Saudi Arabia eVisa for US Travelers: Who Needs It, How to Apply & Umrah vs Hajj
Short answer: A visa is required for entry to Saudi Arabia (U.S. Department of State). For typical US tourism, apply for a Saudi tourist eVisa before you fly or use visa on arrival, for a fee. The United States is among 66 eligible countries on the official portal. The eVisa is one-year, multiple-entry, with stays of up to 90 days per visit. Tourism uses include Umrah (excluding Hajj) — not Hajj itself. Start Saudi eVisa help on my-evisas.com. Stand: 18 August 2026.
Navigation: ← Saudi Arabia · eVisa vs visa on arrival · eVisa fee · Processing time · Start eVisa help
What is the Saudi tourist eVisa?
The Saudi tourist eVisa is the electronic tourist visa issued through the Saudi eVisa portal. It is a one-year, multiple-entry visa that lets tourists spend up to 90 days in the country per visit. Tourism-related uses include events, visiting family, leisure, and Umrah (excluding Hajj). Studying is not covered.
According to U.S. Department of State guidance, tourist visas are generally for a 90-day stay, and you cannot stay more than 180 days in a 12-month period on a tourist visa. Permitted stay dates are calculated on the Hijri calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. Confirm the stay printed on your visa at entry.
For typical US tourism, file the electronic tourist eVisa on the official portal or through assisted filing on my-evisas.com. Confirm eligibility and checkout totals on the live application before you pay.
Official apply channel
The official tourist eVisa website is visa.visitsaudi.com (Saudi eVisa Portal). If your nationality is not on the eligible-country list, the portal directs you to contact the nearest Saudi embassy.
Apply on the official portal yourself, or use assisted filing: Start on my-evisas.com/visas/saudi-arabia.
Passport and stay rules
- Visa required: a visa is required for entry (U.S. Department of State).
- US eligibility: the United States is listed among 66 eligible countries (North America).
- Validity: one year, multiple entry; up to 90 days per stay.
- 12-month cap: no more than 180 days in a 12-month period on a tourist visa.
- Passport: 6-month validity beyond your arrival date; 2 blank pages for entry.
- Calendar: length of stay is calculated on the Hijri calendar.
- Work: a tourist visa does not replace a Saudi work visa. Short business trips (meetings, conferences, workshops with no paid-work contract) may fit tourism rules — confirm before you travel.
Documents overview
Have a valid passport that meets the rules above, and a way to pay the visa fee. The portal overview is: fill the application, pay the visa fee, receive the online visa. Photo and upload requirements are shown in the live form — follow those rules at application time.
A health insurance policy that covers COVID-19 medical treatment is issued with the eVisa, and Visit Saudi says its cost is included in the eVisa fee (coverage matches the one-year visa validity). Confirm amounts and insurance options on the eVisa fee page before you pay.
Umrah on a tourist eVisa vs Hajj
The official portal allows Umrah (excluding Hajj) on the tourist eVisa. U.S. Department of State guidance matches: travelers for Umrah may enter on an e-visa, Umrah visa, or transit visa, but not during the Hajj season. You cannot visit Mecca or perform Umrah during the Hajj season on anything but a Hajj visa.
Hajj requires a Hajj permit and Hajj visa through Nusuk before arrival. You cannot travel to Hajj on a tourist visa, an Umrah visa, or a work visa.
If your trip is Hajj, follow the Nusuk / Ministry of Hajj and Umrah path. If it is tourism or Umrah outside Hajj season, the tourist eVisa is the electronic path we can help with: Start Saudi eVisa help.
eVisa or visa on arrival?
U.S. Department of State guidance and Visit Saudi both describe tourist entry as an eVisa, visa on arrival, or (where you are not eligible online) an embassy application. For US passports on the eligible list, the practical choice is usually eVisa before you fly versus visa on arrival at a formal port of entry.
Compare queues, insurance, and when each path makes sense on Saudi eVisa vs visa on arrival. For the electronic path, start eVisa help.
How to apply — overview
- Confirm you need a tourist eVisa (typical US tourism: yes) and that Hajj is not your purpose.
- Apply on the official Saudi eVisa portal, or use assisted electronic filing via my-evisas.com/visas/saudi-arabia.
- Keep passport validity at least six months beyond arrival and two blank pages.
- Pay the visa fee on the live checkout — amounts vary; see eVisa fee.
- Travel with the approved eVisa; stay up to 90 days per visit, within the 180-day / 12-month cap.
Approval timing is on eVisa processing time — confirm on the live portal before you travel.
FAQ
Do US citizens need a Saudi eVisa?
Yes. A visa is required for entry (U.S. Department of State). The official portal lists the United States among eligible nationalities for the tourist eVisa. For typical tourism, plan on an approved eVisa before you fly (or visa on arrival — see the comparison guide).
What is the official Saudi eVisa website?
See Official apply channel above.
Can I do Umrah on a tourist eVisa?
Yes, outside the Hajj season, on a tourist eVisa (portal: Umrah excluding Hajj; State.gov: Umrah on e-visa, not during Hajj season). You may still need an Umrah permit via Nusuk. Hajj requires a separate Hajj visa.
Is Hajj included on a tourist eVisa?
No. Hajj requires a Hajj visa and permit through Nusuk / the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. A tourist eVisa is not a Hajj visa.
Should I wait and get visa on arrival instead?
That depends on your travel dates and port of entry. See Saudi eVisa vs visa on arrival for when to apply online before you fly versus at the port of entry.
How much is the Saudi eVisa?
Visit Saudi states the tourist visa cost varies. Confirm the live amount when you apply. Insurance is issued with the eVisa and included in that fee. Breakdown: Saudi eVisa fee.
How my-evisas.com can help
my-evisas.com can help with Saudi tourist eVisa (electronic) application support.
- Provided: Saudi tourist eVisa help → my-evisas.com/visas/saudi-arabia
- Not provided: visa on arrival at the airport; Hajj visas; embassy sticker filing; work or study permits
my-evisas.com is a private company, not a government website and not affiliated with the Saudi eVisa Portal, Visit Saudi, or the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Sources
- Saudi eVisa Portal — visa.visitsaudi.com (accessed 2026-08-18)
- Saudi Tourism Authority — Visit Saudi visa regulations / FAQ (accessed 2026-08-18)
- U.S. Department of State — Saudi Arabia travel information (accessed 2026-08-18)
Important Notice
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. my-evisas.com is a private service provider and not a government authority, embassy, or consulate.
Visa requirements and entry regulations can change at short notice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Only the official regulations in force at the time of your application are authoritative.
As of: 18 August 2026
Binding and up-to-date information is provided exclusively by the relevant official authorities. Please verify the currently applicable requirements before your application or travel: https://visa.visitsaudi.com/