Saudi Arabia announces instant e-Visa for Schengen, UK and US travelers

June 13 () –

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has announced the creation of an instant electronic visa for tourists and permanent residents of the Schengen area, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Thus, holders of tourist visas from these destinations will be able to “enjoy a simplified entry” to the country by requesting this instant electronic permit through the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The main objective of this measure is “to facilitate entry to the Kingdom for those who wish to visit it, allowing them to enjoy their destinations and tourist events and obtain information about the heritage and history” of Saudi Arabia, the official SPA agency reported.

This exception is granted to holders of a valid tourist or business visa from any of the countries of the Schengen area, the United Kingdom or the United States as long as it has always been used at least once to enter the issuing country.

This “eVisa” guarantees the same rights to enter the country to the first degree relatives of its holders. People with a permanent residence permit in one of the mentioned countries and their first-degree relatives may also benefit from it.

All of them will be able to enter Saudi Arabia through any land, air or sea port, according to the SPA.

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has indicated that this type of visa cannot be used for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca or to attend specific events, exhibitions or conferences.

Likewise, from Tourism they have emphasized “the importance of complying with the laws” of the country and the need to carry “at all times” the relevant identity documents.