eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- ₽17,364 (US$191)
Do Russian citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, Russian citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia, but most can get the tourist eVisa online before flying.
Pre-checkedReviewed
Expert check before submission
3–5 business days
Processing time
+21k21K+
Applications processed
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Expert human assistance
Saudi Arabia eVisa for Russian Citizens: Requirements
- 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
Same passport must be used to apply and to enter.
Stay per visit
Up to 90 days
On the tourist eVisa.
Visa validity
1 year, multiple entry
From the date it is issued.
Three routes into Saudi Arabia
Most people
e-Visa
Russia is on the list of nationalities that can apply online for the Saudi tourist eVisa before flying, without visiting an embassy.
US, UK or Schengen visa
Visa on arrival
Travellers with a valid, already-used US, UK or Schengen visa in the same passport can instead get a visa at the airport on arrival, flying with Saudia, Flynas or Flyadeal.
Not covered above
Embassy visa
Anyone who cannot use the eVisa or the visa-on-arrival route, for example for a purpose other than tourism, applies at a Saudi embassy or consulate before travelling.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for Russian citizens, in Russian Roubles
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist E-visa eVisa | 90 days Multiple entry | 3–5 business days | US$152 ≈ ₽13,819 | ≈ ₽17,364 |
* 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
A Russian passport holder on the tourist eVisa can stay up to 90 days on any single visit, and the eVisa itself stays 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 per visit, not per year: The 90-day limit applies to each stay. It does not by itself cap the total time spent in Saudi Arabia across the whole year, since the eVisa allows multiple entries during its 12-month validity.
One year to use it: The eVisa can be used for repeat trips until it expires one year after issue. It does not extend the passport's own validity, which must still cover 6 months from each entry date.
Entry still at the officer's discretion: Holding a valid eVisa does not guarantee entry. An immigration officer at the border decides admission on the day, based on the conditions met on arrival.
Overstaying and extensions: The destination guide does not list a Saudi process for extending a tourist eVisa stay or a penalty schedule for overstaying; check the official portal or a Saudi embassy before any stay that might run past 90 days.
Your document checklist
Seven things to have ready before you start your application, as a Russian applicant.
Passport
Valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. The same passport used for the online application must be the one presented at the Saudi 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 create the eVisa account and to receive the issued eVisa as an email attachment.
International payment card
The portal charges the government fee online in Saudi riyals. A domestic-only Mir card may not be accepted; a Visa or Mastercard that works internationally is the safer choice.
Only for some visa types
Return or onward ticket
Only if Applicants using the embassy route. Not asked for on the eVisa route, but usually requested if applying for an embassy visa instead.Proof of accommodation
Only if Applicants using the embassy route. Hotel booking or invitation letter showing where the applicant will stay. Not asked for on the eVisa route.Proof of funds
Only if Applicants using the embassy route. A recent bank statement or similar evidence of money to cover the stay. Not asked for on the eVisa route.
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 publish a fixed earliest or latest day to apply. Applying about a week ahead leaves time to fix a rejected photo or detail and resubmit before flying.
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 from your planned entry date?
Are you 18 or over, or travelling with a guardian aged 18 or over?
Do you hold an ordinary Russian passport, not a diplomatic, special or official one?
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 a Russian passport is being used for tourism, leisure, family visits or Umrah outside the Hajj season, and that it has at least 6 months left.
- 2
Prepare a compliant photo
Take a plain white-background digital photo meeting the official size and age rules before starting the application.
- 3
Have an international card ready
The fee is charged online. A Visa or Mastercard that works for payments abroad avoids problems a domestic-only card may cause.
On the official portal
- 4
Register and verify an email
Create an account on the official eVisa portal using a working email address, and confirm it.
- 5
Fill in the application
Enter the passport and personal details exactly as they appear in the passport, upload the photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 6
Pay the government fee
Pay online by card. The checkout price includes VAT. The application cannot be cancelled once submitted.
After you apply
- 7
Receive the eVisa by email
An approved eVisa arrives as an email attachment. Keep a printed or digital copy for the airline and for arrival.
- 8
Travel on the same passport
Arrive on the exact passport used in the application. Immigration captures biometric details on entry.
Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)
Questions Russian travellers actually ask
Yes. Russia is on the list of nationalities that can apply for the tourist eVisa on the official portal, without going to an embassy first, for tourism, leisure, family visits or Umrah outside the Hajj season.
The portal charges the fee online by card. A Mir card may not go through for an international payment, so have a Visa or Mastercard ready as a backup.
No. That route is only for travellers who do not qualify for the eVisa directly. A Russian passport holder on the eVisa list applies on the portal without needing another country's visa first.
Yes, outside the Hajj season. The same tourist eVisa covers Umrah, tourism, leisure and visiting family. A separate Hajj visa is needed for the Hajj pilgrimage itself.
The application will be refused. Renew the passport so it is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry before applying.
No. The eVisa is tied to the passport used in the application, and that same passport must be presented at the border.
The tourist eVisa is valid for multiple entries over one year from the date it is issued, with each visit allowed up to 90 days.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your Russian 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 220 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 Russia
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 ≈ SAR0.0412 · 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
Moscow
--:--:--
Riyadh
--:--:--
How much to tip, in RUB
SAR 1(₽24.25)
Restaurant bill
Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
10–15%
on a SAR 1 bill: SAR 0.10 · ₽2.42
Cafe or casual meal
Rounding up the bill is common.
SAR 5–SAR 10
₽121.23–₽242.45
Hotel porter, per bag
SAR 5–SAR 10
₽121.23–₽242.45
Housekeeping, per night
SAR 10–SAR 15
₽242.45–₽363.68
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
₽1,212.27–₽2,424.55
Private driver, per day
SAR 30–SAR 50
₽727.36–₽1,212.27
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
Local SIM card
≈ ₽2,424.55SAR 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
≈ ₽1,363.64US$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 ₽17,364 all-in.
- Card payments by PayPal
- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
- Support by email and WhatsApp