passport details.
4. Add your residence or visa details. The form asks for your country and city of residence, your residence or visa number and expiry date, and an upload of your residence permit or visa. Use a clear scan.
5. Buy the medical insurance. The KSA Visa platform says it covers emergency cases only, from insurers approved in Saudi Arabia.
6. Accept the terms, review and pay. The KSA Visa FAQ says you cannot amend the application once it is completed and paid.
7. Wait for the email. The KSA Visa FAQ says processing takes a maximum of 3 working days, sometimes longer. Use “Track your application” to check progress.

The Ministry of Tourism’s regulations also say you must register your biometrics during the application or on arrival, and register your address in Saudi Arabia.

If you do not qualify

• Embassy or consulate: Visit Saudi lists documents such as proof of residence, a return ticket, proof of employment, a bank statement, a flight itinerary and your address in Saudi Arabia.
• Authorised visa offices (Tasheer): Visit Saudi lists these in several countries, including the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
• Package visa: for some nationalities, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Egyptian and Jordanian passports, Visit Saudi lists a visa issued with a travel package from licensed agencies. Visit Saudi says these packages exclude Makkah and Madinah.
• Transit/stopover visa: Visit Saudi lists a free stopover visa for up to 96 hours when you fly with Saudia or flynas (an application fee and insurance still apply).

Common mistakes and scams to avoid

• Applying on a look-alike site. The KSA Visa platform is ksavisa.sa and the main eVisa portal is visa.visitsaudi.com. Unofficial websites may add their own charges to the official fee
• Using an unused UK, US or Schengen visa. It must have been used to enter the issuing country, with an entry stamp
• Relying on a digital-only entry record. Visit Saudi says digital entry stamps are not accepted. Since 10 April 2026, Schengen countries record entries in the EES instead of stamping passports, so a newer Schengen visa may have no qualifying stamp at all
• A GCC residence permit that expires too soon. It must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your entry date, not your application date
• A passport with less than 6 months left after your entry date
• Booking Umrah in the Hajj season on a tourist visa
• Paying for non-refundable flights before your eVisa is issued
• Assuming a visa on arrival is open to GCC residents. The Visit Saudi checker lists the eVisa for that route, not a visa on arrival
• Paying anyone who promises approval. Only the Saudi authorities decide

How Voyfaro can help

• Visa: we point you to the official Saudi sources and explain them in plain English. We do not apply for, issue or guarantee visas. See our visa guidance, and our guide to passport and residence visa rules.
• Bookings: we help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and travel insurance from partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network. Travel insurance from our partners is separate. It does not replace the medical insurance you must buy during the Saudi visa application. Until your eVisa is issued, we suggest refundable fares and free-cancellation hotels. For data in Makkah and Madinah, see our eSIM guide for Umrah and Saudi Arabia.
• You stay in control: you book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
• Questions? Contact us with where you live, your passport, your dates and who is travelling. Asking is free.

FAQ

Can GCC residents get a Saudi tourist eVisa?

Yes. Visit Saudi says GCC residents can apply for the tourist visa as an eVisa or through an embassy. Your GCC residence permit must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your entry date, and your passport for at least 6 months. You apply on the KSA Visa platform at ksavisa.sa. A few nationalities, such as Ethiopian and Iranian passports, were not offered this route on the Visit Saudi checker.

Is there a profession requirement for GCC residents?

The Ministry of Tourism’s regulations allow a list of eligible professions to be published on visitsaudi.com. On 6 October 2026, the Visit Saudi visa requirements page showed no profession restriction for GCC residents. The only residence condition listed was 3 months’ validity beyond your entry date.

Does my UK, US or Schengen visa need to have been used?

Yes. Visit Saudi says it must be a tourist or business visa with an entry stamp from the issuing country, and that digital entry stamps are not accepted. The Ministry of Tourism’s regulations say it must have been used at least once to enter the issuing country. For Schengen visas, note that since 10 April 2026 the EU records entries in the Entry/Exit System instead of stamping passports. On Visit Saudi’s current wording, a Schengen visa only qualifies if it has a physical entry stamp from before that change, so get written confirmation from KSA Visa or the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book if yours does not.

How much is the Saudi eVisa for residents and visa holders?

Visit Saudi lists SAR 339.44 (about USD 90.50), with the application fee included. Medical insurance is not included; you buy it during the application, and the price depends on the insurer. The visa on arrival for eligible US, UK or Schengen visa holders and permanent residents is SAR 395, with insurance included.

How long can I stay in Saudi Arabia on this eVisa?

Visit Saudi says up to 90 consecutive days per stay. A single-entry visa is valid for 3 months from issue, and a multiple-entry visa for 1 year. The Ministry of Tourism’s regulations give shorter limits for single-entry visas, so follow the stay printed on your visa.

Can I perform Umrah on a Saudi tourist eVisa?

Yes, outside the Hajj season. Visit Saudi says the tourist visa can be used for Umrah but not during the Hajj season, and that you book Umrah through the Nusuk platform. Hajj needs a separate Hajj visa.

Can my family come with me on my GCC residence?

Visit Saudi says you can apply for first-degree family members (husband, wife, parents and children) from your account after submitting your own application. For travellers under 18, a parent must apply first.

Can Voyfaro get my Saudi visa approved?

No. Only the Saudi authorities decide. We point you to the official sources and help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and insurance for your trip.

Sources

Official pages we checked on 6 October 2026:

• Visit Saudi (official tourism website of Saudi Arabia), Saudi Arabia Visa Requirements (the address visitsaudi.com/en/travel-regulations leads to the same page). We used the visa checker on this page for GCC residents, US, UK and Schengen visa holders and US, UK and EU permanent residents: conditions, entry stamps, returning visitors, fees, medical insurance, validity, 90-day stays, ksavisa.sa as the application platform, visa on arrival, transit/stopover visas, package visas, embassy and Tasheer routes, and the nationalities offered each route. We also used the FAQ on the same page: Umrah outside the Hajj season, Nusuk, Hajj visa, family members, refunds, land ports, short business trips, Makkah and Madinah access and diplomatic passports
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KSA Visa platform (applicant conditions for US, UK and Schengen visa holders, US, UK and EU permanent residents and GCC residents; the application steps; medical insurance covering emergencies only; Umrah on an active Saudi visa; the applicant declaration on Makkah during the Hajj season; and the platform’s FAQ on processing time, refunds and amendments)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Unified visa platform (linked by Visit Saudi for authorised visa offices)
• Ministry of Tourism, Tourist Visa Regulations (English PDF, version V012: visa types and validity, the eligibility routes in Article 6 including first-degree relatives, domestic workers and published professions, the SAR 300 fee, biometrics, and the rules on Hajj, Umrah in the Hajj season and work)
• European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs, Entry/Exit System (EES) (EES replacing passport stamping from 10 April 2026; progressive start from 12 October 2025)
• Nusuk (the platform Visit Saudi and KSA Visa link to for Umrah and Ziyarah permits)