Saudi Visa on Arrival: Who Qualifies in 2026

For many travellers, Saudi Arabia offers a visa on arrival — pay at the airport and walk in within minutes. It is a genuine convenience, but it is not for everyone, and for eligible nationalities the eVisa is often smoother because it clears before you fly. Here is who qualifies in 2026, what it costs, and how it compares to applying online first. Eligibility and fees change — verified July 2026; confirm on the official portal before you fly.

Who qualifies

Two groups are eligible:

• Citizens of 63+ countries — including the US, UK, EU/Schengen states, Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.
• Holders of a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa — regardless of nationality. The visa must be valid and used at least once (with an entry stamp from the issuing country), which lets, for example, an Indian citizen with a used US B1/B2 visa enter without applying in advance. GCC residents also qualify regardless of nationality.

If neither applies to you, you'll use the dedicated Umrah visa route instead — see Umrah visa vs eVisa.

Cost & terms

The visa on arrival costs SAR 480 (about US$128) including mandatory health insurance, and is valid one year, multiple entry, with up to 90 days of cumulative stay — the same generous terms as the eVisa. It covers tourism and Umrah outside the Hajj season, so you are free to travel around the country as well as visit the holy cities.

How it works at the airport

If you are eligible, you book a flight, arrive, pay SAR 480, and enter within minutes — no embassy appointment. Kiosks and counters at the major airports process it, usually by card. The one trade-off is queueing after a long flight, which can be tiring at peak arrival times, so have your payment card and passport ready.

Visa on arrival vs the eVisa

For eligible nationalities, the eVisa (about SAR 535 online) is usually smoother — it is approved before you fly, so you skip the arrival queue and travel with the visa already confirmed. The visa on arrival shines for travellers who qualify via a used US/UK/Schengen visa but aren't on the eVisa list, or who decide to travel last-minute and don't want to wait for online approval. Both give the same one-year, multiple-entry terms, so the choice is really about convenience. Compare in the Saudi eVisa guide.

After you arrive

Once you're through, pre-book your airport transfer so a driver is waiting rather than joining another queue for a taxi. You still book your Umrah permit and free Rawdah appointment through the Nusuk app, whichever visa you used. Indian pilgrims in particular should read the India visa guide, since the used-visa shortcut is a common route. Eligibility and fees verified July 2026 — confirm before you travel.