Saudi Arabia e-Visa for UK Citizens

Saudi Arabia e-Visa for Travellers from the UK:

Since September 27, 2019, Saudi Arabia has been offering e-visa facilities to those looking to visit the Kingdom for tourism, Umrah, leisure, family, and relatives. Within just ten days of introducing an e-visa, nearly 24,000 foreigners visited the Kingdom. Out of these, over 6,000 tourists were UK nationals. This indicates that the UK is the 2nd largest group of foreigners to travel to Saudi Arabia for tourist purposes.

Considering this trend, the Saudi Arabian government has further relaxed the entry and exit requirements for travelers from the UK. Per the new e-visa directives, 72 countries can now obtain an electronic visa. 

Why UK Citizens Should Visit Saudi Arabia? 

Saudi Arabia is a desirable destination for citizens of the United Kingdom for the following reasons:

• The people of the United Kingdom are keen to explore and relish the Kingdom's diverse landscape, exclusive pre-Islamic rock art, and most iconic Islamic sites.
• Apart from that, the country offers diverse cuisine, luxurious resorts, theme parks, futuristic cities, and many more exciting attractions. 
• The government had strict laws previously, but now it has relaxed them considerably to allow convenient interaction between male/female tourists and even let solo female tourists explore the Kingdom without any restrictions. 
• Female visitors no longer need to wear hijab (headgear), cover their faces, or abaya to wrap their bodies. This is why Saudi Arabia has become one of the top tourist destinations in the world, especially for Westerners.

Do UK Citizens Need a Visa to Visit Saudi Arabia?

Those holding a UK passport would need a visa to enter and stay in Saudi Arabia. UK citizens can apply for an e-visa, and if they meet the country's eligibility requirements, they can expect to receive the approved visa within three days.

What is Saudi Arabia's e-Visa Validity and Stay Duration?

With an e-visa, UK citizens can stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days. On the other hand, the visa is valid for up to 12 months/1 year. It is generally issued as a multiple-entry visa. This means you can visit Saudi Arabia multiple times during the 1 year validity period. However, on each visit, your stay must not exceed 90 days stay limit.

What documents are needed for the Saudi Arabia e-Visa?

For a tourist e-visa, you don't need many documents. What you need to upload when submitting the e-visa form are as follows:

• Passport:

  A UK passport or equivalent travel document. It must be valid for 6 months after your arrival in Saudi Arabia. The passport must have 2 adjacent clear or blank pages for stamping purposes.

  Note: If the passport is due to expire while you are in Saudi Arabia, please renew it before applying. If the authorities deny the visa for not meeting their desired passport validity condition, your e-visa fee will not be reimbursed.

• Passport-sized Photograph

  It is necessary to upload a digital copy of your passport-sized photograph. It can be in JPEG or JPG format.

  Note: The photo must not be more than 6 months old and must show your current appearance. It should be taken against a plain white background. The image should be colored, clear, and cover your full front view. You must look directly into the camera and not wear a cap/hat, spectacles, or anything that could hide your identity.

Where will I receive my Saudi Arabia eVisa?

On the email address you have provided while filling out the eVisa application form. Please make sure that you enter a valid, active email address in your visa application form. All visa-related communication, notifications, and approved visa will be sent to this ID.

What payment options are available to pay the Saudi Arabia eVisa fee? 

After completing the visa application form and uploading the documents, the final step in applying for the e-visa is to pay the visa fees. It will be processed online, so ensure you have a valid and active credit or debit card from any reputed service, including American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. You can also pay via PayPal.

E-Visa Application Form Details:

The e-visa form has several pages; you must fill in all the fields and answer all the questions. The form is simple to fill out and takes only 10–15 minutes to complete. The form will require you to provide your full name, gender, occupation, marital status, residential address, contact number, and email address, passport data, including passport number, issuing country, issue, expiry date, travel purpose, etc.

What is the process for applying for the Saudi Arabia e-visa? 

The process of obtaining a tourist e-visa to Saudi Arabia is straightforward. It is not required to provide original documents or visit the official Saudi Arabia consulate or embassy in your country to obtain a visa. The e-visa makes getting a travel permit extremely easy for the entire family. UK citizens who need to travel with infants, children, or minors can apply on their behalf. It must be noted that every traveler, whether a newborn, young adult or old, would require a visa.

Note: The e-visa fees include medical insurance expenses, 5% VAT, and transaction fees. The insurance covers up to SAR 100,000 and proves beneficial if the traveler faces a medical emergency while staying in Saudi Arabia.

What is the Saudi Arabia visa cost and processing time?

Three different processing options are available in this category.

1

Standard

The visa is issued within (2-4 Working Days) and it does not require any additional cost.

2

Rush

The visa is issued within (1- 2 Working Days) and costs $(69). This option is ideal for applicants who require a visa sooner but do not require it urgently.

3

Super Rush

The visa is issued within (12 - 24 Hours)and costs $(99). Super-rush processing is best for applicants who are in a hurry and need their visa urgently.

Points to Note for Foreign Tourists in Saudi Arabia

1. Women travelers can drive, visit cinema halls, and interact with males. However, it is essential to remember that Saudi Arabia laws are conservative, so it is necessary to wear decent, fully-covered dresses and avoid public displays of affection.
2. Since it is a Muslim country, alcohol, pork, and indecent materials such as pornography are prohibited.
3. LGBTQ tourists should remain cautious in Saudi Arabia as the country is yet to recognize their rights. Same-sex couples should be equally careful because same-sex relationships are illegal in the Kingdom.
4. Muslim tourists can perform Umrah on an e-visa and do not need to obtain an Umrah visa separately. However, they cannot perform Hajj on an e-Visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do UK citizens require a re-entry permit? Is a vaccination certificate still needed to enter Saudi Arabia? Is medical insurance necessary to enter the Kingdom? Can UK citizens obtain a Saudi transit visa?

Content Disclaimer: This information is accurate as of May 2025. Travelers should verify all entry requirements with relevant embassies, government authorities, or airlines before finalizing any travel plans.