eVisa
Tourist E-visa
Entry
Multiple entry
Validity
90 days
- Processing
- 3–4 business days
- Total cost
- $189
Do US citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes, US citizens can apply for a Saudi e-Visa online before flying, without visiting an embassy.
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Saudi Arabia Visa for US Citizens: eVisa Guide
- Visa required · e-Visa
- Apply about 7 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
e-Visa eligible
US passport qualifies
Passport validity
6 months at entry
Stay per visit
Up to 90 days
Multiple entry, valid 1 year
Two routes into Saudi Arabia
Most US travellers
e-Visa
Apply online on the official portal before you fly. It covers tourism, leisure, visiting family and Umrah outside the Hajj season, and needs no embassy visit.
Business, study or work
Embassy visa
Trips that are not tourism, leisure or Umrah still need a different visa arranged at a Saudi embassy or consulate in the US before travelling.
Saudi Arabia e-Visa types and cost for US citizens
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist E-visa eVisa | 90 days Multiple entry | 3–4 business days | $152 | $189 |
* 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
Most US citizens travel on the tourist e-Visa. It lets you stay up to 90 days on each visit, and you can enter more than once during the year it stays valid.
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. This is not a yearly total: the 90 days applies fresh each time you enter, within the visa's 1-year validity.
Multiple entries, one year: The e-Visa lets you enter Saudi Arabia more than once during the 12 months from the date it is issued, not just a single trip.
Not a work or residence permit: The tourist e-Visa only covers tourism, leisure, visiting family and Umrah outside Hajj. It does not let you work, study or live in Saudi Arabia.
Staying past your date: Leaving before your permitted stay ends matters: staying longer than allowed is an immigration offence. Check your exact entry stamp or record on arrival.
Your document checklist
Four things to have ready before you start your application, as a US applicant.
US passport
Must have at least 6 months' validity left from your entry date, and must be the same passport you use to apply and to travel.
Digital photo
200 x 200 pixels, 5 to 100 KB, plain white background, face filling 70 to 80 percent of the frame, taken in the last 6 months. A standard US passport photo usually needs resizing to meet this.
Payment card
Pay online by debit or credit card in Saudi riyals at checkout. Check with your US bank that the card allows international online payments before applying.
Email address
Used to register on the portal and to receive the approved e-Visa as an email attachment. Check spam or junk folders if it does not arrive.
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
The official portal does not publish a minimum or maximum number of days before travel. Apply with enough time to fix a rejected photo or detail and still receive the e-Visa before you fly.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Is your trip for tourism, leisure, visiting family, or Umrah outside the Hajj season?
Is your passport a regular US passport, not diplomatic, special or official?
Does your passport have at least 6 months of validity left from your planned entry date?
If you are under 18, will you travel with a parent or guardian included on the same application?
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
Confirm the e-Visa fits your trip
Check your US passport is on the e-Visa list and that your trip is for tourism, leisure, visiting family or Umrah outside Hajj.
- 2
Prepare your passport and photo
Make sure your US passport has at least 6 months' validity left, and prepare a digital photo that meets the size and background rules.
On the official portal
- 3
Register on the official portal
Create an account on the official Saudi eVisa portal with your email address and verify it.
- 4
Complete the application
Enter your US passport and personal details, upload your photo, and answer the eligibility questions.
- 5
Pay by card
Pay the government fee online. Check your US-issued debit or credit card allows international online payments before you start.
After you apply
- 6
Save the emailed e-Visa
If approved, the e-Visa 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
Enter Saudi Arabia on the same US passport used in the application. Biometric details are captured by immigration on arrival.
Questions US travellers actually ask
Yes. US passports are on Saudi Arabia's e-Visa list, so you can apply online on the official portal and skip an embassy visit, for tourism, family visits or Umrah outside Hajj.
No. Visa on arrival is mainly for travellers who are not on the e-Visa list but hold an already-used US, UK or Schengen visa. As a US passport holder, apply for the e-Visa instead.
No. The tourist e-Visa covers Umrah outside the Hajj season, but not Hajj itself. Hajj travel is arranged through a separate, government-regulated process.
The official portal takes payment by card at checkout. Check with your US bank first that the card allows international online payments.
Apply using the same passport you will travel on. The e-Visa is tied to that passport's number and must match the passport you present at the border.
An application with the wrong size, background or an outdated photo is commonly refused. Re-check the photo rules and resubmit a compliant photo.
Keep a copy of the emailed e-Visa, printed or on your phone, to show at check-in and on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your US 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 A and B. A A-to-G adapter works for the whole trip.
Voltage
230 V · 60 Hz
Against 120 V · 60 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 United States
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 ≈ SAR3.7 · 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
Washington, D.C.
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Riyadh
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How much to tip, in USD
SAR 60($16)
Restaurant bill
Only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
10–15%
on a SAR 60 bill: SAR 6 · $1.60
Cafe or casual meal
Rounding up the bill is common.
SAR 5–SAR 10
$1.33–$2.67
Hotel porter, per bag
SAR 5–SAR 10
$1.33–$2.67
Housekeeping, per night
SAR 10–SAR 15
$2.67–$4
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
$13.33–$26.67
Private driver, per day
SAR 30–SAR 50
$8–$13.33
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
Local SIM card
≈ $26.67SAR 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
≈ $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 $189 all-in.
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- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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