Skip to content
Passmere
Join the waitlist

Passmere is a private company, not a government agency. This guide is free information, not legal advice. Each fact links to the official source and shows the date we checked it.

Entry requirements

Saudi Arabia entry requirements for U.S. citizens

What a U.S. tourist needs to enter Saudi Arabia: the visa rule, how long you can stay, the yearly limit and the rules for leaving the country, with official sources.

Updated October 2, 20265 min read

Do you need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

Yes. For a tourist trip, the rule is: under review — see the official source1. Have your visa before you start your trip.

This guide does not list an official application site for Saudi Arabia. Before you book, check the Saudi government's official sources, such as the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United States, for how U.S. tourists apply, the current government fee and the passport rules. Be wary of websites that only look official.

How long you can stay

Tourist visa holders are generally admitted for stays of up to under review — see the official source2. Your total time in Saudi Arabia is also capped at under review — see the official source3 in a year, so earlier visits count.

Check the dates on your visa and confirm with the official source how the days are counted before you plan a long trip or several visits.

Passport rules

This guide does not list Saudi Arabia's passport validity or blank-page rules. Confirm them with the Saudi government's official sources before you apply. If your passport expires soon, renew it first. Renewing by mail takes under review — see the official source5 plus mailing time: see Renew your passport by mail. Short on time? under review — see the official source6 Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.

Leaving Saudi Arabia

Two rules can affect how you leave the country:

If either rule could apply to you or someone traveling with you, check the official source or ask an immigration attorney before you go.

Travel advisory

The U.S. Department of State's travel advisory for Saudi Arabia is under review — see the official source4. The level can change at any time, and the full advisory can say more about specific areas. Read it before you decide to travel and again before you go; the link is under "Sources and verification" at the end of this guide.

Step by step

  1. Read the latest U.S. travel advisory before you plan the trip.
  2. Find out from the Saudi government's official sources how U.S. tourists apply, what it costs and which passport rules apply.
  3. Check your passport against those rules, and renew it if it falls short.
  4. Apply for the visa yourself through the official channel, with your details exactly as they appear in your passport.
  5. Wait until you have the visa before you travel.
  6. Plan your dates within the allowed stay and the yearly limit.
  7. If you have two nationalities, plan to leave on a passport of the same nationality you used to enter.
  8. Check the official sources again in the week before you fly.

Checklist

Before you fly to Saudi Arabia

  • Latest U.S. travel advisory read
  • How to apply and current fee confirmed with official Saudi sources
  • Passport rules confirmed and your passport checked against them
  • Saudi visa in hand before you travel
  • Trip dates within the allowed stay and the yearly limit
  • Exit rules checked for any women or minors in your group
  • Same-nationality passport for entry and exit, if you have two nationalities
  • Official sources checked again in the week before you fly

Do and don't

Do

  • Get your visa only through official Saudi government channels.
  • Keep track of your days, including earlier visits in the same year.
  • Ask for a larger book with more visa pages when you renew, if you travel often: under review — see the official source9.

Don't

  • Don't start your trip without the visa.
  • Don't pay a website that only looks official for a Saudi visa.
  • Don't enter on one nationality's passport and plan to leave on another.

Fees

This guide does not list the government fee for a Saudi tourist visa. The Saudi government's official sources show the current fee before you pay. That fee is paid to the government of Saudi Arabia, not to Passmere. Passmere does not charge for this guide and does not process visas.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a Saudi tourist visa?

The rule is: under review — see the official source1. This guide does not list an official application site, so check the Saudi government's official sources for how U.S. tourists apply and what it costs.

How long can I stay in Saudi Arabia as a tourist?

Tourist visa holders are generally admitted for up to under review — see the official source2, with a cap of under review — see the official source3 in a year. Check the dates on your visa.

I have two nationalities. Which passport should I use?

under review — see the official source8 For your own case, check the official source or ask an immigration attorney.

Do women need permission to leave Saudi Arabia?

They may. under review — see the official source7 Check the official source before you go.

Does Passmere apply for the visa for me?

No. Passmere is a private company that prepares U.S. passport paperwork; it does not process visas. You apply yourself through official Saudi government channels.

Sources and verification

  1. Entry document for tourism — U.S. Department of State: Saudi Arabia International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
  2. Maximum tourist stay — U.S. Department of State: Saudi Arabia International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
  3. Tourist stay limit per year — U.S. Department of State: Saudi Arabia International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
  4. U.S. Travel Advisory level — U.S. Department of State: Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory. under review — see the official source
  5. Routine processing time — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. under review — see the official source
  6. Urgent travel: passport agency appointment — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Passport Fast. under review — see the official source
  7. Male guardian permission to leave — U.S. Department of State: Saudi Arabia International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
  8. Exit on the entry passport — U.S. Department of State: Saudi Arabia International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
  9. Extra cost for the large passport book — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source
Join the waitlist