The Ministry of Tourism has introduced a new visa scheme for residents of the GCC states, who will now be able to apply for an electronic tourist visa (eVisa) on the ‘Visit Saudi’ website. Travelers will be able to enter the Kingdom for both tourism and Umrah with the SAR 300 visa, which comes in single and multiple entry options.
Additionally, residents of the UK, US, and EU will be able to apply for a visa upon arrival according to the new regulation. It is still possible to apply for a visa on arrival if you have a current tourist or business visa from the US, the UK, or another Schengen Agreement nation as long as you have already used it at least once to enter the country issuing the visa.
The new regulation supports the Kingdom’s goal of receiving 100 million tourists annually by 2030.
The extension of the visa on arrival programme and the new eVisa represent progress in making it easier for travelers from around the world to visit Saudi Arabia, with Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority, explaining: “The facilitation of a tourist visa for millions of GCC residents and the visa on arrival extension supports our ambition to welcome 100 million visitors a year by 2030, to the world’s biggest new leisure tourism destination. This is not just an announcement; it is an invitation and we are making it easier than ever for visitors to explore thousands of years of history and culture, unmatched natural landscapes, and a thriving entertainment sector.”