Asia - Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia expands tourist e-Visa eligibility to four more nationalities

Saudi Arabia is once again expanding access to its electronic tourist visa. Citizens of four additional countries can now apply for an e-Visa online or obtain a visa upon arrival in the Kingdom. The latest expansion brings the number of eligible countries to 72, making it easier for more international travelers to visit Saudi Arabia.

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Saudi Arabia expands tourist e-Visa eligibility to four more nationalities
Saudi Arabia expands access to its tourist e-Visa and visa-on-arrival program to citizens of four additional countries © Depositphotos

Saudi Arabia is making entry procedures easier for more international visitors.

In an announcement on November 5, 2026, Saudi authorities confirmed that four additional nationalities are now eligible for the country’s electronic tourist visa (e-Visa) program. Travelers from these countries can apply online before departure or obtain a visa upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.

The move is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to open its doors to international tourism, a process that began with the introduction of its tourist e-Visa in 2019.

Four more nationalities now eligible for Saudi Arabia’s tourist visa

Saudi e-Visa now available to 4 new nationalities

The latest expansion covers citizens of:

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Mexico
  • North Macedonia
  • Serbia

Nationals of these four countries can now obtain a Saudi tourist visa without necessarily having to apply through an embassy or consulate.

They have two options: apply for an e-Visa before traveling through the official government portal, visa.visitsaudi.com, or obtain a visa on arrival at a Saudi port of entry, subject to the applicable requirements.

All four nationalities have already been added to the official list of countries eligible to use the online visa service.

With these additions, Saudi Arabia’s tourist e-Visa program now covers 72 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and numerous other European and Asian nations.

A one-year visa allowing multiple visits to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s tourist e-Visa is generally issued with a one-year validity period and allows multiple entries into the country.

Visitors may stay for a maximum of 90 days. For multiple-entry visas, the days spent in Saudi Arabia are counted cumulatively across all visits. In other words, the permitted stay does not reset each time a traveler enters the country.

Saudi authorities also emphasize that tourist visas cannot be extended and that travelers may apply for a new visa only after their existing one has expired.

The tourist visa can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Sightseeing and leisure travel;
  • Attending cultural, sporting, and entertainment events;
  • Participating in exhibitions, trade shows, and conferences;
  • Visiting family members or friends;
  • Performing Umrah, outside the Hajj season.

However, the visa does not authorize paid employment or travel for the Hajj pilgrimage, which is subject to separate visa and permit requirements.

How to apply for a Saudi Arabian tourist e-Visa

Travelers holding passports issued by any of the 72 eligible countries can submit their applications through Saudi Arabia’s official tourist e-Visa portal.

The application process involves three main steps: completing the online form with personal and passport information, paying the applicable visa fees, and receiving the electronic visa by email once the application has been approved.

Applicants must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from their intended date of entry into Saudi Arabia.

The applicable fees are displayed during the application process. Visa issuance remains subject to approval by Saudi authorities, and holding a valid visa does not automatically guarantee admission into the country.

Travelers planning to obtain a visa on arrival should also confirm that they meet all eligibility requirements before boarding their flight.

Mexican travelers already had access to another e-Visa option

For Mexican citizens, the announcement provides an additional way to obtain a Saudi tourist visa without applying through an embassy or consulate.

Mexico was already among the seven countries included in Saudi Arabia’s Tourist Package Visa program, introduced by the authorities in 2026.

As VisasNews reported in September, this program allows eligible travelers to obtain an electronic visa when purchasing a travel package through approved providers, typically including transportation and accommodations.

With the latest expansion of the standard tourist e-Visa program, Mexican travelers now have another option: applying directly for a tourist e-Visa without having to purchase a travel package.

Travelers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries already eligible for Saudi Arabia’s tourist e-Visa and visa-on-arrival programs are not directly affected by this change. Their existing tourist visa requirements remain unchanged.

The VisasNews Take

Saudi Arabia’s latest tourist visa expansion makes travel easier for citizens of four additional countries by giving them access to online visa applications and visas on arrival. The change is particularly significant for Mexican travelers, who no longer need to purchase a travel package to qualify for an e-Visa. With 72 eligible nationalities, Saudi Arabia continues to expand a program launched in 2019 while maintaining strict rules on permitted lengths of stay and authorized activities.

Author:
The VisasNews editorial team
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