eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- €177 (US$191)
Do Portuguese citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, but Portuguese citizens can get a Saudi eVisa online before flying, as EU member states are on the eligible list.
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Saudi Arabia Visa for Portuguese 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 validity
6 months at entry
From the date of entry to Saudi Arabia
Stay per visit
Up to 90 days
On the multiple-entry tourist eVisa
Visa validity
1 year from issue
Multiple entries allowed within that year
Three routes into Saudi Arabia
Most travellers
e-Visa
Portugal is an EU member state, so it is on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list. Applicants apply online, upload a digital photo, and receive the eVisa by email before flying.
Used US/UK/Schengen visa
Visa on arrival
A Portuguese traveller who already holds a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa can instead get a visa at the airport on arrival, without applying online first. The eVisa route is usually simpler for most Portuguese citizens.
Minors, diplomatic passports
Embassy visa
Under-18s travelling without a guardian aged 18 or over, and diplomatic, special or official passport holders, cannot use the eVisa or visa on arrival. They apply through a Saudi embassy or consulate, or diplomatic channels.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for Portuguese 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 tourist eVisa lets a Portuguese citizen stay up to 90 days on each visit. The visa itself is valid for multiple entries over one year from the date it is issued.
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 means per visit: Each entry can last up to 90 days. The one-year validity lets a Portuguese traveller make several separate trips, each up to 90 days, within that year.
Not a running yearly total: Saudi Arabia's own guidance describes the limit as per visit. It does not say the visa adds up to a fixed number of days across the whole year, so plan each trip around the 90-day limit, not a running total.
Same passport throughout: The passport used to apply for the eVisa must be the one presented on arrival, and it must still have at least 6 months left at the time of entry.
Overstay rules not confirmed: The official portal does not set out extension or overstay rules for tourist eVisa holders in the pages checked for this guide. Check the current terms on the portal before relying on staying beyond 90 days.
Your document checklist
Four things to have ready before you start your application, as a Portuguese applicant.
Portuguese passport
Valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry to Saudi Arabia. Use the same passport for the application and 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 in the last 6 months.
Valid email address
Used to create the eVisa account and to receive the approved eVisa as an email attachment.
Debit or credit card
Payment is taken online by card at checkout. A Portuguese euro card that supports online international payments should work; VAT is added automatically.
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 sets no stated earliest or latest day to apply. Applying at least a week before departure leaves time to fix a rejected photo or detail and reapply before flying.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Do you hold an ordinary Portuguese passport, not a diplomatic, special or official one?
Does your passport have at least 6 months left from your entry date to Saudi Arabia?
Are you 18 or over, or travelling with a guardian aged 18 or over?
Is your trip for tourism, leisure, visiting family, or Umrah outside the Hajj season?
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 applies to you
Confirm your Portuguese passport is ordinary, not diplomatic or official, and has at least 6 months left from your entry date.
- 2
Prepare your photo and details
Take a digital photo to the official specification and have your passport and an email address ready.
On the official portal
- 3
Register on the portal
Create an account on the official eVisa portal with your email address and verify it.
- 4
Fill in the application
Enter your passport and personal details, upload the photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 5
Pay by card
Pay the government fee online by card. VAT is added at checkout. Use a card that supports online international payments.
After you apply
- 6
Receive the eVisa by email
If approved, the eVisa arrives as an email attachment. Save a copy, printed or digital, to show on arrival.
- 7
Travel on the same passport
Arrive on the Portuguese passport used in the application. Immigration captures biometric details on entry.
Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)
Questions Portuguese travellers actually ask
Yes. Portugal is an EU member state, and all EU member states are on Saudi Arabia's eVisa eligible list, so Portuguese citizens can apply online before flying.
Not necessarily. A valid, already-used US, UK or Schengen visa in the same passport lets some travellers get a visa on arrival instead. For most Portuguese citizens the eVisa is simpler, since Portugal is already eVisa eligible.
No. Eligibility for the eVisa or visa on arrival depends on your passport's nationality and any used US, UK or Schengen visa, not on residence elsewhere in the EU.
The official eVisa guidance checked for this page does not set a blank-pages requirement. The passport must simply be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
Yes, outside the Hajj season. The tourist eVisa covers Umrah as well as tourism, leisure and visiting family.
A wrongly sized, patterned-background or outdated photo is a common reason applications are sent back. Check the official photo specification before you upload one, and apply with enough time to resubmit if needed.
Many visitors can hire a car with a valid foreign or international driving licence, but rules vary by nationality. Check directly with the car hire company before travelling.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your Portuguese 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 Portugal
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
Lisbon
--:--:--
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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