eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- €177 (US$191)
Do German citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, German passport holders need a visa, but most can get it online as an e-Visa before flying.
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Saudi Arabia Visa for German Citizens: eVisa & Entry Rules
- Visa required · e-Visa
- Apply about 7 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
Multiple entries over 1 year
Main route
e-Visa online
Germany is on the eligible list
Three routes into Saudi Arabia
Most people
e-Visa
German citizens apply online on the official portal before flying. It covers tourism, leisure, family visits and Umrah outside Hajj season.
Used US/UK/Schengen visa
Visa on arrival
German travellers who already hold a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa in the same passport can instead get a visa on arrival at the airport, without applying beforehand.
Other purposes
Embassy visa
Trips that the e-Visa does not cover, such as work or longer business stays, go through the Saudi embassy or consulate in Germany, with supporting letters as needed.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for German 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 German passport holders stay up to 90 days on each visit, with multiple entries allowed during the one year the visa is valid from its issue date. The 90 days is a per-visit limit, not a yearly total.
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.
Per visit, not per year: Each entry can last up to 90 days. Leaving and coming back resets the 90-day count, as long as the one-year visa validity has not run out.
Visa validity is separate from the stay: The visa stays usable for one year from issue, but no single stay inside that year can go over 90 days.
Overstaying is taken seriously: Staying beyond the permitted period is an immigration offence in Saudi Arabia. Travellers who need longer should arrange a different visa type before their 90 days run out.
Not a work or residence permit: The 90-day stay is for tourism, family visits and Umrah outside Hajj season. It does not allow employment or Saudi residence.
Your document checklist
Six things to have ready before you start your application, as a German applicant.
Passport
German passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. Use the same passport for the application and at the border.
Digital photo
Meets the official specification: plain white background, recent, no other people or objects in frame.
Valid email address
Used to register on the portal and to receive the issued eVisa.
Payment card for the portal fee
German-issued Visa or Mastercard debit or credit cards work for paying on the official portal at checkout.
Only for some visa types
Company letter certified by a German chamber
Only if Business travellers applying for a business visa, not the tourist e-Visa. For business trips, a letter from the employer certified by the local IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) or Handwerkskammer, confirming the purpose of travel.Invitation from the Saudi partner
Only if Business travellers applying for a business visa, not the tourist e-Visa. Certified by a Saudi chamber of commerce, or approval from the Ministry of Investment (MISA), alongside the German chamber letter.
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 source gives a fixed earliest or latest day to apply. Apply at least a week ahead to allow time to fix a rejected photo or detail.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Are you travelling on an ordinary German passport, valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date?
Is your trip for tourism, leisure, visiting family, or Umrah outside Hajj season, and not for paid work?
Will each stay in Saudi Arabia be 90 days or fewer?
Are you travelling with the same passport you will use to apply online?
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 German passport has at least 6 months left from your arrival date, and prepare a digital photo meeting the official specification.
- 2
Confirm the e-Visa covers your trip
Germany is on the e-Visa eligible list for tourism, leisure, family visits and Umrah outside Hajj season. Business or longer stays go through the embassy instead.
On the official portal
- 3
Register with your email
Create and verify an account on the official eVisa portal using a valid email address.
- 4
Fill in your details
Enter your German passport details exactly as they appear in the passport, upload your photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 5
Pay online
Pay the government fee by card at checkout; a German-issued Visa or Mastercard works on the portal.
After you apply
- 6
Receive the eVisa by email
If approved, the eVisa arrives as an email attachment. Keep a printed or digital copy for the airline and for arrival.
- 7
Travel on the same passport
Present the passport used in the application at check-in and on arrival. Fingerprints are taken by Saudi immigration on entry.
Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)
Questions German travellers actually ask
No. Germans need a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry; a national ID card is not accepted.
Only if you already hold a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa in the same passport. Otherwise, apply for the e-Visa online before you fly.
Yes. An international driving licence is required alongside your German national licence; it is not valid on its own.
Common medicines are usually fine, but since November 2025, controlled medicines such as some pain, anxiety or ADHD treatments need electronic approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority before entry.
Large amounts of cash, convertible funds or precious metals must be declared on arrival using the Saudi Finance Ministry's form. Check the current declaration threshold before you travel.
General tourist entry does not require proof of insurance, though some transit and Umrah routes carry a mandatory medical insurance requirement, so check which route you are using.
Yes. Business visits typically need a company letter certified by your German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or Handwerkskammer, alongside an invitation certified by a Saudi chamber or the Ministry of Investment.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your German 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 F. 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 Germany
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
Berlin
--:--:--
Riyadh
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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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