eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- RM 869 (US$191)
Do Malaysian citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
No, Malaysians do not need to visit an embassy: Malaysia is on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so most trips are covered by an online application before flying.
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Saudi Arabia Visa for Malaysians: eVisa Guide & How to Apply
- 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
Tourist eVisa
Visa validity
1 year, multiple entry
From date of issue
Three routes into Saudi Arabia
Most Malaysians
e-Visa
Malaysia is on the list of nationalities that can apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa online, without going to an embassy. It covers tourism, visiting family and Umrah outside the Hajj season.
Used US/UK/Schengen visa
Visa on arrival
A Malaysian who already holds a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa in the same passport can instead get a visa at the airport on arrival, without applying first. This is an alternative to the eVisa, not a requirement.
Rare cases
Embassy visa
Diplomatic, special or official passport holders, and minors travelling without a guardian, cannot use the eVisa or visa on arrival and must apply through the Saudi embassy instead.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for Malaysian citizens, in Malaysian Ringgits
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist E-visa eVisa | 90 days Multiple entry | 3–5 business days | US$152 ≈ RM 691 | ≈ RM 869 |
* 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 a Malaysian passport holder stay up to 90 days on any one visit, and the eVisa itself stays valid for multiple entries for one year from the date it is issued. It is not a 90-day visa that lasts a year continuously in the country.
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 can last up to 90 days. The one-year validity means the eVisa can be used for more than one trip, not that a single stay can run for a year.
Multiple entry: A Malaysian can leave and re-enter Saudi Arabia more than once within the one-year validity, each time for up to 90 days, on the same eVisa.
Overstaying: The destination guide does not set out a specific overstay penalty for this passport. Anyone needing more time than the eVisa allows should check with Saudi immigration or an embassy before the visa expires rather than overstaying.
Entry is not guaranteed: Holding a valid eVisa does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer at the border decides based on the conditions met on arrival, including the 6-month passport validity rule.
Your document checklist
Four things to have ready before you start your application, as a Malaysian applicant.
Passport
Valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry to Saudi Arabia. The same passport used for 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 eVisa portal and to receive the issued eVisa as an email attachment.
Only for some visa types
Valid US, UK or Schengen visa
Only if Malaysians choosing the visa-on-arrival route. Only needed if applying for a visa on arrival instead of the eVisa. It must already have been used, shown by an entry stamp from the issuing country in the same passport.
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 minimum or maximum number of days before travel was found for this passport. Applying at least a week ahead leaves room to fix a rejected photo or detail and resubmit before flying.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Are you travelling on an ordinary Malaysian passport, not a diplomatic, special or official one?
Is your passport valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Saudi Arabia?
Will your trip fit within 90 days, and are you 18 or older (or travelling with a guardian aged 18 or over)?
Are you applying with the same passport you will carry on the trip?
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 the eVisa covers you
Malaysia is on the eVisa list, so most Malaysian passport holders can apply online directly, without going through a Saudi embassy.
- 2
Prepare your documents
Have your Malaysian passport (valid 6 months beyond entry), a digital photo meeting the official specification, and an email address ready before you start.
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
Enter your details
Fill in your passport and personal details as they appear in your Malaysian passport, upload your photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 5
Pay the government fee
Pay online by card. VAT is added at checkout. Once submitted, the application cannot be cancelled and the fee is not refunded if it is unsuccessful.
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 at check-in and on arrival.
- 7
Travel on the same passport
Arrive on the same Malaysian passport used in the application. Immigration captures biometric details on entry.
Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)
Questions Malaysian travellers actually ask
Yes. Malaysia is on the list of nationalities eligible for the Saudi tourist eVisa, so most applicants apply online on the official portal and do not need to visit an embassy.
Yes. The tourist eVisa covers Umrah outside the Hajj season, as well as tourism and visiting family, for eligible passports including Malaysia.
No. You can still use the eVisa. A valid, already-used US, UK or Schengen visa instead opens the visa-on-arrival route as an alternative, but it is not required for Malaysians.
No. Saudi Arabia requires at least 6 months of passport validity from the date of entry. Renew your passport before applying if it is close to expiry.
Payment is made online by card at checkout on the official portal. Check with your card issuer whether it supports international online payments before you apply, since this was not confirmed on a Malaysia-specific official page.
Generally no. Malaysians travelling for tourism, family visits or Umrah outside Hajj season normally use the eVisa online. The embassy route is for cases the eVisa does not cover, such as diplomatic passports or longer stays.
No specific blank page requirement for Malaysian passports was found on the official eVisa pages. The main passport condition confirmed is 6 months of validity from entry.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your Malaysian plug fits. Here's what to expect.
Type G
Three flat pins · 13 A
Type G
Type G is used both at home and in Saudi Arabia, so your own plugs fit.
Voltage
230 V · 60 Hz
Against 240 V · 50 Hz at home. Check the label on chargers and appliances: anything marked 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz works in both.
Pack: nothing special — your type G plugs go straight in. A small power strip is still handy where hotel rooms have one socket.
Saudi Arabia drives on the right — the opposite of home
Compare traffic side:
Saudi Arabia · right-hand traffic — the opposite of Malaysia
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
RM1 ≈ SAR0.825 · 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
Kuala Lumpur
--:--:--
Riyadh
--:--:--
How much to tip, in MYR
SAR 10(RM 12.12)
Restaurant bill
Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
10–15%
on a SAR 10 bill: SAR 1 · RM 1.21
Cafe or casual meal
Rounding up the bill is common.
SAR 5–SAR 10
RM 6.06–RM 12.12
Hotel porter, per bag
SAR 5–SAR 10
RM 6.06–RM 12.12
Housekeeping, per night
SAR 10–SAR 15
RM 12.12–RM 18.18
Taxi or rideshare
Rounding up the fare is the usual practice.
0–10%
on a SAR 10 bill: SAR 0 · RM 0
Tour guide, per day
SAR 50–SAR 100
RM 60.61–RM 121.23
Private driver, per day
SAR 30–SAR 50
RM 36.37–RM 60.61
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
Local SIM card
≈ RM 121.23SAR 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
≈ RM 68.18US$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 RM 869 all-in.
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- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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