Saudi Arabia entry requirements for travellers from the UK
British citizens have more ways into Saudi Arabia than almost any other nationality. Three separate authorisations are open to a UK passport holder, and one of them is offered to Britain alone. That choice is useful once you understand it, and confusing until you do. This guide sets out what each route allows, which one suits your trip, and what you need to have ready before you fly.
Visa requirement summary
You cannot travel to Saudi Arabia on a British passport without an authorisation of some kind, but you will not need to visit an embassy to get one. Everything is handled online.
The first option is the electronic visa waiver. This is a UK only scheme: no other nationality can use it. It costs SAR 150, it is valid for 90 days from the date it is approved, and it allows a single entry with a stay of up to 180 days. It covers tourism, business, study and medical treatment. You must apply at least 48 hours before you travel.
The second is the tourist eVisa, which is open to British citizens as one of 66 eligible nationalities. It is valid for 365 days, allows multiple entries, and permits a total of 90 days in the country across the year. It covers tourism, events, visits to family and relatives, leisure and Umrah, though not Hajj. It also includes health cover of up to SAR 100,000. British passport holders can apply online in advance or obtain it on arrival at any Saudi international airport.
The third is the electronic travel authorisation, which is valid for 730 days and allows up to 180 days of total stay. It covers tourism, business, study, medical treatment and Umrah outside the Hajj season.
Choosing between them comes down to the shape of your trip rather than the price. If you are making one long visit and will not leave and return, the visa waiver gives you the longest single stay. If you expect to travel to Saudi Arabia several times over the coming year, the waiver is the wrong choice because it expires the moment you leave, and the eVisa or the travel authorisation will serve you better. If you are travelling for Umrah, note that the eVisa states plainly that Umrah is permitted, while the visa waiver is described only in terms of tourism, business, study and medical treatment.
How long you can stay
The answer depends on which authorisation you hold.
On the electronic visa waiver you may stay for up to 180 days, but only on one entry. Leaving Saudi Arabia ends the permission, even if time remains on the 90 day approval window.
On the tourist eVisa you may enter as often as you like during the 365 days the visa is valid, up to a cumulative total of 90 days. The 90 days is the sum of all your visits rather than a limit on each one.
On the electronic travel authorisation you have 730 days of validity and up to 180 days of total stay.
Passport validity requirements
Your British passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you arrive in Saudi Arabia. This is a firm requirement rather than a recommendation, and airlines check it at the departure gate.
Be aware that evidence of previous travel to Israel in your passport may result in you being refused entry.
Proof of funds and financial requirements
Saudi Arabia does not publish a fixed sum that British visitors must show at the border. In practice you should be able to demonstrate that you can support yourself for the length of your stay, which usually means a recent bank statement, a credit card, or confirmation that your accommodation and internal travel are already paid for.
If you are travelling on the tourist eVisa, the health cover included with the visa handles medical costs up to SAR 100,000, so you do not need to arrange that element separately, though many travellers still take out broader travel insurance for cancellation and baggage.
Onward or return travel
Border officers may ask to see how you intend to leave the country. A return or onward ticket within the period your authorisation allows is normally enough. This matters more on the visa waiver than on the other routes, because the waiver is a single entry permission and officers will want to see that your departure falls inside it.
Applying for the visa
The tourist eVisa is applied for at visa.visitsaudi.com. You complete the form, pay, and receive the visa by email. Because British citizens are on the eligible list, you also have the option of obtaining it on arrival at a Saudi international airport, though applying in advance removes any uncertainty at the border.
The electronic travel authorisation is handled through the Saudi visa portal at ksavisa.sa.
The electronic visa waiver must be applied for at least 48 hours before departure, so it is not a same day solution. Leave yourself more margin than the minimum if you are travelling at a busy period.
If you are travelling for Umrah and expect to return more than once, there is now a further option. Since July 2026 the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has offered a one year multiple entry Umrah visa, valid for 365 days from issue with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days. It is arranged by buying a service package from an approved provider on the Nusuk platform, and you must obtain an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before you arrive. It 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 itself requires a separate visa, arranged through Nusuk Hajj. It is not covered by any of the routes above.
Health requirements
If you are travelling for Hajj or Umrah you must show proof of quadrivalent meningococcal vaccination, covering the ACWY strains. This applies to pilgrims specifically rather than to all visitors.
A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic. Most travellers flying directly from the UK will not need one, but it applies if you are routing through an affected country.
Check current requirements with a travel clinic several weeks before you fly, since pilgrimage related health rules are reviewed regularly.
Other entry requirements
Flights into Jeddah, Madinah and Taif are subject to restrictions during the Hajj season, which affects travellers whose plans have nothing to do with pilgrimage. If you are visiting the western region in late spring, check whether your route is affected before booking.
Saudi Arabia has relaxed a great deal about visitor dress and behaviour in recent years, but it remains a country where public conduct is governed by local norms. Alcohol is prohibited, and bringing it in is a serious offence.
If you are transiting rather than visiting, SAUDIA and flynas passengers can use a 96 hour stopover visa, which is a useful option if you want to see something of the country between connections.
FAQs
Can I perform Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa?
Yes. The tourist eVisa explicitly permits Umrah, though not Hajj. If you expect to perform Umrah more than once in a year, the dedicated one year Umrah visa introduced in July 2026 may suit you better.
Should I use the electronic visa waiver or the eVisa?
Use the waiver if you are making a single long trip, since it allows up to 180 days in one stay. Use the eVisa if you plan more than one visit, because the waiver ends as soon as you leave the country.
Can I get a Saudi visa on arrival as a British citizen?
Yes. Britain is on the list of 66 eligible nationalities, so you can obtain the eVisa at any Saudi international airport. Applying online before you travel is still the safer choice.
How long does my passport need to be valid?
At least six months beyond your arrival date.
Will an Israeli stamp in my passport cause problems?
It may. Evidence of travel to Israel can result in refused entry, so consider this if your passport carries it.
Is the electronic visa waiver available to other nationalities?
No. It is offered to United Kingdom nationals only, which is why it does not appear in guidance written for other countries.
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/
UK government travel advice for Saudi Arabia: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia/entry-requirements