eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–4 business days
- Total cost
- £149 (US$189)
Do UK citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, UK citizens need a visa, but most can apply online for a Saudi e-visa before flying.
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Saudi Arabia eVisa for UK Citizens: Requirements & Apply
- Visa required · e-Visa
- Apply about 14 days before arrival
- Decision in 3–4 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 from arrival
Needed for both the application and entry.
Total stay allowed
Up to 90 days a year
UK government advice caps total time in Saudi Arabia at 90 days across the visa's full year, not 90 days per trip.
Where to apply
Official portal or on arrival
The tourist e-visa can be bought online before flying or at any Saudi international airport.
Three routes into Saudi Arabia
Most UK travellers
Tourist e-Visa
Apply online on the official portal, or get it on arrival at any Saudi international airport. It covers tourism, visiting family and Umrah outside the Hajj season.
Hold a used US/Schengen visa
Visa on arrival
A British passport with a valid, used US or Schengen visa may qualify for entry without a separate application, but UK government advice describes this as an online step taken in advance, so check the current rule first.
Can't use the e-visa
Embassy visa
Anyone whose passport has less than 6 months' validity, who is under 18 without a guardian, or who needs a visa type the e-visa does not cover, applies at the Saudi Embassy in London before travelling.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for UK citizens, in British Pounds
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist E-visa eVisa | 90 days Multiple entry | 3–4 business days | US$152 ≈ £120 | ≈ £149 |
* 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 e-visa is valid for 365 days from the date it is issued and allows multiple entries. UK government advice says your total time in Saudi Arabia on it is capped at 90 days across that whole year, not 90 fresh days on every visit.
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 a total, not per trip: GOV.UK states the e-visa is valid for multiple entries but only 90 days in total across the 365-day period. Add up all your visits against this total rather than assuming each trip resets the clock.
Passport must outlast your visit: Your passport needs at least 6 months' validity left from the date you arrive, whatever visa route you use. You'll be refused entry without it.
Hajj needs its own visa: The tourist e-visa does not cover Hajj. You must get a separate Hajj visa even if your e-visa is still valid.
Overstaying has real consequences: GOV.UK warns that overstaying can lead to large fines, detention, deportation, and a ban on returning to Saudi Arabia.
Your document checklist
Two things to have ready before you start your application, as a UK applicant.
British passport
Must have at least 6 months' validity left from your date of arrival in Saudi Arabia. Travel on the same passport used for the application.
Payment card
The application fee is charged in Saudi riyals on the official portal. UK debit and credit cards are accepted, but your bank may add its own foreign transaction charge.
When should you apply?
Processing takes 3–4 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.
Processing
Standard3–4 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
3–4 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 window is published for the tourist e-visa. Apply once your travel dates are booked, leaving time to fix a rejected photo or detail before you fly.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Is your trip for tourism, visiting family, or Umrah outside the Hajj season?
Does your British passport have at least 6 months left from your arrival date?
Are you 18 or over, or travelling with a guardian aged 18 or over?
Are you travelling on an ordinary British citizen 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 GOV.UK's entry rules for British passports
Read the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's advice on passport validity and any history of travel to Israel before you apply.
- 2
Get your documents ready
You need a British passport valid for 6 months or more after arrival, a digital photo meeting the portal's specification, and an email address.
On the official portal
- 3
Register on the official portal
Create and verify an account at visa.visitsaudi.com, the only official tourist e-visa site for Saudi Arabia.
- 4
Enter your passport and trip details
Fill in your British passport number and personal details, upload your photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 5
Pay the fee by card
Pay online with a UK debit or credit card. The charge is made in Saudi riyals, so your bank may add its own conversion fee.
After you apply
- 6
Get the e-visa by email
Once approved, the e-visa is emailed as an attachment. Keep a printed or digital copy for check-in and for the immigration officer.
- 7
Travel on the same passport
Enter Saudi Arabia on the passport used in the application, and make sure it still meets the 6-month validity rule when you fly.
Questions UK travellers actually ask
GOV.UK says the e-visa is valid for multiple entries over 365 days, but caps your total time in the country at 90 days across that period, rather than 90 days on every visit.
GOV.UK describes an online 'electronic visa waiver' for holders of a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa, applied for at least 48 hours before your flight, not simply stamped on arrival. Check the current rule before relying on it.
It might be. GOV.UK warns you may be refused entry to Saudi Arabia if your passport shows travel to, or birth in, Israel.
No. The tourist e-visa is for tourism, family visits and Umrah outside the Hajj season. For business, study or medical trips, GOV.UK points UK travellers to the separate Electronic Travel Authorisation instead.
GOV.UK warns that overstaying can lead to large fines, detention and deportation, and a ban on returning to Saudi Arabia.
Yes. Both the tourist e-visa and the Electronic Travel Authorisation exclude Hajj. A separate Hajj visa is required.
GOV.UK's advice is written for full British citizen passports. If you hold another type of UK passport, check directly with the Saudi Embassy in London, since the general advice may not cover it.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your UK 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 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: 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 United Kingdom
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 ≈ SAR4.8 · 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
London
--:--:--
Riyadh
--:--:--
How much to tip, in GBP
SAR 70(£14.70)
Restaurant bill
Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
10–15%
on a SAR 70 bill: SAR 7 · £1.47
Cafe or casual meal
Rounding up the bill is common.
SAR 5–SAR 10
£1.05–£2.10
Hotel porter, per bag
SAR 5–SAR 10
£1.05–£2.10
Housekeeping, per night
SAR 10–SAR 15
£2.10–£3.15
Taxi or rideshare
Rounding up the fare is the usual practice.
0–10%
on a SAR 70 bill: SAR 0 · £0
Tour guide, per day
SAR 50–SAR 100
£10.50–£21
Private driver, per day
SAR 30–SAR 50
£6.30–£10.50
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
Local SIM card
≈ £21SAR 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
≈ £11.81US$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 four 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 £149 all-in.
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- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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