Saudi Arabia

Every Saudi Arabia visa route, explained

Saudi Arabia has a route for every purpose — short visits (the tourist e-Visa or visa on arrival), plus stopover/transit, study, work, family visit and Premium Residency. Routes with verified step-by-step guides link straight to them; the rest link to the official Visit Saudi e-Visa portal and the MOFA visa platform.

The routes

Visit & tourism

Tourist e-Visa

Short visits for tourism, events, family visits and Umrah (not Hajj). Eligible nationalities apply online for a one-year, multiple-entry tourist e-Visa (or get a visa on arrival); others apply through a Saudi embassy.

Tourists, event-goers and Umrah pilgrims

1-year multiple entry, up to 90 days per stay

10 verified step-by-step guides →

Transit

Stopover / transit visa

For travellers transiting through Saudi Arabia; a stopover visa allows entry for up to 96 hours and is free when booked with Saudia or flynas.

Up to 96 hours

official page →

Study

Student visa

For foreign nationals enrolling in Saudi institutions, including the self-sponsored 'Study in Saudi Arabia' scheme open to citizens of 160+ countries.

Students at a Saudi university or institution

official page →

Work & business

Work visa & Iqama

For employment in Saudi Arabia — the employer secures a work permit, then the worker enters on a work visa and converts to an Iqama (residence permit).

Foreign employees sponsored by a Saudi employer

official page →

Family & residence

Family visit / residence visa

For first-degree relatives of Saudi nationals or residents — applied for through the MOFA unified visa platform — plus dependant residence for family of workers.

Parents, spouses and children of nationals or residents

official page →

Other routes

Premium Residency

Long-term or permanent residency (seven categories since 2024) for investors, entrepreneurs and high-value professionals, with no local sponsor required.

Renewable or permanent

official page →