Saudi Arabia eVisa for Australian Citizens: How to Apply

Visa required · e-Visa
Apply about 7 days before arrival
Decision in 3–5 business days
Verified 19 October 2026

Plusvisa is a private visa application service, not a government agency or embassy. Official government source: Saudi eVisa portal, visa.visitsaudi.com.

Table of contents

Do you need a visa?
Types and cost in AUD
How long you may stay
Documents
When to apply
Eligibility check
How to apply
FAQ
Australia vs. Saudi Arabia essentials

Passport validity
6 months at entry
Stay per visit
Up to 90 days
Visa validity
1 year, multiple entry
From date of issue

Two routes into Saudi Arabia

Most Australians
e-Visa
Australian passport holders are on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list. Apply online, upload a photo and pay the government fee on the official portal before flying.
Used US/UK visa holders
Visa on arrival
If an Australian passport carries a valid, already-used US, UK or Schengen visa, a visa on arrival is an alternative, but only when flying with Saudia, Flynas or Flyadeal.

Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for Australian citizens, in Australian Dollars

e-Visa	Validity	Processing	Government fee	All-in with Plusvisa*
Tourist E-visa eVisa	90 days Multiple entry	3–5 business days	US$152 ≈ $231	≈ $290

e-Visa

Validity

Processing

Government fee

All-in with Plusvisa*

Tourist E-visa

eVisa

90 days

Multiple entry

3–5 business days

US$152 ≈ $231

≈ $290

* The government fee is the government's own charge, never refundable. All-in adds Plusvisa's service fee, per traveller; it is refunded if we cause a refusal.

The 90-day rule, and what it does not mean

The Saudi tourist eVisa lets an Australian passport holder stay up to 90 days on each visit. The visa itself is valid for multiple entries over one year from the date it is issued.

Arrive

Leave

Tourist E-visa: 90 days per visit.

Arrive 1 March

63 of 90 days

1 Mar – 2 May: 63 of the 90 days this visa allows in one visit.

90 days is per visit, not per year: Each entry allows up to 90 days. The one-year validity means the visa can be used for repeat trips, not that a visitor can stay continuously for a year.
Multiple entries: The eVisa covers more than one trip to Saudi Arabia within its one-year validity, as long as each stay fits within the 90-day limit.
Same passport required: Entry must be made on the same passport used for the eVisa application. A new or replacement Australian passport needs a new application.
Overstaying: The destination guide does not publish a fixed overstay penalty. Travellers planning to stay longer than their visa allows should check current rules with Saudi immigration before their 90 days run out.

Your document checklist

Five things to have ready before you start your application, as an Australian applicant.

Passport
Valid at least 6 months from entry date. Use the same Australian passport for the application and at the border. Standard Australian passports last 10 years, so this is rarely an issue.
Digital photo
200 x 200 pixels, 5 to 100 KB, plain white background, no other people or objects, face filling 70 to 80 percent of the frame, taken within the last 6 months.
Valid email address
Used to register on the eVisa portal and to receive the issued eVisa as an email attachment.
Debit or credit card
Pays the government fee at checkout. No Australia-specific card issue is confirmed; if declined, try another card or contact the issuer.

Only for some visa types

Valid US, UK or Schengen visa
Only if Australians choosing visa on arrival instead of the eVisa. For visa on arrival only: must already be used once, shown by an entry stamp from that country, in the same passport.

When should you apply?

Processing takes 3–5 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.

Arrival in Saudi Arabia

Processing

Standard3–5 business days

Pick your arrival date

1
Apply online
—
Form and uploads, about 30 min
2
Pay the fee
—
By card, on the portal
3
Processing
3–5 business days
Official estimate
4
Approval emailed
—
Keep a copy on your phone
5
Arrive in Saudi Arabia
—
Show the approval at the border

The official portal does not publish a fixed earliest or latest application date. Applying about a week ahead leaves room to fix a rejected photo or detail and resubmit before the flight.

Four questions, 20 seconds

Are you travelling on a tourist, family visit or Umrah (outside Hajj season) trip?
Is your Australian passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date?
Will you enter and leave within 90 days, and are you a civil passport holder (not diplomatic, special or official)?
If you are under 18, will you be travelling with a guardian aged 18 or over?

Result

Answer all four

Four quick checks of the rules that most often catch travellers out, and we'll tell you where you stand.

The application, step by step

Before you apply

1
Check you are on the eVisa list
Australian passport holders are on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so most do not need to visit an embassy for a tourist trip.
2
Prepare your documents
Have your Australian passport, valid 6 months from entry, a digital photo meeting the official specification, and an email address ready.

On the official portal

3
Create an account
Register on the official eVisa portal with your email address and verify it.
4
Complete the application
Enter your Australian passport and personal details, upload your photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
5
Pay the government fee
Pay by debit or credit card; VAT is added at checkout. No Australia-specific payment issue is confirmed.

After you apply

6
Receive the eVisa by email
If approved, the eVisa arrives as an email attachment. Keep a printed or digital copy to show on arrival.
7
Travel on the same passport
Arrive on the same Australian passport used in the application. Immigration captures biometric details on entry.

Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)

Questions Australian travellers actually ask

Only if the Australian passport already carries a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa, and the traveller flies with Saudia, Flynas or Flyadeal. Otherwise, Australians apply for the eVisa online before flying.

The eVisa is issued electronically and linked to the passport number. The main requirement confirmed is 6 months' validity from the entry date, not a set number of blank pages.

Yes. The eVisa is applied for entirely online on the official portal, so there is no need to visit a Saudi embassy or consulate in Australia for a tourist trip.

The eVisa is tied to the passport number used in the application. Travel on the same passport you applied with, not a newer one, or the eVisa will not match at the border.

Yes. The tourist eVisa allows multiple entries within one year of issue, as long as each individual stay is no more than 90 days.

General tourist entry does not require proof of insurance, though some transit and Umrah routes carry a mandatory medical insurance requirement, so check the route you are using before you fly.

Yes, outside the Hajj season. The same tourist eVisa covers Umrah, tourism, leisure and visiting family.

Visa sorted

The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home

Your Australian plug won't fit. Here's what will.

Type G
Three flat pins · 13 A

Type G

Saudi Arabia uses type G sockets and your plugs are type I. An I-to-G adapter works for the whole trip.

Voltage

230 V · 60 Hz

Against 230 V · 50 Hz at home. Check the label on chargers and appliances: anything marked 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz works in both.

Pack: one type G adapter and a small power strip — hotel rooms rarely have more than two sockets.

Saudi Arabia drives on the right — the opposite of home

Compare traffic side:

Saudi Arabia · right-hand traffic — the opposite of Australia

Getting around
Riyadh has a metro and bus network; Jeddah and other cities rely on taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem. Car hire is easy and common for trips between cities and to sites like AlUla.
Heat and health
Summers are extremely hot, with daytime highs above 40C from May to September. Carry water, limit time outdoors at midday, and use sun protection, especially away from the coast.
Dress and etiquette
Modest dress is expected for everyone in public: shoulders and knees covered. Alcohol is illegal. Public life pauses briefly at prayer times, when some shops and restaurants close for a short while.

Saudi Riyals, cash and cards

Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi Riyal (SAR).

AUD

SAR

$1 ≈ SAR2.5 · indicative mid-market rate, possibly a few days old

Cards work almost everywhere
Bank cards and mobile payments are accepted in most shops, hotels and restaurants in cities, so carrying large amounts of cash is rarely necessary.
Keep small notes for cash tips
Riyal notes are still useful for tipping porters, valets and drivers, and for small vendors and traditional markets that prefer cash.
ATMs are widely available
Cash machines are common in airports, malls and city centres and accept most international bank cards, but can be scarcer in small towns and rural areas.

Weather by month (Riyadh)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

6.6°8.9°13.4°18.8°24°26.2°28°27.9°24.5°19.7°13.8°8.3°

Daytime high
Grey row = night low
Best time to go

Daytime high
Grey row = night low
Best time to go

Month	High, °C	Low, °C	Rain, mm
January · best	21	6.6	5.6
February · best	24.3	8.9	3.7
March · best	29	13.4	2.5
April	34.3	18.8	5.4
May	40	24	0.9
June	42.8	26.2	0
July	44	28	0
August	43.5	27.9	0
September	40.2	24.5	0
October	34.5	19.7	0.3
November · best	27.1	13.8	6.9
December · best	21.9	8.3	6.2

Monthly averages. Source: NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2020.

January · ideal

The best window runs January, February, March, November and December.

High 21°CLow 6.6°CRain 5.6 mm

Sweet spot: Riyadh has a hot desert climate. Winters, from November to March, are mild and pleasant with cool nights. Summers, from May to September, are extremely hot and dry, often above 40C. Rain is rare year-round.

One time zone

Canberra

--:--:--

Riyadh

--:--:--

How much to tip, in AUD

Restaurant bill

SAR 40

SAR 40($16.16)

Restaurant bill

Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.

10–15%

on a SAR 40 bill: SAR 4 · $1.62

Cafe or casual meal

Rounding up the bill is common.

SAR 5–SAR 10

$2.02–$4.04

Hotel porter, per bag

SAR 5–SAR 10

$2.02–$4.04

Housekeeping, per night

SAR 10–SAR 15

$4.04–$6.06

Taxi or rideshare

Rounding up the fare is the usual practice.

0–10%

on a SAR 40 bill: SAR 0 · $0

Tour guide, per day

SAR 50–SAR 100

$20.20–$40.41

Private driver, per day

SAR 30–SAR 50

$12.12–$20.20

SIM, eSIM or roaming?

Local SIM

Local SIM card

≈ $40.41SAR 100

STC, Zain or Mobily counters at the airport, or their stores in cities Passport required to register the SIM at the point of sale.

eSIM

Recommended

Travel eSIM

≈ $22.73US$15

International eSIM providers, bought online before departure Installs before landing, useful if travelling without a physical SIM slot to spare.

Roaming

Roaming from home

Home mobile operator, activated before departure Usually the most expensive option; check the operator's Saudi Arabia roaming rate first.

Get your Saudi Arabia e-Visa in about five business days, without the portal headaches

Upload a phone photo and your passport, we check them against every rule above, submit, and send your approval to your inbox. From $290 all-in.

Compare visa types

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Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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Do Australian citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

Tourist E-visa