Saudi visa
Saudi visa for US citizens
Citizens of the United States can get Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa online, or buy a visa on arrival. For budgeting this site assumes SAR 535 (≈ $143); confirm your current visa route, total and validity before applying.
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Saudi visa for US passports at a glance
- Visa needed?
- Yes - tourist eVisa or visa on arrival
- eVisa cost
- illustrative SAR 535 (≈ $143) incl. mandatory insurance
- Visa on arrival
- illustrative SAR 480 (≈ $128)
- Stopover visa
- Free with a Saudia or flynas ticket (about illustrative SAR 52.50 (≈ $14) in charges)
- Validity
- One year, multiple entries, up to 90 days in Saudi Arabia
- Passport
- Valid for at least 6 months on arrival
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 US passports.
Travelling as a group? The visa cost calculator totals the fee for everyone, in your currency.
What the US government advises
US advice reviewed 23 October 2026. The US State Department remains at Level 3: Reconsider travel, with a Do Not Travel warning for the Yemen border. Its advisory issued 12 October says US government employees working in Saudi Arabia need special authorization to use any airport in the country, not only Riyadh, and advises US citizens to take similar precautions. Read the US advisory.
Check your route, airline and insurance before booking. Authorization rules above concern US government employees; do not describe them as a universal airport entry ban.
Flights from United States 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 US citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes. US passport holders need a tourist visa, which they can get online as an eVisa or on arrival at Saudi airports.
How much is a Saudi visa for US 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 US citizens stay in Saudi Arabia?
Up to 90 days within the visa’s one-year validity, with multiple entries.
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