Saudi Arabia entry requirements for travellers from Bangladesh
Saudi Arabia is home to one of the largest Bangladeshi communities abroad, so travel between the two countries splits fairly evenly between pilgrimage and visiting relatives already working in the Kingdom. Bangladesh is not on the tourist eVisa list, and the two purposes follow quite different routes with quite different rules. This guide explains both.
Visa requirement summary
Bangladeshi citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh is not among the 66 nationalities eligible for the tourist eVisa, and there is no visa on arrival on a Bangladeshi passport.
Three routes are open.
The Umrah visa is arranged through the Nusuk platform rather than the tourist visa system. Since July 2026 there has been a one year multiple entry Umrah visa, valid for 365 days from issue with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days, arranged by buying a service package from an approved Nusuk provider and obtaining an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app before arrival.
The tourist eVisa is reachable through an exception. Holders of a valid Schengen, United Kingdom or United States visa already used to enter that country, and permanent residents of the EU, UK, US and GCC states, can apply for the visitor eVisa whatever passport they hold. That route gives the full terms of 365 days validity, multiple entries and up to 90 days of cumulative stay, with health cover of up to SAR 100,000 included.
A visit visa covers family and business travel and requires a sponsor or inviting party in the Kingdom. Tourist visas for nationalities outside the eVisa scheme are applied for at a Saudi embassy or consulate.
Bangladesh is one of fourteen nationalities restricted to single entry visit visas since February 2025. That restriction applies to business, tourism and family visit visas. Umrah visas, Hajj visas, residence visas and existing multiple entry holders were not affected, which matters a great deal if you are visiting a relative rather than making pilgrimage.
How long you can stay
On the one year Umrah visa you have 365 days of validity with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days, each visit tied to the service package booked.
If you qualify for the eVisa through a used visa or residence permit, you get 365 days, multiple entries and 90 days cumulative.
On a visit visa, the position most recently set out was single entry with a maximum stay of up to 90 days. The letter of invitation does not decide this. Saudi authorities determine validity and the number of entries when the visa is issued, so what your relative sends you is an invitation rather than a guarantee.
Passport validity requirements
Your Bangladeshi passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.
Evidence of previous travel to Israel in your passport may result in refused entry.
Proof of funds and financial requirements
Saudi Arabia does not publish a fixed figure for Bangladeshi visitors. On a family visit your sponsor in the Kingdom carries much of the weight, and their residence status and employment will form part of the application. On an Umrah package the accommodation and transport are already paid for.
Expect to provide bank statements and proof of employment alongside the invitation on a visit visa application.
Onward or return travel
You should be able to show onward or return travel inside the period your visa allows. On a single entry visit visa this is more important than usual, since leaving the country ends the permission and you cannot simply return.
Applying for the visa
For Umrah, applications go through the Nusuk platform. Since August 2025 the Nusuk Umrah service has allowed pilgrims to apply for the visa and book accommodation, transport and tours directly rather than only through a licensed agent. Bangladeshi Umrah travel has historically run through registered operators, so compare a direct booking against an agent package before deciding.
Your Umrah permit must be obtained in the Nusuk app before you travel.
The one year Umrah visa does not activate during the Hajj season, which runs from the first of Dhu Al Qi’dah to the 13th of Dhu Al Hijjah.
Hajj requires a separate visa through Nusuk Hajj. Bangladesh operates under a national quota, so places are allocated rather than granted on application.
For a family visit visa, your relative in Saudi Arabia initiates the invitation and the application is completed through Saudi channels.
Take care with timing in spring. The restrictions affecting Bangladeshi travellers have been described as temporary with no promised date for reconsideration, and they tightened around Hajj in 2025, when visit visas for the affected nationalities were suspended outright from April until after the pilgrimage. Confirm the current position before booking flights.
Health requirements
Pilgrims travelling for Hajj or Umrah must show proof of quadrivalent meningococcal vaccination covering the ACWY strains.
A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic, which a direct flight from Bangladesh will not trigger.
Arrange the meningococcal vaccination several weeks before departure.
Other entry requirements
Flights into Jeddah, Madinah and Taif face restrictions during the Hajj season.
Alcohol is prohibited and attempting to bring it in is a serious offence.
Entry to Mecca is restricted to Muslims, and parts of Medina are similarly restricted.
If you hold a Saudi residence permit through employment, none of the visitor routes above apply to you. Your residence status governs entry and exit.
FAQs
Can Bangladeshi citizens get a Saudi visa on arrival?
No. Visa on arrival is limited to the 66 eVisa eligible nationalities, which does not include Bangladesh.
Was the Umrah visa affected by the restrictions on Bangladeshi travellers?
No. The February 2025 single entry restriction applied to business, tourism and family visit visas. Umrah and Hajj visas were unaffected.
My brother works in Saudi Arabia. Can he sponsor my visit?
A family visit visa requires a sponsor or inviting party in the Kingdom, and a relative with residence status is the usual route. Note that the visa granted will currently be single entry, and Saudi authorities set the terms at issue rather than at invitation.
I have a used UK visa. Does that change anything?
Yes. Holders of a Schengen, UK or US visa already used to enter that country can apply for the Saudi visitor eVisa regardless of nationality, with the full 365 day multiple entry terms.
How long can I stay on a visit visa?
The position most recently set out was single entry with a maximum stay of up to 90 days.
Does the one year Umrah visa work during Hajj season?
No. It does not activate between the first of Dhu Al Qi’dah and the 13th of Dhu Al Hijjah.
Official sources
Saudi eVisa portal: https://visa.visitsaudi.com/
Visit Saudi visa regulations: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/plan-your-trip/visa-regulations
Saudi visa portal: https://ksavisa.sa/
Nusuk platform: https://www.nusuk.sa/