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Saudi Arabia for British passport holders: Visa-free

Your circumstances

Passport:
🇬🇧 British
Lives in:
Not specified (general rule)
Going to:
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Purpose:
Holiday

Route summary

Visa-free

Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation (SAR 50)

British citizens can enter with a Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation: multiple entry, valid 730 days, stays up to 180 days. A tourist eVisa is also available.

Conditions

  • Apply on the MOFA platform; processing 1–3 business days.
  • Not for employment or Hajj.
  • Alternatively: tourist eVisa SAR 395 or visa on arrival.
  • Passport valid at least 6 months beyond the date of entry (US citizens: valid for the stay).
  • Makkah is open to Muslims only; Umrah needs a Nusuk booking; Hajj needs a separate Hajj visa.

Saudi ETA required before you fly · SAR 50 · ksavisa.sa (opens in a new tab)

About this route

Route type
Visa-free: no visa application needed.
Documents
Document list not published by the official source.
Fee
SAR 50 (as published).
Processing
1–3 business days.

Next step

Steps not published by the official source — use the official link to start.

Official application pageksavisa.sa ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Last checked 4 Oct 2026 against visitsaudi.com · Visitsaudi.com page data read 2026-10-04

Documents

Document list not published by the official source.

Fees

Official government fee
SAR 50
Visa-centre / service fee (not a government fee)
None stated by the official source
Notes from the source
SAR 50 (about USD 13.5), non-refundable.

These notes may mention other charges that we have not yet separated into government and service fees. Visa-centre, service or other third-party charges are never official government fees.

Processing and validity

Processing time
1–3 business days
Validity
730 days, multiple entry
Maximum stay
Up to 180 days

How to apply: Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation (SAR 50)

Where to apply

Where: Online – MOFA KSA Visa platform

Official application page: ksavisa.sa ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Requirements for all visitors to Saudi Arabia

These apply on top of the visa rules above, whatever your passport, unless an item says otherwise.

  • InsuranceHealth insurance included with tourist visa

    Applies to: tourist visa holders.

    Official source: chi.gov.sa · Last checked 25 Oct 2026

  • HealthYellow fever certificate if arriving from a WHO yellow-fever risk country

    Applies to: travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from a country WHO lists as a yellow-fever risk country; also after an airport transit of more than 12 hours in such a country.

    Official source: cdn.who.int · Also checked: wwwnc.cdc.govNot official · Last checked 25 Oct 2026

Quick answers

Do British passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation (SAR 50). British citizens can enter with a Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation: multiple entry, valid 730 days, stays up to 180 days. A tourist eVisa is also available. Source: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/travel-regulations

Business, work or just passing through?

The rules above are for a holiday: tourism and visiting family and friends. Business visits, paid work and transit are covered separately below.

Business visits to Saudi Arabia

Option 1
Visa-freeBusiness visit (meetings, conferences – not paid work)

Business visit: Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation (SAR 50)

Saudi ETA required before you fly· SAR 50Apply on the official site (ksavisa.sa) →

Short business visits (meetings, conferences, negotiations – not paid work) follow the same route as a holiday, because the official source covers business visits (Tourism, business, study, medical treatment, Umrah). British citizens can enter with a Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation: multiple entry, valid 730 days, stays up to 180 days. A tourist eVisa is also available.

Conditions

  • Apply on the MOFA platform; processing 1–3 business days.
  • Not for employment or Hajj.
  • Alternatively: tourist eVisa SAR 395 or visa on arrival.
  • Passport valid at least 6 months beyond the date of entry (US citizens: valid for the stay).
  • Makkah is open to Muslims only; Umrah needs a Nusuk booking; Hajj needs a separate Hajj visa.
Government fee
SAR 50
SAR 50 (about USD 13.5), non-refundable.
Processing
1–3 business days
Validity
730 days, multiple entry
Max stay
Up to 180 days
Steps, documents & where to apply

How to apply

Steps not verified yet — follow the official source below.

Where: Online – MOFA KSA Visa platform

Official application page ↗

Documents checklist

Document list not verified yet — check the official source.

✓ Visitsaudi.com page data read 2026-10-04

Official wording

“Saudi Tourism Authority, Visa requirements (updated 28 Jun 2026): Electronic Travel Authorization (UK): application fee 50, multiple entry, validity 730 days, length of stay 180 days, processing 1–3 business days.”

Working in Saudi Arabia

Main work visa routes for Saudi Arabia

These are the main routes and what they require. Whether you qualify depends on your circumstances; the official page decides.

Work visa issued through the employer (Qiwa)

For: People hired by an employer (establishment) in Saudi Arabia

  • The Saudi employer issues the work visa on the Qiwa platform: permanent work visa, temporary work visa, or temporary work visa for Hajj and Umrah services
  • The employer must issue a work permit within the first 90 days after you enter the Kingdom; it is a condition for residency (iqama)

Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) – Visa Application (hrsd.gov.sa).

What the source says

"You can choose between a permanent work visa, a temporary work visa, or a temporary work visa for Hajj and Umrah services." … "The facility must issue a work permit to the expatriate employee within the first 90 days after his entry into the Kingdom."

