Visiting Saudi Arabia
Regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, all travelers must meet the same entry requirements for Saudi Arabia if they are fully vaccinated.
Evidence of immunization status
To enter Saudi Arabia, you are not required to present proof of your immunization status.
If you’re not completely immunized
All visitors to Saudi Arabia must meet the same entry requirements, regardless of whether they have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have had COVID-19 during the last 12 months
Regardless of whether you have tested positive for COVID-19 during the last 12 months, all travelers must meet the same entry requirements for Saudi Arabia.
Young people and children
Children and young people are not subject to any special requirements.
Should you be traveling via Saudi Arabia
Passing through a nation en route to your ultimate goal is known as transiting.
The Saudia website has further information about traveling through Saudi Arabia.
Exclusions
Saudi Arabia’s admission requirements are not exempt.
Before you leave, make sure your passport and other travel paperwork are in order.
Validity of passport
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of arrival if you are traveling to Saudi Arabia.
Verify that your passport and other travel documents satisfy the conditions set forth by your travel agency.
Visas
To enter Saudi Arabia, all travelers—including pilgrims—need a valid visa.
You can apply for a tourist visa online or at any international airport in Saudi Arabia when you arrive. Muslim travelers can complete the Hajj with a separate visa, but they can complete the Umrah with a tourist visa. Refer to the Pilgrimage section for specific instructions on how to apply for Umrah.
Tourist visas can be used for visits lasting up to 90 days and are valid for 360 days after the date of issuance. Overstaying your visa will result in a daily fine.
You should apply for a visa through visa agencies approved by the Saudi Royal Embassy if you are traveling for any other reason. Overstaying your visa will result in fines and deportation.
If the period between your flights is longer than 12 hours, you could require a transit visa if you are traveling through Saudi Arabia. You should check with your airline or travel agency to see if you require a transit visa after the ticket is issued. Applying for a transit visa should be possible through your airline, travel agency, or a reputable agent via the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia’s visa webpage.
You should confirm the conditions of your Saudi visa before departing if you intend to enter Saudi Arabia across the Causeway from Bahrain. If you intend to apply for a visa, you should consult your employer, the Saudi Embassy, or your visa agent for information on your alternatives. Only flying travel may be permitted with a Saudi visa, and crossing a land border, such as the Causeway from Bahrain, may be prohibited.
The Saudi Arabian Directorate of Civil Aviation has previously placed limitations on Muslim tourists traveling to Jeddah, Madinah, and Taif for purposes other than the Hajj pilgrimage around the period of the trip.
Only Muslims with a valid Hajj visa may be permitted to board aircraft to Jeddah, Madinah, and Taif at this period. There will still be other ways for Muslim tourists with visitation or business visas to enter Saudi Arabia. Although anecdotal data suggests that even Muslim residents with legitimate Saudi residency cards have encountered challenges boarding aircraft to these destinations in the days leading up to the Hajj, this law does not apply to them.
You could be required to provide proof of an appointment or explain why you are visiting these places if you are not a Muslim before you are permitted to board a flight to Jeddah.
Get in touch with the Saudi Royal Embassy in London for more thorough guidance on the necessary visas for the Hajj and Umrah.
To depart Saudi Arabia, British nationals must have a valid exit or re-entry permission issued by the Saudi Ministry of Interior.
