Saudi Arabia entry requirements: Prepare for your trip

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia boasts diverse breathtaking landscapes and fascinating Islamic heritage, including the holy city of Mecca. From Ottoman castles and millennia-old pre-Islamic monuments to stunning colorful reefs, and spectacular snow-capped mountain trails, the country has a lot to offer to nature and history lovers. 

The golden sand dunes set in the second-largest sand desert on the planet provide the perfect spot for sand-related activities such as dune bashing or camel riding for adventure seekers: these are some of the favorite things to do in Saudi Arabia for tourists.

But can you easily travel to Saudi Arabia? What do you need to enter this beautiful land in the heart of the Middle East? Are there any Saudi entry requirements related to having a visa? This is exactly what we'll cover in this guide.

Entry requirements for Saudi Arabia

Passport 

Like with many countries, to fulfill the Saudi Arabia entry requirements, you must hold a passport with at least six months of validity beyond your planned date of entry. For instance, if you want to travel to Saudi Arabia on June 1st 2024, your passport must be valid until at least January 2nd 2025.

Visa

One of the most important, if not the most important, Saudi Arabia entry requirements is applying for a visa regardless of the reason for the trip.

The process has been made relatively easy by the Saudi Arabian authorities. If you're from an eligible country, you can apply for a tourist visa online. All you have to do to obtain your Saudi Arabia tourist visa is to log in here and fill in the online form. Please note that this multiple entry visa will be valid for one year and will allow you to spend up to 90 days in the country for tourist purposes.

Travel Insurance

Travel health insurance became mandatory for all travellers as part of the Saudi Arabia travel requirements. Note that your visa application will be refused if you don’t hold travel health insurance.

Currency

Saudi Arabia’s national currency is called the Saudi riyal. It’s subdivided into 100 halala.

Vaccines Restrictions

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is one of the mandatory Saudi Arabia entry requirements for travellers coming from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Vaccines against meningococcal disease is also compulsory for all travellers taking part in the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage.

Lastly, recommended vaccinations include tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, typhoid, and hepatitis A. Although they're not part of the entry requirements for Saudi Arabia, it's best to be as protected as possible in a foreign land.