Saudi Arabia travel advisory today

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Saudi Arabia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Saudi Arabia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Saudi Embassy in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

For entry into Saudi Arabia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Previous travel to Israel

You may not be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia if your passport shows that you have travelled to, or were born in, Israel.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You must get a visa to visit Saudi Arabia. The type of visa you choose depends on your reason for travelling and how long you want to stay.

If you overstay your visa, you could face large fines, detention and deportation. You could be banned from returning to Saudi Arabia.

Applying for an electronic travel authorisation

You can apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) if you are travelling to Saudi Arabia for:

• tourism

• business

• study

• medical treatment

• Umrah (outside the Hajj season)

An ETA is is valid for 730 days from the date of issue.

Valid for multiple entries, but only 180 days in total across the 730 day period .

Apply for an ETA online before you travel. If you are travelling for Hajj, you must obtain a separate Hajj visa. See Pilgrimage for more information.

An ETA does not include health insurance for your visit. Visas issued before the ETA was introduced will remain valid, in accordance with the conditions and dates on the visa when issued.

Applying for an e-visa

You can apply for an e-visa if you are a tourist.

E-visas are:

• valid for 365 days from the date of issue
• valid for multiple entries, but only for 90 days in total across the 365 day period

Apply for an e-visa online or when you arrive at any of Saudi Arabia’s international airports.

An e-visa includes health insurance for your visit up to 100,000 Saudi Arabian Riyals (SAR). Medical treatment in Saudi Arabia can be expensive, and you should consider taking out additional travel insurance to cover costs beyond 100,000 SAR.

You must get a separate visa for Hajj. See Pilgrimage.

Applying for an electronic visa waiver

Electronic visa waivers are for:

• tourism
• business
• medical treatment
• study
• Umrah (outside of Hajj season)

An electronic visa waiver allows you to enter Saudi Arabia once and stay for up to 180 days.

An electronic visa waiver does not include health insurance for your visit.

Apply for an electronic visa waiver online at least 48 hours before your flight, or up to 90 days in advance. You will need to give your flight details.

Travelling overland

Your visa may only allow you to enter Saudi Arabia by air. If you plan to travel to Saudi Arabia by the Bahrain causeway, check your visa before travelling. Ask your travel agent or the Saudi Embassy if you need help.

Travelling through Saudi Arabia

If you’re transferring through Saudi Arabia, you may need a transit visa if:

• you will pass through immigration control
• you will leave Saudi Arabia on a separate ticket to the one you arrive on
• the connecting time between your flights is more than 12 hours

Check with your airline or travel agency if you require a transit visa.

Exit, re-entry and final exit permits

If you live in Saudi Arabia, you must get an exit or re-entry permit from your sponsor to leave and re-enter the country. If you leave Saudi Arabia on a final exit permit, you must apply for a new visa to return to the country.

Wives and children of Saudi nationals

If you’re a woman married to a Saudi national, you must get a re-entry or final exit permit from your husband to leave Saudi Arabia. This also applies to children of Saudi nationals.

Flight restrictions around Hajj

If you plan to travel around the time of the Hajj pilgrimage, check with your airline for any flight restrictions.

The Saudi authorities have stopped visitors who are not performing Hajj from flying to Jeddah, Madinah and Taif. You may need a Hajj visa to board flights to these places during Hajj.

You will still be able to enter Saudi Arabia through other airports.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Saudi Arabia, you must have certificates to prove you’ve had a:

• yellow fever vaccine if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk
• meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine if you’re a Hajj or Umrah pilgrim or a seasonal worker

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Saudi Arabia guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Saudi Arabia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Items it’s illegal to import include:

• alcohol
• pork and pork products
• pornographic material
• distillery equipment
• weapons
• narcotics
• re-treaded or used tyres
• used clothing except for personal use

• certain sculptures such as religious symbols Other items may be examined, including:

• personal videos
• books
• electronic devices

You may need special approval to bring some items such as:

• agricultural seeds
• live animals
• religious books (except for personal use)
• chemicals and harmful materials
• some pharmaceutical products
• wireless equipment
• radio-controlled model airplanes
• archaeological artefacts

Using technical equipment

You may need a licence for:

• satellite phones
• listening or recording devices
• radio transmitters
• powerful cameras or binoculars

If you need information on customs rules, contact the Saudi Embassy.

Some countries have imposed measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. These can include restrictions on entry and health screening measures for travellers having recently visited an affected country. If you are suspected of having symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine and/or travel restrictions. Contact the authorities of the country you are travelling to for more details.

The authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from local authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you're travelling with.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Saudi Arabia.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the “X” gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports and other travel documents

Visas

Tourist visa: required
Business visa: required
Student visa: required
Work visa: required

Overstaying your visa will result in heavy fines and you will be unable to exit the country until the fine has been paid.

Tourist visa

You can obtain a tourist visa online before your trip or upon arrival at the airport. The tourist visa allows for multiple entries and is valid for one year. You can stay up to a maximum of 90 days in total per year. Muslim tourists can perform Umrah with any type of visa, but a specific visa is required to perform Hajj.

Apply for a tourist visa online – Visit Saudi Arabia

Pilgrimage

You must present a valid Hajj visa if you travel to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. This visa is only valid for travel to Jeddah, Mecca and Medina, and for travel between these cities. Non-Muslims are forbidden from travelling to the holy city of Mecca. Pilgrims performing Hajj must make arrangements on a dedicated online platform.

Women of all ages may travel without a mahram (male guardian, such as a brother, father or husband) to perform Hajj or Umrah. A notarized letter of no objection from the mahram is no longer required.

In the period preceding and during the Hajj pilgrimage, Muslim visitors require a valid Hajj visa to board flights to Jeddah, Medina and Taif. Muslims with business or tourist visas may enter Saudi Arabia through any other entry point.

Useful links

• Foreign representatives in Canada
• Visit Saudi – Saudi Tourism Authority
• Nusuk Hajj Platform – Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah

Entry and exit visas

Holders of a resident permit

If you have a resident permit (iqama), you can't leave the country without obtaining an exit visa or exit/re-entry visa from the Saudi Ministry of Interior if you intend to return to Saudi Arabia. You must have your sponsor's approval to obtain these visas.

Single-entry visa

Single-entry visa holders don't need an exit visa.

Outstanding fees for dependents

Prior to exit, expatriates who have outstanding fees for dependents may be required to pay at the point of exit prior to departure if they have an exit/re-entry visa, or on renewal of their exit/re-entry visa.

Regional travel

Canadians have been denied entry into Saudi Arabia because their passports bore an Israeli visa, an Israeli border stamp or an Egyptian or Jordanian border stamp issued by an office bordering Israel. Such a stamp would indicate the traveller visited Israel prior to coming to Saudi Arabia.

Health entry and stay requirements

You must provide a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test certificate and proof of a criminal background check if you intend to work in Saudi Arabia.

Children and travel

Learn about travelling with children.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).