Saudi eVisa Eligible Countries: Full List and How to Check Yours

Saudi eVisa eligible countries now span most of Europe, North America, large parts of Asia and Oceania, and a handful of African nations — but not every passport qualifies, and the list of Saudi eVisa eligible countries has expanded in stages since the visa first launched in 2019. Getting this wrong isn't just an inconvenience: booking flights before confirming your nationality is actually on the current list is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes travellers make when planning a Saudi Arabia trip. This guide gives you the full current list, the two workaround routes if your country isn't on it, exactly how to apply once you've confirmed eligibility, and answers to the specific "is my country eligible" questions that come up most often.

Quick Answer: Which Countries Are Eligible for the Saudi eVisa?

The Saudi eVisa eligible countries list covers a defined set of nationalities across five regions — North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. If your passport isn't among them, you may still qualify through a valid UK, US, or Schengen visa, permanent residency in the US, UK, or EU, or a qualifying GCC residence permit. Travellers outside all of these routes apply through a sponsored visa or a licensed operator instead, which is particularly relevant for Umrah pilgrims from countries not yet on the eVisa list.

How the Saudi eVisa Eligible Countries List Has Grown

Saudi Arabia introduced the tourist eVisa in September 2019 with a more limited set of eligible nationalities than exists today. The list has since been expanded multiple times in batches — new rounds of countries have been added roughly every year or two as part of the Kingdom's wider tourism push under Vision 2030, with additions spanning Europe, Central Asia, and beyond. This matters practically: an article, forum post, or even an official-looking source published two or three years ago may already be missing countries that have since been added. If you're cross-referencing older information against this list, assume it's a snapshot rather than a permanent record.

Full List of Saudi eVisa Eligible Countries by Region

Some of the most frequently searched nationalities alongside "Saudi eVisa eligible countries" — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Egypt — are not currently on this list, despite representing some of the largest volumes of travellers to Saudi Arabia overall, particularly for Umrah. Travellers from these countries need one of the alternative routes below, or an approved Umrah operator for pilgrimage travel specifically.

Because the Saudi eVisa eligible countries list has grown in several rounds over the years, and different published sources currently disagree on the exact total count, treat this table as a strong reference point rather than a final word, and confirm your specific passport against the official portal before booking flights around it.

Regional Notes Worth Knowing

Europe makes up the largest single bloc on the Saudi eVisa eligible countries list, covering nearly all EU and EEA member states along with the UK, Switzerland, and several Balkan and Caucasus nations. If you hold any Western or Central European passport, you're almost certainly covered — the main exceptions tend to be smaller or more recently independent states that simply haven't been added yet.

Asia is a more mixed picture. Major economies like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia are firmly on the list, as is China (including Hong Kong and Macau). But several of the region's largest source markets for both tourism and Umrah — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia — remain outside the standard eVisa list, which is a significant gap given how many pilgrims and travellers originate from these countries.

Africa has the shortest representation on the current list — South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles — leaving the vast majority of African nations, including Egypt, outside standard eVisa eligibility.

North America and Oceania are straightforward: the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are all covered, alongside a couple of smaller Caribbean and Central American nations.

Not Among the Saudi eVisa Eligible Countries? Two Routes That Still Work

Even outside the standard list of Saudi eVisa eligible countries, two other paths lead into the same visa system, and together they cover a meaningful share of travellers whose passport alone wouldn't qualify.

1. You hold a valid, used UK, US, or Schengen visa

Travellers whose passport isn't on the standard list may still qualify by holding a valid US, UK, or Schengen visa that's already been used to enter the issuing country. See Saudi Visa for US, UK & Schengen Visa Holders for the full rule, what "valid and used" means, and the documents you'll need.

2. You're a permanent resident of the US, UK, or EU

Permanent residents of the United States, United Kingdom, or European Union may also qualify under a separate allowance, independent of their own passport's eligibility status. This is a distinct category from the visa-holder route above — it's based on your residency status in one of these regions, not on holding a specific travel visa from them.

3. You hold a qualifying GCC residence permit

Foreign nationals with valid residency in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, or Oman can apply through the dedicated GCC-resident eVisa route, based on residency rather than passport nationality, and currently open to all occupations. This route exists specifically because so many expatriates living in the Gulf hold passports that aren't on the standard eVisa eligible countries list.

If none of these three apply to you, the remaining option is a sponsored or agent-assisted visa route — relevant for both general tourism and, in particular, for Umrah travellers whose passport sits outside the eligible-countries list entirely.

What the eVisa Allows, for Eligible-Country Passport Holders

Regardless of which of the routes above gets you there, the eVisa itself carries consistent terms:

• Validity: 1 year from issue
• Entry type: Multiple entry
• Stay per visit: Up to 90 days
• Permitted activities: Tourism, sightseeing, visiting family and friends, attending business events and conferences, and Umrah (excluding Hajj)
• Not permitted: Employment, study, or Hajj — none of which the tourist eVisa covers under any circumstance

eVisa or Visa on Arrival?

The same eligible-countries list generally covers both routes — the difference is simply when your documents get checked. See Saudi Visa on Arrival for eligibility, fees, airport locations, and a full comparison with the eVisa.

How to Check If Your Country Is on the Saudi eVisa Eligible List

1. Check your passport nationality against the current official eligible-countries list, not an older saved copy or a list from a general travel forum.
2. If it isn't listed, check whether you hold a valid, already-used UK, US, or Schengen visa, or relevant permanent residency status.
3. If neither applies, check whether you hold qualifying GCC residency.
4. If none of the above apply, plan on a sponsored visa route or, for Umrah specifically, a licensed Umrah operator.

How to Apply Once You've Confirmed Eligibility

1. Confirm your country is among the Saudi eVisa eligible countries, or that one of the workaround routes applies to you.
2. Complete the online application with your passport details, a digital photo, and travel information.
3. Pay the visa fee, which typically includes mandatory travel health insurance.
4. Receive your eVisa by email, usually within a short processing window.
5. Register on Nusuk separately if your trip includes Umrah, since the eVisa alone doesn't grant entry to Masjid al-Haram — a common point of confusion even among travellers who correctly confirmed their eligible-country status.

Fees

Common Mistakes Travellers Make With Eligible-Country Rules

• Assuming an old eligible-countries list is still current. The list has changed multiple times since 2019, and content published even a year or two ago may be missing recent additions.
• Confusing "not on the list" with "no route exists." The UK/US/Schengen visa-holder route and the GCC-residency route both exist specifically for travellers in exactly this position.
• Assuming an unused UK/US/Schengen visa qualifies. Most versions of this rule require the visa to have already been used to enter the issuing country at least once — holding an unused visa isn't enough on its own.
• Not separately checking passport validity. Six-month passport validity applies regardless of nationality eligibility, and it's a separate check from confirming your country is on the eVisa list.
• Assuming eligible-country status guarantees Umrah access. Being on the Saudi eVisa eligible countries list means the eVisa permits Umrah as an activity — it doesn't replace the separate Nusuk registration and permit still required to enter Masjid al-Haram.

If Your Country Isn't on the Saudi eVisa Eligible List

Nationalities including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Egypt currently sit outside the standard Saudi eVisa eligible countries list, despite representing some of the largest traveller volumes to the Kingdom. For general tourism, this typically means applying through the traditional embassy or consulate route rather than online. For Umrah specifically, it means going through a Ministry of Hajj and Umrah–licensed operator, who handles the visa alongside your Nusuk booking, accommodation, and transport as a single package. This is also where unlicensed agents cause the most problems — stick to operators listed in the official Nusuk service-provider directory rather than informal agents promising a faster or cheaper route.