eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- ¥28,940 (US$191)
Do Japanese citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, Japanese citizens need a visa, but most can get one online as an e-Visa 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 Japanese Citizens: eVisa Guide
- 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
Valid 6 months at entry
Stay per visit
Up to 90 days
Multiple entry over 1 year
Where to apply
Official eVisa portal only
Not through third-party sites
Two routes into Saudi Arabia
Most Japanese travellers
e-Visa
Japan is on Saudi Arabia's e-Visa eligible list, so most Japanese passport holders apply online before flying rather than visiting an embassy.
Used US, UK, Schengen visa
Visa on arrival
A Japanese traveller who already holds a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa in the same passport can instead get a visa on arrival at the airport, without applying first.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for Japanese citizens, in Japanese Yens
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist E-visa eVisa | 90 days Multiple entry | 3–5 business days | US$152 ≈ ¥23,031 | ≈ ¥28,940 |
* 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 tourist eVisa lets a Japanese passport holder stay up to 90 days on each visit, and can be used multiple times within one year of the date it is issued. It does not mean 90 days added to each re-entry without limit.
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 limit, not total: Each stay must stay within 90 days. Leaving and re-entering does not extend a single stay beyond that limit.
Multiple entry over one year: The same eVisa can be used for more than one trip, as long as every entry happens within one year of issue.
No work or residence: The eVisa covers tourism, leisure, family visits and Umrah outside Hajj season. It does not allow employment or residence in Saudi Arabia.
Entry is not guaranteed: Holding an eVisa does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer at the border decides admission on the day.
Your document checklist
Four things to have ready before you start your application, as a Japanese applicant.
Passport
Valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry to Saudi Arabia. The same passport used in the application must be presented 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 register on the portal and to receive the issued eVisa as an email attachment.
Payment card
A card that can be charged online in Saudi riyals. Check with your card issuer that it works for overseas online payments before applying.
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
The official portal does not state a fixed earliest or latest day to apply. Apply at least a week before you fly, so there is time to fix a rejected photo or detail and resubmit.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Are you travelling on an ordinary Japanese passport valid for at least 6 months after your entry date?
Is your trip for tourism, leisure, visiting family, or Umrah outside the Hajj season?
Will you travel on the same passport you use for the application?
Are you 18 or over, or travelling with a parent or guardian aged 18 or over if you are under 18?
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 Japanese passport has at least 6 months left from your entry date, and prepare a digital photo meeting the official specification.
- 2
Have an email address and payment card ready
You will need an email address to register and receive the eVisa, and a card that can be charged online in Saudi riyals.
On the official portal
- 3
Register on the official portal
Create an account on the Saudi eVisa portal with your email address and verify it.
- 4
Complete the application
Enter your Japanese passport details exactly as printed, upload the photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 5
Pay the government fee
Pay online by card. VAT is added automatically at checkout.
After you apply
- 6
Receive the eVisa by email
If approved, the eVisa arrives as an email attachment. Save a printed or digital copy to show on arrival.
- 7
Travel on the same passport
Present the same Japanese passport used in the application on arrival. Biometrics are captured by immigration at the border.
Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)
Questions Japanese travellers actually ask
Yes. Japan is on Saudi Arabia's eVisa eligible list, so most Japanese passport holders can apply online instead of visiting an embassy.
No blank page requirement is stated for the eVisa. You do need at least 6 months of passport validity left from your entry date.
Rules vary by car hire company and may ask for an International Driving Permit alongside your Japanese licence. Check with the hire company before travelling.
The portal takes card payment in Saudi riyals. Check with your card issuer first, since some Japanese cards are not set up for overseas online charges.
If that visa has been used at least once, shown by an entry stamp, you can instead get a visa on arrival rather than applying for the eVisa in advance.
Yes, outside the Hajj season. The tourist eVisa covers tourism, leisure, family visits and Umrah together.
The application is commonly sent back for a photo with the wrong size, background or age. Apply with enough time before your flight to fix this and resubmit.
No. The immigration officer at the border makes the final entry decision, whatever visa is held.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your Japanese 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 and B. An A-to-G adapter works for the whole trip.
Voltage
230 V · 60 Hz
Against 100 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 Japan
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 ≈ SAR0.0247 · 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
Tokyo
--:--:--
Riyadh
--:--:--
How much to tip, in JPY
SAR 1(¥40.41)
Restaurant bill
Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
10–15%
on a SAR 1 bill: SAR 0.10 · ¥4.04
Cafe or casual meal
Rounding up the bill is common.
SAR 5–SAR 10
¥202.05–¥404.09
Hotel porter, per bag
SAR 5–SAR 10
¥202.05–¥404.09
Housekeeping, per night
SAR 10–SAR 15
¥404.09–¥606.14
Taxi or rideshare
Rounding up the fare is the usual practice.
0–10%
on a SAR 1 bill: SAR 0 · ¥0
Tour guide, per day
SAR 50–SAR 100
¥2,020.45–¥4,040.91
Private driver, per day
SAR 30–SAR 50
¥1,212.27–¥2,020.45
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
Local SIM card
≈ ¥4,040.91SAR 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
≈ ¥2,272.73US$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 ¥28,940 all-in.
- Card payments by PayPal
- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
- Support by email and WhatsApp