On August 6, Saudi Arabia granted an additional eight countries permission to apply for e-visas, increasing the number of eligible countries to 57.
E-visas are now available to travellers from Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and South Africa. They apply to leisure, business and Umrah (pilgrimage) travel.
According to spa.gov.sa, the e-visa is valid for a year, grants multiple entries and allows visitors to stay for as long as 90 days.
“Through the fast and easy-to-use online portal, international visitors from 57 eligible countries can apply for an e-visa and discover the warm hospitality of Saudi people, the rich heritage, vibrant culture, and diverse and breathtaking landscapes from the mountains of Abha, to the beaches of the Red Sea, to the shifting sands of the Empty Quarter,” says saudiarabiaevisa.com.
According to visa.visitsaudi.com, the expansion is an incentive to increase tourism.
The e-visa programme was launched in 2019 and by 2022 Saudi Arabia had received 93,5 million arrivals, 93% more than in 2021, and the country registered tourism expenditure of SAR185 billion (R919 billion).
Travellers can apply for the e-visa via the Saudia eVisa online portal through a three-step programme.
Earlier this year, the country also announced the launch of the free 96-hour Stopover Visa, which allows passengers to stay in the country for up to 96 hours.
