Saudi Arabia entry requirements for travellers from Turkey
Turkey is one of the largest Umrah markets in the world, and Turkish passport holders sit on the easier side of Saudi Arabia’s visa system. Turkey is one of the 66 nationalities eligible for the tourist eVisa, which means no embassy appointment and no sponsor. This guide explains what that visa covers, how it compares with the dedicated Umrah route, and what pilgrims in particular need to arrange.
Visa requirement summary
Turkish citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia, and the tourist eVisa is the standard route. Turkey appears on the eligible list, so you can apply online in advance or obtain the visa on arrival at any Saudi international airport.
The eVisa is valid for 365 days from issue, allows multiple entries, and permits a cumulative stay of up to 90 days across that year. It covers tourism, events, visits to family and relatives, leisure and Umrah. Hajj is excluded and needs its own visa. Health cover of up to SAR 100,000 is included.
There is also an electronic travel authorisation, valid for 730 days with up to 180 days of total stay, covering tourism, business, study, medical treatment and Umrah outside the Hajj season.
For pilgrims travelling regularly, a third option opened in July 2026. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah now issues 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 through the Nusuk platform rather than the tourist visa system.
How long you can stay
On the tourist eVisa you have 90 days in total across the 365 days of validity. The 90 days is the sum of every visit rather than a fresh allowance each time you arrive, which matters if you are travelling for Umrah more than once in a year.
The electronic travel authorisation allows a longer total, up to 180 days across 730 days.
The one year Umrah visa mirrors the tourist visa on time, with 365 days of validity and 90 days of cumulative stay, but each visit is tied to the service package you have booked and cannot run beyond the days remaining on the visa.
Passport validity requirements
Your Turkish 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 set a published sum for Turkish visitors. You should be able to show that your stay is funded, whether through a bank statement, a credit card or a prepaid package. Pilgrims travelling on an organised Umrah package will normally have accommodation and transport already covered, which answers the question in itself.
The eVisa carries health cover up to SAR 100,000, so medical cost is not a separate visa requirement.
Onward or return travel
Officers may ask to see onward or return travel within the period your visa allows. A confirmed return ticket, or the return leg of a package, is sufficient.
Applying for the visa
The tourist eVisa is applied for at visa.visitsaudi.com. You complete the form, pay online and receive the visa by email, and you can also obtain it on arrival at a Saudi international airport because Turkey is on the eligible list.
The electronic travel authorisation is handled at ksavisa.sa.
For the Umrah route, you buy a service package from an approved provider on the Nusuk platform and obtain an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before you arrive. Since August 2025 the Nusuk Umrah service has allowed pilgrims to apply directly for the visa and book accommodation, transport and tours without going through an agent, which is a significant change for Turkish pilgrims used to booking everything through a licensed operator.
An important timing point: 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. If your travel falls in that window, the visa will not carry you.
Hajj requires a separate visa through Nusuk Hajj and 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 is a pilgrim requirement rather than a general one, and it is checked.
A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic. This will not apply to a direct flight from Turkey.
Arrange the meningococcal vaccination well before departure rather than in the final week, since it needs time to take effect.
Other entry requirements
Flights into Jeddah, Madinah and Taif are restricted during the Hajj season. Turkish travellers heading to the western region in late spring should check whether their route is affected, even if their trip has nothing to do with pilgrimage.
Alcohol is prohibited and bringing it into the country is a serious offence.
Entry to Mecca is restricted to Muslims, and parts of Medina are similarly restricted.
FAQs
Do Turkish citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, but Turkey is on the list of 66 eligible nationalities, so the tourist eVisa can be obtained online or on arrival rather than through an embassy.
Can I perform Umrah on the tourist eVisa?
Yes. The eVisa permits Umrah. Hajj is excluded and requires a separate visa.
Should I use the tourist eVisa or the Umrah visa?
If Umrah is the purpose of your trip and you expect to return during the year, the one year Umrah visa introduced in July 2026 is designed for exactly that. For a single trip that combines Umrah with other travel, the tourist eVisa is simpler.
Can I get the visa when I land?
Yes, at any Saudi international airport. Applying in advance still removes any uncertainty.
What vaccinations do I need?
Pilgrims must show quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY vaccination. Yellow fever applies only if you arrive from an endemic country.
Does the Umrah visa work during Hajj season?
No. The one year Umrah visa 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/