Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has expanded its electronic visitor visa to include nationals from six more countries, bringing the total count to 63. The new countries covered are Turkiye, Thailand, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, and Mauritius. Citizens from these nations can apply for the tourist visa online or obtain it upon arrival at any of the Kingdom’s international airports.
Additionally, a visitor e-visa is granted to holders of valid Schengen, UK, and US visas that have been used to enter those countries before arriving in Saudi Arabia, as well as to permanent residents of EU and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the UK, and the US.
The visa allows for tourism, Umrah visits outside of the Hajj season, attending events, exhibitions, conferences, and visiting friends and relatives. It grants multiple entries, remains valid for a full year, and permits stays of up to 90 days. Visitors must leave the kingdom before the specified duration of stay stated on the visitor visa, and a visitor visa does not permit performing Umrah during the Hajj season.
Saudi Arabia is revamping its visa regulations to attract tourists as part of its Vision 2030, which aims to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP and create a million job opportunities. In 2022, the country recorded 94 million visits, a 93 percent increase from the previous year, resulting in a tourism expenditure of SR185 billion ($49 billion).
Authorities in Saudi Arabia expect 100 million visits by 2030 and aim to raise the tourism sector’s GDP contribution to 10 percent. In 2023, the kingdom also welcomed over 2 million Hajj pilgrims, marking the first time after the Covid-19 pandemic that the country hosted such large numbers.
Previously, the e-visa facility was granted to Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
