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Switzerland

Saudi Arabia

Do Swiss citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

No, Swiss citizens do not need to visit an embassy for most trips: Switzerland is on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so an online application is enough.

  • eVisa

    Tourist E-visa

    Entry

    Multiple entry

    Validity

    90 days

    Processing
    3–5 business days
    Total cost
    US$191
  • Pre-checked

    Reviewed

    Expert check before submission

  • 3–5 business days

    Processing time

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    21K+

    Applications processed

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Saudi Arabia eVisa for Swiss Citizens: 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
  1. Do you need a visa?
  2. Types and cost in CHF
  3. How long you may stay
  4. Documents
  5. When to apply
  6. Eligibility check
  7. How to apply
  8. FAQ
  9. Switzerland vs. Saudi Arabia essentials

  • Passport validity

    Valid 6 months at entry

  • Stay per visit

    Up to 90 days

    Multiple entries allowed

  • Visa validity

    1 year from issue

Two routes into Saudi Arabia

  • Most Swiss travellers

    e-Visa

    Switzerland is on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list. Apply online, on the passport you will travel on, before flying. No embassy visit is needed for a typical tourism, leisure or family visit.

  • Diplomatic passport holders

    Embassy visa

    Swiss diplomatic, special or official passport holders are not covered by the eVisa and must apply through a Saudi embassy or consulate instead.

Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for Swiss citizens, in Swiss Francs

e-VisaValidityProcessingGovernment feeAll-in with Plusvisa*

Tourist E-visa

eVisa

90 days

Multiple entry

3–5 business days

US$152

US$191

* 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 Saudi eVisa lets Swiss citizens stay up to 90 days on each visit, and the visa 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: Each entry allows a stay of up to 90 days. If you leave and come back, a new 90-day period starts, as long as the one-year visa is still valid.

  • One year, multiple entries: The eVisa can be used for repeat trips over its one-year validity. It does not let you stay longer than 90 days on any single visit.

  • Passport rule still applies: Your passport must have at least 6 months left on the day you enter, separately from the 90-day stay and one-year visa validity.

Your document checklist

Five things to have ready before you start your application, as a Swiss applicant.

  • Passport

    Valid for at least 6 months from your entry date. Use the same Swiss 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 within the last 6 months. No size difference for Swiss applicants.

  • Valid email address

    Used to create your account on the official portal and to receive the issued eVisa as an email attachment.

  • Payment card

    A Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card issued in Switzerland can be used to pay the government fee online; your bank statement will show the charge converted from Saudi riyals.

Only for some visa types

  • Letter from employer

    Only if Business travel applying at an embassy. Not requested on the tourist eVisa. Only needed if you apply through a Saudi embassy instead, for example for a business visa or if your passport is not eVisa eligible.

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. 1

    Apply online

    —

    Form and uploads, about 30 min

  2. 2

    Pay the fee

    —

    By card, on the portal

  3. 3

    Processing

    3–5 business days

    Official estimate

  4. 4

    Approval emailed

    —

    Keep a copy on your phone

  5. 5

    Arrive in Saudi Arabia

    —

    Show the approval at the border

The portal sets no fixed earliest or latest date. Apply at least a week ahead, leaving time to fix a rejected photo or document.

Four questions, 20 seconds

  1. Is the Swiss passport you will travel on valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date?

  2. Are you travelling on an ordinary Swiss passport, not a diplomatic, special or official one?

  3. Is everyone in your group 18 or over, or travelling with a parent or guardian on the same application?

  4. Do you have a digital photo that meets the official specification: white background, 200 x 200 pixels, taken in the last 6 months?

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. 1

    Check you are on the eVisa route

    Confirm Switzerland is still on the eVisa-eligible list and that you do not hold a diplomatic, special or official passport.

  2. 2

    Prepare your documents

    Have your Swiss passport (valid 6 months from entry), a digital photo to the official specification, and an email address ready.

On the official portal

  1. 3

    Create an account

    Register on the official eVisa portal with your email address and verify it.

  2. 4

    Complete the application

    Enter your passport and personal details exactly as they appear in your passport, upload your photo, and answer the eligibility questions.

  3. 5

    Pay the government fee

    Pay online by card. A Swiss-issued Visa or Mastercard works; your statement will show the amount converted from Saudi riyals.

After you apply

  1. 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.

  2. 7

    Travel on the same passport

    Arrive on the Swiss passport you used to apply. Your biometric details are captured by immigration on entry.

Official website: visa.visitsaudi.com (opens in a new tab)

Questions Swiss travellers actually ask

Usually not. Switzerland is on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so most tourist, leisure and family trips can be arranged online instead of at an embassy.

No. Only a passport valid for at least 6 months from your entry date is accepted. A Swiss ID card is not valid for entry to Saudi Arabia.

If your Swiss passport already carries a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa, you can get a visa at the airport on arrival. Without one of these, the eVisa applied for online before you fly is the route for Swiss passport holders.

The official portal takes standard Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards. The government fee is set in Saudi riyals, so your Swiss franc statement will show the converted amount.

Apply with the passport you will actually carry on the trip. Saudi border control checks that the passport presented matches the one used in the eVisa application.

The tourist eVisa is for tourism, leisure, family visits and Umrah outside the Hajj season. Check the airline or transit rules separately if you only plan to pass through.

Visa sorted

The things that make the first 48 hours easy, compared with home

Your Swiss 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 J. 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 Switzerland

  • 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).

  • 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)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec21°24.3°29°34.3°40°42.8°44°43.5°40.2°34.5°27.1°21.9°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
MonthHigh, °CLow, °CRain, mm
January · best216.65.6
February · best24.38.93.7
March · best2913.42.5
April34.318.85.4
May40240.9
June42.826.20
July44280
August43.527.90
September40.224.50
October34.519.70.3
November · best27.113.86.9
December · best21.98.36.2

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

Bern

--:--:--

Riyadh

--:--:--

How much to tip, in CHF

SAR 2,000

SAR 2,000

Restaurant bill

Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.

10–15%

on a SAR 2,000 bill: SAR 200

Cafe or casual meal

Rounding up the bill is common.

SAR 5–SAR 10

Hotel porter, per bag

SAR 5–SAR 10

Housekeeping, per night

SAR 10–SAR 15

Taxi or rideshare

Rounding up the fare is the usual practice.

0–10%

on a SAR 2,000 bill: SAR 0

Tour guide, per day

SAR 50–SAR 100

Private driver, per day

SAR 30–SAR 50

SIM, eSIM or roaming?

Local SIM

Local SIM card

≈ SAR 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

Recommended

Travel eSIM

≈ US$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 US$191 all-in.

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