Saudi Arabia has announced the expansion of its e-visa program, now including citizens from Türkiye, Thailand, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, and Mauritius. This development opens up opportunities for leisure, business, and religious travel, specifically for Umrah pilgrimages.
Applicants from these countries can conveniently apply for a Saudi visitor visa through the official e-visa portal at visa.visitsaudi.com. The newly introduced visitor e-visa, valid for a year, allows multiple entries and permits stays of up to 90 days. The move is in line with Saudi Arabia’s commitment to redefining the tourism experience, emphasizing the renowned Saudi hospitality, known as Hafawah.
Visit Saudi, the tourism initiative, offers an online trip planner to assist visitors in creating customized itineraries. The kingdom boasts a rich array of attractions, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the pristine Red Sea for snorkeling and diving, Taif’s famous Rose Gardens, Riyadh’s vibrant Deira Souq, the lush greenery of the Asir region, and a diverse culinary scene.
Since the launch of the visitor e-visa in 2019, Saudi Arabia has significantly eased access for millions of tourists, fostering unparalleled tourism growth. The program, initially targeting 49 countries, has now expanded to include a total of 63 countries and special administrative regions.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia further extended its regulations, granting visitor e-visas to individuals holding valid Schengen, United Kingdom, and US visas used for entry into those countries. This extension also applied to permanent residents of EU and GCC countries, as well as the UK and the US.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia introduced the free 96-hour Stopover Visa, allowing passengers to explore the country for up to 96 hours. This visa is also available for religious travelers participating in Umrah, with flight bookings through Saudia and Flynas, along with registration for Umrah through the Nusuk platform.
