These are the first six countries eligible for Saudi Arabia's new Visa Package
The latest update to the Kingdom’s new travel initiative aims to simplify the booking process by bundling visas with flights, accommodation and more
Last week, Saudi Arabia announced a new Visa Package to make planning a holiday to the Kingdom much simpler. Now, the Ministry of Tourism has revealed the first six countries whose citizens can take advantage of the new system.
Who is eligible?
Visitors from Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan and Mexico can now apply electronically for a Saudi tourist visa as part of a bundled travel booking, without submitting a separate visa application.
How does the Visa Package work?
According to the Saudi Gazette, travellers must book an approved holiday package through one of the Ministry of Tourism’s authorised travel agencies. At present, only Reserval and Almosafer are accredited to provide this service.
Once the booking has been completed and paid for online, the Visa Package, including travel insurance and all necessary travel documents, is issued electronically within 48 hours and sent directly by email.
This means there’s no need to visit a Saudi embassy or submit a separate visa application.
The Visa Package is a single-entry tourist visa valid for three months, allowing visitors to stay in Saudi Arabia for anywhere between two and 88 days. The holiday package must include a confirmed return flight, accommodation at a Ministry of Tourism-licensed hotel rated four stars or above, and the electronic visa application.
Packages start at SAR4,000 per adult for the first two days, with an additional SAR1,000 for each consecutive day.
Travellers can also customise their trip by adding optional extras, such as event tickets and leisure experiences. While the packages do not include Umrah services or other arrangements in Makkah and Madinah, visitors are free to travel throughout Saudi Arabia after arrival, including the two holy cities.
What’s more, if flights or hotel bookings are disrupted by unforeseen circumstances, any refunds or booking modifications will be processed in line with the authorised travel provider’s policies.
Will more countries be added?
As this is only the first phase of the rollout, additional markets are expected to join in the future as Saudi Arabia continues to expand international tourism under Vision 2030.
So, if you have friends or relatives overseas who’ve always wanted to experience Saudi Arabia for themselves, this could make planning their first trip a whole lot more straightforward.
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