Saudi Arabia introduces e-visa and visa on arrival for four new countries

Saudi Arabia’s expansion of its e-visa and visa-on-arrival program was announced on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing the total number of eligible nationalities to 72, up from 68 at the beginning of October.

Four new countries added to the official list

Media reports confirm that the eligibility change is already reflected on the official tourism visa portal, with the homepage now stating that citizens from “72 eligible countries” can apply for an e-visa.

Within the portal, Mexico has been placed in the North America section alongside the United States, Canada, Panama, and four Caribbean nations (Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Kitts and Nevis). Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia have been added to the European section of the portal.

This marks the second expansion in a month. In early October, Saudi Arabia had already opened the system to citizens of Kosovo and Guyana, taking the total number of eligible countries to 68.

All Western Balkans now eligible

The inclusion of Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia means that all six Western Balkan countries are now covered. Albania and Slovenia were already included, and now all six have access to the Saudi e-visa or visa on arrival. Croatia and Slovenia, direct neighbors, are also on the list.

In the Americas, the list remains limited. In addition to the North America and Caribbean sections, only Panama and Guyana are currently eligible—no other countries in Central or South America have been added at this time. Mexico is the second Spanish-speaking country on the continent with access to the Saudi e-visa or visa on arrival.

E-visa or Visa on arrival: what the official portal offers

Visit Saudi’s nationality simulator for these four countries confirms three entry pathways: e-visa, visa on arrival, and transit visa (“stopover”), with identical eligibility requirements.

Requirements: the service applies uniformly to Mexico, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia.

The cost is 395 Saudi Riyals online and upon arrival, plus processing fees. Two options are available:

• multiple entry: visas valid for one year from issue, allowing stay of up to 90 consecutive days

• single entry: visas valid for three months from issue, allowing one stay of up to 90 consecutive days

A passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of entry. Eligible travelers can apply for an e-visa regardless of age, though minors traveling unaccompanied may still face restrictions based on their country’s rules.

For visa on arrival, travelers can apply at the airport or border checkpoint via self-service kiosks or at the passport control desk. The Visit Saudi portal clarifies that e-visa holders can use any official entry point, including land borders. To facilitate this, the Ministry of Interior launched on October 31, a pre-entry system called « Absher Travel for Visitors », requiring completion before arrival at the land border.

What does this visa cover? Umrah, events, family visits

The Saudi e-visa is presented on the official portal as a visa for tourism activities only: events, visiting family and friends, leisure, and umrah. It does not cover Hajj or Hajj visas—entry for Hajj requires a separate permit, valid during the Hajj season, which is now available only via Nusuk.

The same portal states that umrah is possible with a tourist visa, though travelers must book a slot on Nusuk platform (en) for a permit.