Saudi Arabia is opening its doors to the world through its new tourist visa to show its warm hospitality, rich heritage, vibrant culture, and diverse and breathtaking landscapes from the Abha mountains to the Red Sea beaches.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced a new initiative to grant tourist visas electronically to eight more countries. The extension of this e-visa brings the total number of eligible countries to 57.
The eight countries added to the list include:
- Azerbaijan
- Albania
- Georgia
- Uzbekistan
- Tajikistan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Maldives
- South Africa
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism said that the nationals of these right countries can apply for a visitor visa electronically or upon arrival at one of the Kingdom’s ports.
Nationals of these countries can apply for a tourist visa to the Kingdom either electronically or at KSA international ports of entry.
“By expanding the e-visas to 8 new countries, Saudi Arabia takes another step forward in opening its doors to the world and offering an easier and simplified travel experience for all visitors to the Kingdom,” the Kingdom’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said.
This step is in line with the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, which includes increasing the sector’s contribution to GDP from 3% to more than 10%, creating one million additional job opportunities with a preference for Saudi citizens, and attracting 100 million tourists by 2030.
Visa Validity
The e-visa is valid for a whole entire year, allowing multiple entries, and a stay for up to 90 days.
The Ministry also outlined some rules that visitors should know about:
- Multiple-entry visas have shorter durations of stay.
- To avoid penalties, visitors must leave the Kingdom before the duration of their stay expires.
- Visitor visa holders cannot perform Umrah during Hajj or earn a wage in the country.
- Visas can only be renewed after expiration.
