
Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver: Simplified Travel Process
What you need to know
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The Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver is a single-entry electronic travel document that allows you to visit the country for tourist, business, educational, or medical purposes.
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Only nationals from the United Kingdom can apply for this travel document.
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You can’t work with the Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver.
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The Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver is valid for 6 months.
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With iVisa you can apply 100% online in less than 20 minutes.
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Your passport needs to be at least 6 months from the date of your application.
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Children also need this visa to enter the country and can’t travel alone.
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You can apply between 90 days to 48 hours before your travel for this visa, giving you flexibility according to your plans.
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iVisa is a legitimate company, accredited and recognized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For more information, see the FAQs below.

Apply today for the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver with us!
Last updated: September 2023
Saudi Arabia is a captivating nation steeped in history, culture, and abundant business prospects. If you're considering a journey to this beautiful country, you may need the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver.
This travel document allows eligible travelers to explore Saudi Arabia for tourism, conducting business, pursuing studies, or seeking medical treatment. The Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) streamlines the process, allowing for easier travel.
Explore all the essential details of the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver, who is eligible, how to apply, and the costs. Download our user-friendly iVisa app for an even smoother experience!
What is the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver?
The Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) for Saudi Arabia simplifies the application process, making travel to Saudi Arabia more accessible. With this document, you can enter Saudi Arabia by air, land, and sea.
One of the benefits of the visa waiver is that you can get it 100% online from the comfort of your own home. No need to visit a Saudi Arabian Embassy or Consulate!
What can you do with the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver?
With this travel document, you can visit Saudi Arabia without a visa to:
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Explore the country as a tourist.
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Meet with business partners.
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Seek medical treatment.
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Pursue short-term studies.
What can’t you do with the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver?
You can’t work or live in Saudi Arabia.
Who can apply for the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver?
To be eligible for the visa waiver, you must meet the following criteria:
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Nationality: You must have a passport from a country with a visa waiver agreement with Saudi Arabia (more info below).
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Purpose of travel: Visa waivers are typically granted for specific purposes, such as tourism, business meetings, academic studies, or medical treatment. You’ll have to indicate this during the application process.
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Valid passport: Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended date of departure from Saudi Arabia.
Who is eligible for the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver?
Saudi Arabia has introduced the visa waiver only for nationals from the United Kingdom.
However, more nationalities may be added to the visa waiver program soon. Stay tuned!
Visa-exempt: Who doesn't need to apply for the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver?
Currently, the only travelers who won’t need a visa or visa waiver to visit Saudi Arabia are those from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
UK citizens who want to stay longer than the visa waiver allows or are traveling for different reasons, may need to apply for a Saudi Arabian Visa instead. Explore your options by using our handy Visa Checker Tool.
All other travelers must apply for a Saudi Arabia Visa before visiting the country.
Do minors/children need to apply for the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver?
Children from the United Kingdom also need the EVW to enter the country and can’t travel alone. A parent or guardian must accompany them at all times.
How long is the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver valid?
With the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver, you can visit the country hassle-free for up to 180 days per entry. It’s a Single entry document, which means you can use the visa waiver only once to enter the country.
You can apply for your visa waiver 90 days to 48 hours before your trip. The sooner, the better!
Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver required documents
You only need the following documents to apply:
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Copy of your valid passport: Make sure it's valid for at least six months from your intended departure date from the country.
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Passport photo
How to apply for the Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver online
To get your Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver with us, just follow these few steps:
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Step 1: Complete the simple application process on our website or via our app by filling out your travel itinerary and personal details. Make sure to double-check all information!
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Step 2: Choose how soon you’d like to receive the visa waiver based on your travel plans and budget, and pay the fees on our secure payment platform.
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Step 3: Upload a passport scan and photo and complete the rest of the required information before clicking ‘Submit’!
We will contact you if we need any more information about your application.
Once your visa waiver is reviewed by our team and approved by the Saudi Arabian government, you'll receive it via email. You should keep an electronic and printed copy of the document on hand to show on arrival.
Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver costs and processing times
We’ll carefully review your information and accompany you every step of the way if you run into any issues. Choose your preferred processing time from the following options:
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Standard - 24 hours: Price per applicant USD $99.99.
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Rush - 4 hours: Price per applicant USD $119.99.
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Super Rush - 30 minutes: Price per applicant USD $159.99.
The government fee of USD $40.00 is included in the above costs. You can conveniently pay all fees with a debit or credit card, PayPal, Amazon Pay, or Venmo when applying with us.
Do I need this visa waiver to transit through Saudi Arabia?
If you’re transiting through Saudi Arabia, you may need a transit visa if the connecting time between your flights is more than 12 hours.
Once your ticket is issued, you should confirm with your airline or travel agency if you need a transit visa and how to apply.
Saudi Arabia entry requirements or restrictions
There are currently no COVID-19 restrictions in Saudi Arabia. However, check the latest updates with your airline or the Saudi Arabia health website.
Differences between the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver and the Tourist Visa
Visa waiver or tourist visa, which one is right for you? To help you choose, check the key differences between the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver and the Tourist Visa:
- Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver: Eligibility depends on your nationality and whether your country has a visa waiver agreement with Saudi Arabia.
