Saudi Arabia Makes Major Visa Rule Change

Saudi Arabia has announced a major change to the visa application process for residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The GCC residents can now attain a Saudi tourist visa regardless of their profession, Ahmed Al Khateeb, the Kingdom’s tourism minister, said on Thursday.

“Saudi Arabia’s visa application is now simpler, more convenient and straightforward for residents of GCC states, regardless of their profession,” al-Khateeb wrote on Twitter.

In addition to tourism, the eVisa allows its holders to perform Umrah. There are single and multiple entries available, according to information provided by the minister.

Those who wish to visit the Kingdom can visit the eVisa page, fill in the requested data and upload the required documents. The visa fee costs $80 (300 SAR) in addition to the cost of the health insurance.

Once the application is submitted, the applicants will receive the eVisa via email. The applicant’s residency document must be valid for at least three months while the passport must be valid for at least six months to qualify for the visa.

This is the latest in a raft of visa reforms in the Kingdom. In January, the country introduced a new free transit visa allowing stopover passengers to stay in Saudi Arabia for up to four days.