Saudi Arabia visa for British Citizens

Sources differ; confirmation needed

Sources differ on this route. The recorded route is precautionary and needs confirmation before booking.

Sources differ on this rule. We show the stricter answer; confirm with the embassy or your airline.

United Kingdom · Ordinary passport · Short visit · Electronic Travel Authorization for UK citizens · Sources differ; confirmation needed

Recorded fee: 50 SAR
Stay allowance: 180 days · 180 in the 730-day authorisation validity
Processing: 1–3 business days
Visa usage window: 730 days · from issue

Residence, a supporting visa or another condition may change this route. Review consequential conditions before applying

Next step

Confirm this route before applying

Check your eligibility and prepare your trip

Full Saudi Arabia visa guide

Reviewed 6 October 202624 sources · Low confidenceSaudi Press Agency / Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sources and verification

On this page

Who this applies to, and exceptions

What can change this answer

Holding another visa or a residence permit, your age or your port of entry can open a different route.

These routes are conditional. Every stated requirement must be met; selecting a document does not confirm eligibility.

Do you hold one of these?

A valid US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa, used at least once in its issuing country, permits the electronic or arrival route. Accompanying first-degree relatives are included.
- The document must be valid on entry.
- The document must have been used before.
Saudi Ministry of Tourism · Recorded check 2026-10-06
More sources (2)
Saudi Press Agency / Ministry of Tourism · 2026-10-06 Saudi Tourism Authority · 2026-10-06
Conditional · eVisa or visa on arrival
Permanent residence in the US, UK or EU permits the electronic or arrival route, including accompanying first-degree relatives.
- The document must be valid on entry.
- This route requires permanent residence.
Saudi Ministry of Tourism · Recorded check 2026-10-06
More sources (1)
Saudi Press Agency / Ministry of Tourism · 2026-10-06
Conditional · eVisa or visa on arrival
Residence in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the UAE, valid for at least 3 months, permits electronic tourism application regardless of profession. Accompanying first-degree relatives are included.
- The document must be valid on entry.
Saudi Ministry of Tourism · Recorded check 2026-10-06
More sources (3)
Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs · 2026-10-10 Saudi Press Agency / Ministry of Tourism · 2026-10-06 Saudi Tourism Authority · 2026-10-06
Conditional · eVisa (apply online)
Domestic workers travelling with their GCC-resident sponsor may use the sponsored tourism provision; confirm documents and the issued visa before travel.
Saudi Ministry of Tourism · Recorded check 2026-10-06
Conditional · eVisa (apply online)
For travellers under 18, retain the requirement to travel with a guardian or accepted adult companion until the conflicting published guidance is clarified.
- Maximum age: 17 years.
Saudi Ministry of Tourism · Recorded check 2026-10-06
More sources (1)
Saudi Tourism Authority · 2026-10-06
Conditional · Travel authorisation (ETA)
The tourist electronic or arrival visa remains an alternative for 90 days in a visa year, with insurance included.
UK FCDO · Recorded check 2026-10-06
More sources (1)
Saudi Tourism Authority · 2026-10-06
Conditional · eVisa or visa on arrival$105.33

Apply before travel; keep total stays within 180 days across 730 days.

Where the sources differ

The sources give different stay limits or accumulation periods. Follow the shorter recorded allowance pending confirmation.

This classifies the recorded evidence; it does not announce a rule change. The disagreement remains unresolved and the displayed conservative rule is retained.

Sources for this rule

1.
Saudi Press Agency / Ministry of Foreign Affairs (opens in a new tab)
spa.gov.sa · Government
Recorded check: 2026-10-06
2.
UK FCDO (opens in a new tab)
gov.uk · Government travel advice
Recorded check: 2026-10-06
3.
Saudi Tourism Authority (opens in a new tab)
visitsaudi.com · Government
Recorded check: 2026-10-06

Why we say this (3)

“The ETA allows UK citizens to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under an electronic travel authorization with multiple entries and to stay for up to 180 days, either consecutively or across multiple visits within one year.”
Quoted from Saudi Press Agency / Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Destination government · checked 6 Oct 2026
“Valid for multiple entries, but only 180 days in total across the 730 day period .”
Quoted from UK FCDO · Government travel advice · checked 6 Oct 2026
“Application fee ⃁ 50 (about $13.5) non-refundable. Entry: Multiple entry. Validity: 730 days. Length of stay: 180 days.”
Quoted from Saudi Tourism Authority · Destination government · checked 6 Oct 2026

History of this rule(1)

6 October 2026eVisa (apply online)Travel authorisation (ETA)Checked against official sources

How to apply, step by step

1
Confirm the route with the official authority
Sources differ on this route. The recorded route is precautionary and needs confirmation before booking.

