eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- €177 (US$191)
Do French citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
No, French citizens do not need to visit an embassy: Saudi Arabia lets them apply for an e-Visa online before flying.
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Saudi Arabia Visa for French Citizens: eVisa & Entry Rules
- 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 from entry
Stay per visit
Up to 90 days
On the e-Visa
Overstay
Daily fine applies
French government advice
One route into Saudi Arabia
Most people
e-Visa
France is on Saudi Arabia's e-Visa list. French citizens apply online on the official portal before flying. The e-Visa allows multiple entries over one year from issue, with each stay up to 90 days.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for French citizens, in Euros
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist E-visa eVisa | 90 days Multiple entry | 3–5 business days | US$152 ≈ €141 | ≈ €177 |
* 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 e-Visa lets French citizens stay up to 90 days on each visit, and can be used for multiple entries within one year of issue. It is not a one-year-long single stay.
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 per visit, not per year: Each entry allows up to 90 days. The one-year validity is how long the e-Visa can be used to enter, not one continuous stay.
No online extension: The e-Visa does not include an extension process online. Anyone needing more time should check with Saudi immigration before the 90 days run out.
Overstay penalty: French government advice warns that overstaying carries a daily fine and can mean being refused boarding on the way home.
Respect the entries granted: French travellers are advised to keep strictly to the stay length and number of entries granted, since mismatches cause problems at the Saudi border.
Your document checklist
Four things to have ready before you start your application, as a French applicant.
French passport
Valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. Use the same passport on the portal and at the border.
Digital photo
200 x 200 pixels, 5 to 100 KB, plain white background, face filling 70 to 80 percent of the frame, taken in the last 6 months.
Payment card
French bank cards work on the official portal's checkout; the charge shows in Saudi riyals with VAT added.
Only for some visa types
Travel medical insurance
Only if Recommended for all e-Visa holders. French government advice says all short-stay visa holders should carry medical insurance and be ready to show it on arrival, even though it is not listed as a standard e-Visa upload.
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 French citizens can apply was found. Apply at least two weeks ahead to leave time to fix a rejected photo or detail and still have the e-Visa before departure.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Is your trip for tourism, leisure, visiting family, or Umrah outside the Hajj season?
Is your passport valid for at least 6 months after the date you plan to enter Saudi Arabia?
Will you travel on the same ordinary French passport you use to apply?
Do you hold a passport that is not marked with an Israeli visa or entry stamp?
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 your French passport has at least 6 months left from your entry date, and prepare a digital photo to the official specification.
- 2
Have a card ready for payment
The official portal takes payment by card at checkout; a French bank card works for this.
On the official portal
- 3
Register with your email
Create an account on the official Saudi eVisa portal using a valid email address and verify it.
- 4
Fill in your details
Enter your French passport details and personal information exactly as they appear in your passport, upload your photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 5
Pay and submit
Pay the government fee by card; VAT is added at checkout. Check everything before you submit, since an application cannot be cancelled once sent.
After you apply
- 6
Download your eVisa
If approved, the eVisa arrives by email as an attachment. Save a copy, printed or on your phone.
- 7
Travel on the same passport
Arrive on the French passport used for the application. Keep the 6-month validity rule in mind for your return date too.
Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)
Questions French travellers actually ask
French government advice recommends applying online for the e-Visa before travelling, rather than relying on arrival formalities.
No. French citizens travel on their own passport within the EU and do not hold a Schengen visa, so the used-visa route for visa on arrival does not apply to them. They use the e-Visa instead.
Saudi authorities do not issue visas to passports carrying an Israeli visa or entry stamp. Check your passport history before applying.
General tourist entry does not require proof of insurance. As an extra precaution, French government advice suggests carrying medical insurance for the trip, since some transit and Umrah routes do require it.
French government advice warns that overstaying brings a daily fine and can lead to being refused boarding on your flight home, so keep to the stay length your e-Visa grants.
Yes. The tourist e-Visa can be used for Umrah outside the Hajj season as well as for tourism and visiting family.
The French embassy in Riyadh or the consulate general in Jeddah can help French citizens with consular problems while in Saudi Arabia.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your French 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 C and E. A C-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 — just like home
Compare traffic side:
Saudi Arabia · right-hand traffic — same as France
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 ≈ SAR4 · 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
Paris
--:--:--
Riyadh
--:--:--
How much to tip, in EUR
SAR 60(€14.82)
Restaurant bill
Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
10–15%
on a SAR 60 bill: SAR 6 · €1.48
Cafe or casual meal
Rounding up the bill is common.
SAR 5–SAR 10
€1.23–€2.47
Hotel porter, per bag
SAR 5–SAR 10
€1.23–€2.47
Housekeeping, per night
SAR 10–SAR 15
€2.47–€3.70
Taxi or rideshare
Rounding up the fare is the usual practice.
0–10%
on a SAR 60 bill: SAR 0 · €0
Tour guide, per day
SAR 50–SAR 100
€12.35–€24.69
Private driver, per day
SAR 30–SAR 50
€7.41–€12.35
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
Local SIM card
≈ €24.69SAR 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
≈ €13.89US$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 €177 all-in.
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- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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