Instant Saudi E-Visa Now Available for Holders of Valid US, UK, or Schengen Visas

Good news for those who have valid US, UK, or Schengen Visas coming from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism has announced that holders of these visas and those who are permanent residents of European countries are eligible to apply online for an instant electronic visa.

To apply for a visa, applicants can go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is one catch: you must have visited the destination country at least once before applying for a visa.

What you need to know about the new Saudi Arabian e-visa

Reports state that this exception grants the same entry rights to the relatives in first degree of visa holders. This includes those with permanent residence in the US or UK. They can also enter the Kingdom upon arrival with a valid visa.

The Economic Times reports that the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism says: "In order to complete the process of facilitating procedures and providing an integrated tourism experience; The Kingdom allows holders of visas of the United States, the European Union (Schengen) and the United Kingdom, and their residents, to issue a tourist visa electronically and immediately through the @KSAMOFA website."

According to a report by Al Arabiya, the launch of the Saudi eVisa is an important step in reaching the Kingdom's goal of 100 million tourists per year by 2030. Saudi Arabia has been one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the world since 2019. This is due to the beautiful tourist destinations like AlUla, Riyadh, and Jeddah as well as the holy Mecca pilgrimage that Muslims around the globe undertake.

It is not the first instance that Saudi Arabia has introduced e-visas. In May, the country announced that QR codes would replace the traditional visa stickers in seven countries: the UAE, Indonesia, India, Jordan Egypt, Philippines, and Bangladesh. Reports state that while visas were extended to allow people to see landmarks, they do not permit visitors to perform Hajj and Umrah in the season of pilgrimage.

Source: travelandleisureasia.com