UK FCDO · Recorded check 2026-10-06

More sources (3)

Saudi Press Agency / Ministry of Foreign Affairs · 2026-10-06 Saudi Tourism Authority · 2026-10-06 Saudi Tourism Authority · 2026-10-06

Before you travel

Health notices

Travellers arriving from DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan, including through another country after presence there within 21 days, cannot currently enter under the announced health measure. Exceptions include Saudi citizens, diplomats, official delegations, state and government guests and their accompanying families, and crew, subject to health protocols.

Check again before travel; we will review this on 13 October 2026.

Royal Jordanian · Recorded check 2026-10-06

More sources (1)

Saudi Ministry of Health · 2026-10-06

Documents to prepare

Documents whose scope matches the base route. Review the additional conditions below.

Provide the address where you will stay in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Ministry of Tourism · Recorded check 2026-10-10
More sources (1)
Saudi Ministry of Tourism · 2026-10-06

How much the Saudi Arabia visa costs for British Citizens

Government fee: Not itemised in the fee record
Insurance within the application fee: Not itemised in the fee record
Service and verification: Not itemised in the fee record
Recorded amount for this route: 50 SAR
Total of itemised fees: Not confirmed

The total covers the itemised components only. An unlisted charge is not treated as free.

Approximate equivalent: 13.33 USD · 2026-10-06 · Saudi Currency and Payment Methods

Sources: [1][2][3][4]

Stay, validity and entries

UK FCDO · Recorded check 2026-10-06

More sources (3)

Saudi Press Agency / Ministry of Foreign Affairs · 2026-10-06 Saudi Tourism Authority · 2026-10-06 Saudi Tourism Authority · 2026-10-06

Stay per entry: Not confirmed
Visa usage window: 730 days · from issue
Limit over a period: Not confirmed
Recorded duration rule: 180 in the 730-day authorisation validity
Entries: Multiple
Extension in country: Not confirmed

Entry and health rules

These facts are scoped to this route. Requirements with unconfirmed scope remain in the destination reference and are not a personal checklist. Full entry reference

Yellow fever vaccination: In some cases
A certificate is required for qualifying arrivals from yellow-fever-risk countries; the health guide also covers long airport transits. The 2026 Umrah document specifies travellers older than 9 months and lifetime validity beginning 10 days after vaccination.
NaTHNaC / UK public travel health service · Recorded check 2026-10-06
More sources (1)
Saudi Ministry of Health · 2026-10-06
Other vaccinations: In some cases
Umrah vaccination requirements depend on purpose, origin and health group: meningococcal vaccination, specified polio doses and COVID-19 immunity apply to the groups listed in the 2026 document. Yemen/Sudan arrivals covered by that document need the official 10-day cholera-observation certificate.
Saudi Ministry of Health · Recorded check 2026-10-06

Passport validity checker Trip planner

Payment, transit and practical tips

Emergency numbers: Police 911 (Riyadh, Makkah and Eastern provinces); 999 (other provinces) · Ambulance 997
Driving side: Right
eSIM availability: stc offers eSIM through its app and offices for compatible devices. Tourist-plan eligibility and activation documents require a separate check.
Cash declaration: Use the lower SAR 40000 declaration threshold for cash and specified valuables pending confirmation; another customs page states SAR 60000. Sources differ; confirm with the embassy or your airline.
Duty-free allowance: Declare gifts or personal purchases above SAR 3000 under the inspected customs page; other product allowances require a separate check.
Medicines: Use the SFDA controlled-drug permission service when applicable. For pilgrims, provide a passport copy, a medical report or prescription issued within 6 months and a package photo; quantity is limited to 30 days or the shorter stay.
Overstaying: Overstays attract fines that must be settled before exit; a current universal daily fine was not confirmed.
Leaving the country: Residents need the applicable exit or exit/re-entry permit and sponsor approval. Canadian guidance says a single-entry visitor does not need an exit visa. Wives and children of Saudi citizens should confirm the additional family permissions described in UK guidance.

Best time to visit

Winter is generally mild by day and cool at night, suitable for outdoor visits; summer is hot, with cooler mountain areas. Climate varies across regions.