Saudi visa
Saudi visa for UK citizens
Citizens of the United Kingdom can get Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa online, or buy a visa on arrival. For budgeting this site assumes SAR 535 (≈ $143), about £108; confirm your current visa route, total and validity before applying.
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Saudi visa for UK passports at a glance
- Visa needed?
- Yes - tourist eVisa or visa on arrival
- eVisa cost
- illustrative SAR 535 (≈ $143), about £108 incl. mandatory insurance
- Visa on arrival
- illustrative SAR 480 (≈ $128), about £97
- Stopover visa
- Free with a Saudia or flynas ticket (about illustrative SAR 52.50 (≈ $14), about £11 in charges)
- Validity
- One year, multiple entries, up to 90 days in Saudi Arabia
- Passport
- Valid for at least 6 months on arrival
UK travellers: distinguish ETA, eVisa and visa waiver
The FCDO entry-requirements page reviewed on 23 October lists an ETA valid for 730 days, allowing multiple entries with up to 180 days in total; it says the ETA does not include health insurance. It separately describes the tourist eVisa (365 days, up to 90 days total, medical insurance included) and an electronic visa waiver. Do not transfer one route’s price, validity or insurance assumptions to another. Confirm the route available for your passport and purpose on the official application service; this site has not verified an ETA checkout price.
How to apply for the eVisa
Apply on the official site
Use visa.visitsaudi.com. Other sites are agents that add fees.
Upload your details
Passport scan, a photo, your address in Saudi Arabia (your first hotel is fine) and travel dates.
Check the current total before payment
SAR 535 (≈ $143) is this site’s planning assumption, not a verified live quote. Confirm visa type, insurance, taxes and charges in the official checkout.
Get your visa by email
Often within minutes, but apply at least a few days before you fly. Keep a copy on your phone.
What the tourist visa covers
- Tourism, visiting family and friends, and events.
- Umrah outside the Hajj season (book through the Nusuk app). It does not allow Hajj.
- It does not allow work or study.
- Going on to other Gulf countries? Check their own visa rules for UK passports.
Travelling as a group? The visa cost calculator totals the fee for everyone, in your currency.
What the UK government advises
UK advice reviewed 23 October 2026. The UK FCDO advises against all travel within 10 km of the Yemen border and against all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia. Its 21 October update says King Khalid International Airport was struck on 10 October and continues to be targeted. The earlier Medina airport exception is no longer in the current advice. Read the UK advice.
A visa grants neither a safety assurance nor guaranteed insurance cover. Read the current safety summary.
Flights from United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia
Compare fares into Riyadh, and check Jeddah and AlUla too if they suit your route.
Before you go
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Travel insurance
Check your entry-route cover and policy exclusions for current travel warnings, cancellation and activities. A quote does not guarantee cover.
Data eSIM
Install before you fly. Maps, ride apps and tickets all need data on arrival.
Riyadh airport pickup
Fixed-price driver waiting in arrivals at King Khalid International (RUH).
Questions travellers ask
Do UK citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
The current FCDO entry page distinguishes ETA, tourist eVisa and visa waiver routes with different validity, permitted stays and insurance. Confirm the route available for your purpose before applying; do not assume eVisa conditions apply to an ETA.
How much is a Saudi visa for UK citizens?
The site uses illustrative assumptions of SAR 535 (≈ $143) for an eVisa and SAR 480 (≈ $128) for on-arrival permission. These are not verified current checkout quotes or proof of eligibility. Confirm the route, insurance and total for your own application before paying.
How long can UK citizens stay in Saudi Arabia?
The current FCDO entry page distinguishes ETA, tourist eVisa and visa waiver routes with different validity, permitted stays and insurance. Confirm the route available for your purpose before applying; do not assume eVisa conditions apply to an ETA.
Sources
Official and primary sources are preferred. Dates show when we last checked the linked information.
- UK FCDO travel advice - checked 23 October 2026
- US State Department advisory - checked 23 October 2026
- UK FCDO entry requirements: distinct ETA and eVisa routes - checked 23 October 2026