Checked 16 Oct 2026. Overview: HRSD – Ministry services. Requirements, fees and thresholds change; confirm on the official page before applying.

Transit through Saudi Arabia

Option 1
Visa-freeTransit (changing flights in Saudi Arabia)

Airside transit generally without a visa; leaving the transit area needs a Saudi visa (not from an official Saudi source)

Unofficial source – not verified

This rule is not from an official Saudi Arabia government source. It is based on another government's official travel advice (mzv.gov.cz). Confirm with the embassy or the official immigration authority before you travel.

Not from an official Saudi government source. The Czech and Italian embassies in Riyadh say passengers can change flights in the transit area of Saudi international airports, but anyone who must pass immigration - typically when changing airline or holding a separate boarding pass and re-checking in - needs a Saudi entry visa. The free 96-hour stopover visa is tied to Saudia and flynas tickets. Confirm with your airline and the Saudi embassy before travel.

Conditions

  • Changing airline or separate tickets usually means passing immigration, which needs a Saudi visa.
Government fee
Fee not officially published
Processing
Not verified yet
Validity
Not verified yet
Max stay
Not verified yet
Steps, documents & where to apply

How to apply

Steps not verified yet — follow the official source below.

Documents checklist

Document list not verified yet — check the official source.

✓ Secondary_research

Official wording

“Czech Embassy Riyadh: 'pokud cestovatel v KSA mění leteckého dopravce, musí většinou za účelem odbavení na návazný let projít imigrační kontrolou a vstoupit na území KSA. K tomuto potřebuje platné vstupní vízum' / 'stopover (transit) visa, které je platné 4 dny ... je navázáno pouze na letenky ... Flynas a Saudia'. Italian Embassy Riyadh: 'I passeggeri possono transitare nelle aree aeroportuali, ma sono soggetti a obbligo di visto, in particolare in caso di scalo con carta d'imbarco separata ... o con uscita dall'area transiti'.”

Your transit travel report

We only create the PDF report from rules checked against an official government source.

Alert me if this route changes

Get an email when we update the guidance for British passport holders going to Saudi Arabia, after we've checked the change against the official source. Nothing else.

Tell me about changes to

We send a confirmation email first. Unconfirmed sign-ups are deleted after 7 days.

Before you go to Saudi Arabia

Customs cash limits and the scams official travel advice warns about in Saudi Arabia.

Cash you can bring in and take out

Bringing cash in
Declare cash, bearer instruments, gold bullion, precious metals/stones or fine jewellery worth SAR 40,000 or more when entering.
Taking cash out
Same declaration when leaving with SAR 40,000 or more.

Official source: zatca.gov.sa · Last checked 4 Oct 2026 · Details

Common tourist traps

  1. Unpaid bills and bounced cheques

    How it works: Not paying hotel or car-hire bills, or a cheque that bounces, is a financial crime: fines, prison, asset freezes and travel bans that stop you leaving.

    How to avoid it: Settle bills before checking out and never sign "security" cheques.

  2. Unlicensed airport drivers

    How it works: In arrivals at Riyadh and other airports, men offer taxi rides; visitors report unlicensed cars with no meter and inflated prices.

    How to avoid it: Ignore offers inside the terminal. Use the official taxi rank or a ride-hailing app's marked pick-up point, and check the meter is running.

    From visitor reviews, not official Airports (Riyadh, Jeddah). Sources: reddit.com · reddit.com · gulfnews.com. Researched 23 Oct 2026; there is no official page to re-check, so this date is not updated automatically.

Emergency numbers in Saudi Arabia

  • Emergency 911
  • Without a Saudi SIM 112

Other traps paraphrased from official travel advice: gov.uk · FCDO page updated 20 Sept 2026 · Last checked 4 Oct 2026.

Explore Saudi Arabia

Planning more than the paperwork? Our Saudi Arabia guide picks out places to visit, things to do and where to shop, with a source for every tip.

Places to visit:
Hegra · At-Turaif, Diriyah · Historic Jeddah
Things to do:
Hegra day tour · Edge of the World · Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge
Shopping:
Souq Al Zal · VIA Riyadh
Read the full Saudi Arabia guide

British passport: of the 154 destinations with a rule verified from an official source, 110 visa-free, 19 visa on arrival, 22 eVisa or travel authorisation, 3 embassy visa.

Saudi Arabia: rules verified from an official source for 197 of 198 passports. Saudi Arabia guide and every passport →

Where else can British passport holders travel? See every destination we cover →

Optional travel offers

Some links are affiliate links. Booking through them costs you nothing extra, and a small commission helps pay MyVisaPort’s ongoing hosting and maintenance costs and keeps the site free of banner ads. We only list services we think are useful, and they never affect the visa information we publish. These offers are not part of the visa guidance above and are never used to rank routes. How partner links work

Plan your trip to Saudi Arabia

Verify with the embassy before you book. Visa rules change without notice. We link every rule to its official source and last checked it on 4 Oct 2026, but the embassy, official e-visa portal and your airline have the final say. MyVisaPort is not a visa agent and is not affiliated with any government.