Home / Saudi Arabia Entry Requirements Explained: Visas, Vaccines & Rules
Travelling to Saudi Arabia has become easier than ever, but the country still has some of the strictest travel rules in the Middle East. Whether you’re visiting for tourism, business, or a holy pilgrimage like Hajj or Umrah, you’ll need to understand a few key things before packing your bags. There are also vaccination rules, customs restrictions, and even specific permissions depending on who you are and where you’re from.
Your passport is your golden ticket. To enter Saudi Arabia, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. That means if your passport expires sooner, you’ll be stopped before even boarding your flight. Airlines check this very carefully. If your passport is damaged, reported lost, or appears to have been tampered with, you may be denied entry.
Even something as small as a missing page or smudged barcode can create problems at immigration.
UK citizens need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia. Understanding the Saudi Arabia entry requirements for each visa type is important, as rules differ depending on your purpose of visit. The most common ones are the tourist e-visa, visa on arrival, and electronic visa waiver. Each visa type has its own specific rules regarding the duration of stay and the number of entries allowed. Let’s look at the main types:
| Visa Type | Who Can Apply | Validity | Stay Duration | Includes Health Insurance |
| Tourist e-Visa | Tourists from eligible countries | 1 year (365 days) | Up to 90 days total across multiple trips | Yes |
| Visa on Arrival | Citizens of countries approved for an arrival visa | 1 year (similar to e-visa) | 90 days total | Yes |
| Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) | Travellers from select countries visiting for tourism, study, business, or Umrah (not Hajj) | Valid for one entry within 6 months | Up to 6 months | No |
You can apply for an e-visa online before you travel. Some nationalities can also get it at the airport. Most travellers prefer applying online because it’s faster and easier. The e-visa also includes medical insurance, so you don’t have to buy it separately. It stays valid for one year and allows multiple entries. You can visit Saudi Arabia several times, but your total stay can’t be more than 90 days in that year.
This is something many travellers don’t take seriously, but in Saudi Arabia, overstaying can get you in real trouble. If you stay in the country longer than your visa allows, you may face severe penalties, including fines, detention, or even deportation. In some cases, travellers who overstay are banned from returning for several years.
Always check your visa’s expiry date in your account on the e-visa portal. When your visa is close to ending, leave the country on time.
This visa allows you to stay for up to 6 months, but only for a single trip. It doesn’t include medical insurance, so you must buy your own before travelling. EVWs are ideal for students, business visitors, or individuals visiting Saudi Arabia for short-term projects. However, please note that this visa cannot be extended or used for multiple entries.
Most visas only permit entry into Saudi Arabia by air. If you’re planning to cross the King Fahd Causeway from Bahrain by road, check your visa details first. Some entry types don’t allow land border crossings. Also, if you’re flying into Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season, certain airports (like Jeddah and Madinah) are restricted to pilgrims only. Non-pilgrims may have to land in Riyadh or Dammam instead.
If your layover is more than 12 hours, or you’re switching airlines, you might need a transit visa. Even if you don’t plan to leave the airport, always check with your airline first, as rules change depending on your route and ticket type.
If you’re living in Saudi Arabia, things are a bit more complicated. Expats need exit and re-entry permits from their sponsor or employer before leaving the country. If you leave the country using a final exit permit, your previous visa will be cancelled. You’ll need to apply for a new visa to re-enter.
Health rules in Saudi Arabia are strict, especially for those visiting for religious reasons. Here are the main vaccines and health requirements every traveller should know about:
If you are going for Umrah, Hajj, or working as a seasonal worker, you must get the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. This shot protects you from meningitis, a serious illness that spreads quickly in large crowds. It’s a must for everyone performing Umrah or Hajj. You’ll need to show your vaccination proof at the airport and at the entry gates to the holy cities.
Travellers coming from or passing through countries at risk of yellow fever must carry a valid vaccination certificate.
If your country still has polio cases, you must take extra care. Get an oral polio vaccine at least 4 weeks before you travel. When you arrive, you might get another dose, even if you already had one. Saudi Arabia does this to keep the country safe from polio.
Saudi Arabia no longer requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination. But you still need medical insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment. Most tourist e-visas already include this insurance.
Keep a digital or printed copy of your insurance details. You may need to show it to airport officers when you arrive.
Saudi Arabia is a desert country with extreme heat and frequent dust storms. Travellers often experience dehydration, sunburn, or respiratory issues. Here’s how to stay safe:
You must keep this in mind.
If your passport shows any evidence that you’ve visited Israel, such as an old visa stamp, you may be denied entry. Some travellers get around this by renewing their passports before travelling.
During the annual Hajj pilgrimage, non-pilgrims may not be allowed to fly into Jeddah, Madinah, or Taif. Airlines are instructed only to carry passengers with valid Hajj visas to these cities. If you’re not performing Hajj, plan to land elsewhere during this period.
Saudi Arabia is extremely strict about what travellers can bring into or out of the country. Here’s a quick look at what’s allowed, restricted, or banned:
| Category | Examples | Status |
| Banned Items | Alcohol, pork, pornography, narcotics, weapons, distillery equipment, used tyres, and religious idols. | Not allowed at all. |
| Restricted Items (Need Approval) | Seeds, animals, chemicals, religious books (beyond personal use), and pharmaceutical drugs. | Need official permit. |
| Personal Use (Subject to Check) | Laptops, books, videos, electronics. | May be screened at customs. |
| Tech Equipment (Needs License) | Satellite phones, recording devices, transmitters, high-powered binoculars. | Permit required. |
Tell the truth about what you bring with you. Saudi customs officers check bags very carefully. They use modern scanners to see what’s inside. If you have more than 60,000 SAR, or the equivalent amount in another currency, you must declare it upon arrival.
Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to the world, including tourists, business travellers, and pilgrims alike. But those doors come with rules. Knowing the entry requirements for Saudi Arabia before you travel can save you a lot of stress and money. A little attention to detail before departure means smooth sailing at immigration.
You’ll need a valid passport (with at least six months’ validity), an approved Saudi visa, and proof of medical insurance. Keep your vaccination record, return ticket, and hotel details ready, as immigration officers may ask to see them.
Yes, you do. Travellers can perform Umrah with either a dedicated Umrah visa or a tourist eVisa. The tourist eVisa is quick to apply for online, includes medical insurance, and allows Umrah outside the Hajj season. However, it can’t be used for Hajj.
Yes. During Hajj, only pilgrims with valid Hajj visas can fly into Jeddah, Madinah, or Taif. Non-pilgrims must arrive through other airports, such as Riyadh or Dammam.
If your layover is longer than 12 hours, or if you’re switching to a different airline, you may need a transit visa.
Yes. All visitors who don’t reside in Saudi Arabia are required to have medical insurance. If you get a tourist e-visa, your insurance is already included. But if you travel with another type of visa, you’ll need to buy your own insurance.
The primary concerns are heat exhaustion, dehydration, sandstorms, and respiratory infections, such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), transmitted from camels. Drink plenty of water and avoid contact with camels.