This visa waiver can be applied for 100% online, generally only taking up to a few days to receive. It can be used for a visit of up to 6 months for business, tourism, medical treatment, and studies.
- Saudi Arabia Tourist Visa: The Tourist Visa is available to travelers from various countries worldwide, and eligibility is not limited to specific nationalities. However, the costs are significantly higher than a visa waiver.
This visa is primarily intended for tourists and grants shorter durations of stay, often 30 days, 90 days, or 180 days, depending on the type of visa applied for and the traveler's needs.
- Other visas: Muslim tourists may perform Umrah on both a tourist visa and visa waiver. Keep in mind that both documents are not the official Umrah Visa, which may offer additional privileges.
A separate visa is needed for visiting Saudi Arabia during Hajj. Hajj visas can be applied for via the Saudi Arabian government.
Where can I learn more about the Saudi Arabia Visa Waiver?
If you have any questions about the visa waiver or another visa for Saudi Arabia, don’t hesitate to reach out! Our customer service team can assist via online chat or you can contact us on WhatsApp.
Ask iVisa
Have a visa question? We'll provide the answer.
Hi Jairo,
If your wife holds a multiple-entry tourist visa for Saudi Arabia, it's true that each entry generally allows a stay of up to 90 days. However, Saudi regulations often limit total stays on a tourist visa to 90 days per calendar year, even if the visa itself is valid for 12 months. This could explain why immigration authorities in KSA are saying she can't exceed 90 days total.
One possibility would be to sponsor your wife and apply for a family visit visa, which allows stays of up to 90 days and can be extended under certain conditions, but that depends on the exact type of visa you currently have and any additional time would be at the discretion of Saudi Arabian officals.
We recommend visiting the nearest Saudia Arabian embassy to confirm what this process would entail.
Hi Mark,
If you're currently in Saudi Arabia on a visa waiver that's valid until July 2025, that means your entry into the country is valid until the date it expires.
Therefore, if you leave Saudi Arabia, you'll need to apply for a new visa waiver to re-enter.
However, the catch is that you can’t apply for a new one while you're still in the country, so you must leave first, then submit a new application before returning. You can apply easily on our platform so you can travel worry-free.
Hello Mohammed,
If your Saudi visa waiver shows it's valid for 90 days, you have a 90-day window from the date it was issued to enter the country.
Once you enter Saudi Arabia, you can stay for a specific period (often up to 30 days), depending on the visa type. You can check out a comprehensive explanation of the waiver, requirement, and additional information on our website.
The part about "applying 90 days before travel" means you can apply up to 90 days in advance.
If you're ready to start your application, you can do so stress-free on our platform today.
Hi LT,
Managing visas can be tricky, especially when family members have different statuses. Since your 18-year-old daughter is on an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW), she'll need to leave Saudi Arabia when it expires, as the EVW is valid for a single entry and can't be extended or renewed from within the country.
After leaving, she can apply for a new EVW online before planning her return. She doesn't need to go back to the UK for this; she can travel to a nearby country and apply from there.
Please contact our customer support via iVisa chat or WhatsApp so that we can help you better plan your daughter's application process.
Hi Zafar,
Yes, you and your children can apply for the Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) from Pakistan. The EVW application process is entirely online, so as British passport holders, you can complete it from anywhere, including Pakistan.
Just make sure each applicant has a valid British passport. Applying early is recommended to avoid any last-minute issues.
Hi Akram,
Great question about the timing of your Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW). When applying for this travel document, you'll need to specify your intended travel date. The EVW becomes valid from that date.
It's important to ensure this date matches your actual travel plans because the EVW is valid for a single entry, allowing you to stay in Saudi Arabia for up to six months from that date.
If your travel dates change after your EVW has been issued, you'll need to apply for a new one to align with your updated plans.
Hi Tina,
The Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) is a single-entry authorization that lets you stay in Saudi Arabia for up to six months. Once it expires, it can't be renewed or extended from within the country. This means you'll need to leave Saudi Arabia and apply for a new EVW before planning another visit.
You can apply for the new EVW online from anywhere as long as you do so at least 2 days before your intended travel date. It's a good idea to plan your travel accordingly to ensure a smooth experience.
Hi Ial,
We understand why you want to make sure you're applying on a legitimate site. Yes, our platform is completely authentic, and you can confidently apply for the Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) with us.
Now, about the service fee—we know this is a common question, and we want to be fully transparent. The fee we charge isn’t just for submitting your application. It fairly reflects the support, reliability, accessibility, and convenience we provide throughout the process.
Think of it this way: when applying for travel documents, mistakes can lead to delays, frustration, or even denied boarding at the airport. For many of our clients, we’re the difference between getting on their flight as planned or spending hours figuring out government error messages.
Our service fees are in line with those of other visa service providers, and we truly believe the value we provide speaks for itself. This is clear from the millions of happy travelers we’ve assisted and the positive reviews we continue to receive.
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Remember that the customer service team at iVisa is here 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about our service.
How long does it take to apply for a Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver?
When should I apply for the Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver?
You can apply between 90 days to 48 hours before your travel for this visa, giving you flexibility according to your plans.
How long is the Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver valid?
What requirements does my passport need to have to apply for the Saudi Arabia Electronic Visa Waiver?
Who can I talk to if I have more questions?
Please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service agents if you have further questions, they’re available for you 24/7.
How do processing times work?
Where can I read more?
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