The Saudi ETA for British Passport Holders: What Changed in July 2026

Saudi Arabia introduced its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for UK citizens on 1 July 2026 — a reciprocal move following the UK's own ETA scheme for Saudi nationals. For eligible British passport holders, it's now a genuine alternative to the standard tourist eVisa, with a straightforward online process and terms generous enough to matter for anyone travelling to Saudi Arabia more than once a year. Here's exactly what the Saudi ETA for UK citizens covers, who qualifies, how it compares to the tourist eVisa, and where it still falls short.

What the Saudi ETA for UK Citizens Is

The Saudi ETA is an electronic travel authorization specifically for British citizens travelling on UK passports, launched to mirror the UK's own ETA arrangement for Saudi nationals. It allows multiple entries into Saudi Arabia and permits stays of up to 180 days, either taken consecutively in one visit or spread across several trips within the authorization's validity.

The ETA covers tourism, short-term study, and business travel. It does not cover employment, residence, or Hajj — those still require their own specific visa or permit route entirely separate from the ETA.

Key Features at a Glance

Who Qualifies for the Saudi ETA

The ETA is available to British citizens travelling on eligible British passports — the official announcement specifies it applies to holders of all types of UK passports. It's based on citizenship and passport type, not simply on residing in the UK.

A few distinctions worth being precise about:

• UK residents holding another nationality don't qualify for the ETA on the strength of their residence alone — eligibility runs through British citizenship and passport type, not where you live.
• British National (Overseas) passport holders shouldn't assume BN(O) status automatically qualifies under the same terms as a standard British citizen passport. Passport type and status matter here, so check current eligibility for your specific document before relying on the ETA route.
• Irish passport holders are not eligible for the Saudi ETA simply because Ireland sits close to the UK geographically or shares a Common Travel Area with it. Irish nationals should instead check their eligibility for the standard Saudi tourist eVisa, visa on arrival, or another applicable route.

Saudi ETA vs. Tourist eVisa vs. the Old EVW

Which should you pick? If you hold an eligible British passport and expect to travel to Saudi Arabia more than once within the year, or for a longer cumulative stay than the eVisa's 90-day-per-visit cap allows, the ETA is generally the better fit. If you're planning a single, shorter trip, the standard tourist eVisa works just as well and the two are functionally similar in practice. If you're unsure which route actually fits your specific trip, our broader guide on which Saudi visa you need walks through the decision in more detail than a single comparison table can.

What the ETA Allows — and What It Doesn't

The ETA permits travel to Saudi Arabia for:

• Tourism — sightseeing, leisure travel, visiting attractions
• Short-term study — courses that don't amount to a full residence-based enrolment
• Business — meetings, conferences, and permitted business activities

It does not permit:

• Employment — any paid work in Saudi Arabia requires a separate work visa and sponsorship
• Residence — the ETA is a travel authorization, not a residency permit
• Hajj — Hajj travel requires its own dedicated visa and Nusuk Hajj registration, entirely separate from the ETA

If your trip involves anything beyond straightforward tourism, short study, or business — particularly formal business activities requiring an invitation letter or sponsor — check our Saudi eVisa for business and events guide to see whether your specific activity needs a different route than the ETA covers.

How to Apply for the Saudi ETA

1. Confirm your eligibility — British citizen, holding a valid UK passport of any type.
2. Complete the online application on the official Saudi ETA platform, entering your personal and passport information exactly as it appears on your passport.
3. Provide travel details and any other requested information.
4. Pay the applicable fee.
5. Receive your electronic approval, typically within a short processing window.

As with any Saudi entry application, check your passport details are entered exactly as shown before submitting — errors in the passport number, name, date of birth, or nationality can create delays or rejection. For a broader rundown of the mistakes that most often trip up Saudi entry applications generally, see our Saudi eVisa requirements guide, much of which applies equally to getting the ETA application right the first time.

Cost

The ETA carries its own fee, separate from the tourist eVisa. For the current tourist eVisa pricing and what's included, see Saudi Visa for United Kingdom Citizens

Umrah on the Saudi ETA

Eligible ETA holders can use the authorization for Umrah, but the ETA doesn't replace Hajj requirements, and Umrah travel under the ETA remains subject to the same seasonal restrictions that apply to every other visa route — Umrah visas and permits are suspended entirely during the Hajj-season blackout each year, regardless of which document got you into the country.

If your trip is specifically for Umrah, holding a valid ETA is only step one: you'll still need to register separately on the official Nusuk platform and secure a timed Umrah permit before entering Masjid al-Haram. For the complete Umrah process — eligibility, Nusuk registration, fees, and seasonal timing — see our Umrah visa online guide. And if you're unclear on how Umrah travel differs from what Hajj specifically requires, our Umrah visa vs. Hajj visa comparison covers that distinction directly.

Dual Nationals and the ETA

Dual nationals should apply for and travel on the same passport connected to their Saudi ETA. If you hold both British and another nationality, be clear about which passport you're using for the application, and stay consistent with it through to arrival — presenting a different passport at the border than the one your ETA is tied to is a straightforward way to create an avoidable problem at immigration.

Travelling With Children on the ETA

If you're travelling to Saudi Arabia with children under the ETA, the same general principle that applies across Saudi entry routes holds here too: children typically need their own travel authorization or visa, with specifics depending on their nationality and travel circumstances. See our Saudi eVisa for children and families guide for the fuller process, particularly if a child is travelling with only one parent. If your trip is specifically to visit Saudi-resident relatives rather than general tourism, our Saudi family visit visa guide covers that separate, sponsor-based route, which carries different requirements than either the ETA or the standard tourist eVisa.

Processing Time

ETA approvals are generally issued electronically within a short window once the application is correctly submitted, similar in speed to the standard tourist eVisa. For a fuller sense of what affects processing time and how to plan around it, see our Saudi eVisa processing time guide.

If Your ETA Application Is Rejected

As with any Saudi entry application, an ETA request can be rejected over details that seem minor — a mismatched passport number, an inconsistency in personal information, or an issue with the supporting photo. Don't simply resubmit an identical application. Our Saudi eVisa rejected guide covers the most common rejection causes across Saudi entry applications generally and what to correct before trying again.

Not Sure the ETA Is Right for Your Trip?

If you're planning your first trip to Saudi Arabia and want the fuller picture beyond just the authorization itself — what to expect at immigration, dress expectations, and practical first-timer advice — our first trip to Saudi Arabia guide covers that broader context. And if your circumstances don't cleanly fit the ETA — perhaps you're not a British citizen but hold a UK visa instead — check our guide to applying with a US, UK, or Schengen visa, which covers a related but distinctly different eligibility route.