eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- ¥1,365 (US$191)
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, Chinese passport holders are on the eligible list and can apply for Saudi Arabia's eVisa online before flying.
Pre-checkedReviewed
Expert check before submission
3–5 business days
Processing time
+21k21K+
Applications processed
Available now24/7
Expert human assistance
Saudi Arabia Visa for Chinese Citizens: eVisa Guide
- Visa required · e-Visa
- Apply about 14 days before arrival
- Decision in 3–5 business days
- Verified
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
Passport validity
6 months at entry
Stay per visit
Up to 90 days
Within a 1-year multiple-entry visa
Visa validity
1 year from issue
Two routes into Saudi Arabia
Most Chinese travellers
e-Visa
Applied online on the official portal before flying. Covers tourism, leisure, visiting family and Umrah outside the Hajj season. No embassy visit needed.
Diplomatic passports
Apply at a Saudi embassy
Diplomatic, special and official passport holders are not covered by the eVisa and must apply through a Saudi embassy or consulate instead.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for Chinese citizens, in Chinese Yuans
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist E-visa eVisa | 90 days Multiple entry | 3–5 business days | US$152 ≈ ¥1,086 | ≈ ¥1,365 |
* 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 eVisa allows stays of up to 90 days on each visit, and can be used for multiple entries during the one year after it is issued. The 90-day limit applies per visit, not as a running total across the whole year.
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 counts per visit: Each entry can last up to 90 days. The visa being valid for a year does not mean you can stay for a year in total.
Multiple entries within the year: You can leave and re-enter Saudi Arabia as many times as you like while the one-year validity lasts, as long as each stay is 90 days or less.
Extensions are not confirmed: No official confirmation was found on extending a stay beyond 90 days on the tourist eVisa. Plan to leave before it expires.
Entry is not guaranteed: Holding a valid eVisa does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer at the border makes the final decision on the day.
Your document checklist
Seven things to have ready before you start your application, as a Chinese applicant.
Passport
Valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. The same passport used in the application must be shown at the border.
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 create the eVisa account and to receive the issued eVisa as an email attachment.
Payment card
The portal charges the government fee by card at checkout. Check with your card issuer that it allows payments to Saudi Arabia before applying.
Only for some visa types
Return or onward ticket
Only if Applicants who must use the embassy route. Not needed on the eVisa route most Chinese applicants use. Only required at a Saudi embassy.Proof of accommodation
Only if Applicants who must use the embassy route. Not needed on the eVisa route most Chinese applicants use. Only required at a Saudi embassy.Proof of funds
Only if Applicants who must use the embassy route. Not needed on the eVisa route most Chinese applicants use. Only required at a Saudi embassy.
When should you apply?
Processing takes 3–5 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.
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
No official limit on how early or late you can apply was found. Applying at least two weeks before the trip leaves time to fix a rejected photo or detail and reapply.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Is your passport an ordinary Chinese passport, valid for at least 6 months after your entry date?
Is the trip for tourism, leisure, visiting family, or Umrah outside the Hajj season?
Are you 18 or older, or travelling with a guardian aged 18 or over?
Can you upload a plain white-background digital photo meeting the official size and age rules?
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 your passport and photo
Make sure the ordinary Chinese passport you will travel on has at least 6 months left, and prepare a digital photo that meets the official specification.
- 2
Confirm the trip fits the eVisa
The eVisa suits tourism, leisure, family visits and Umrah outside the Hajj season. Other purposes, such as Hajj, work or study, need a different visa.
On the official portal
- 3
Register on the official portal
Create an account on the Saudi eVisa portal with an email address and verify it.
- 4
Fill in your details
Enter your Chinese passport and personal details exactly as they appear in the passport, upload the photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 5
Pay by card
Pay the government fee online by card. Check with your card issuer beforehand that it can be used for payments to Saudi Arabia.
After you apply
- 6
Receive the eVisa by email
If approved, the eVisa arrives as an email attachment. Save a copy, printed or on your phone, to show on arrival.
- 7
Travel on the same passport
Arrive on the same passport used in the application. Immigration captures biometric details on entry.
Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)
Questions Chinese travellers actually ask
Yes. China is on the list of passports that can apply for the tourist eVisa online, so most trips do not need a visit to a Saudi embassy.
No, not if you hold an ordinary Chinese passport and the trip is tourism, leisure, visiting family or Umrah outside the Hajj season. The embassy route is only for cases the eVisa does not cover, such as diplomatic passports.
The tourist eVisa is for tourism, leisure, family visits and Umrah outside the Hajj season. For business trips, check whether a different visa type is needed.
No. The tourist eVisa cannot be used for Hajj. A separate Hajj visa is required, and it is issued through authorised channels, not the tourist eVisa portal.
The portal takes payment by card at checkout. Check with your card issuer beforehand that it allows payments to Saudi Arabia, since acceptance can vary by card and issuer.
The application will not be accepted. Renew your Chinese passport so it has at least 6 months left from your planned entry date before you apply.
Travellers under 18 must travel with a guardian aged 18 or over. Check the portal's own rules on adding a child to an adult's application or applying separately.
A photo that is the wrong size, has a coloured background, shows more than one person, or is older than 6 months is a common reason for rejection. Apply with time to spare so you can upload a new photo and reapply.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your Chinese 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 A, C and I. An A-to-G adapter works for the whole trip.
Voltage
230 V · 60 Hz
Against 220 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 — just like home
Compare traffic side:
Saudi Arabia · right-hand traffic — same as China
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).
SAR
¥1 ≈ SAR0.525 · 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
Beijing
--:--:--
Riyadh
--:--:--
How much to tip, in CNY
SAR 8(¥15.24)
Restaurant bill
Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
10–15%
on a SAR 8 bill: SAR 0.80 · ¥1.52
Cafe or casual meal
Rounding up the bill is common.
SAR 5–SAR 10
¥9.53–¥19.05
Hotel porter, per bag
SAR 5–SAR 10
¥9.53–¥19.05
Housekeeping, per night
SAR 10–SAR 15
¥19.05–¥28.58
Taxi or rideshare
Rounding up the fare is the usual practice.
0–10%
on a SAR 8 bill: SAR 0 · ¥0
Tour guide, per day
SAR 50–SAR 100
¥95.25–¥190.50
Private driver, per day
SAR 30–SAR 50
¥57.15–¥95.25
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
Local SIM card
≈ ¥190.50SAR 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
RecommendedTravel eSIM
≈ ¥107.14US$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 ¥1,365 all-in.
- Card payments by PayPal
- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
- Support by email and WhatsApp