Saudi Arabia opened to British tourists in 2019 with the launch of the Tourist e-Visa, ending decades of restricted leisure access. In 2026 there are three main routes for British passport holders: the Tourist e-Visa via visa.visitsaudi.com for general travel, the Umrah e-Visa for religious travel to Mecca and Medina, and the Business e-Visa via the Saudi Business Visa Platform for commercial visits. Each is applied for directly through the relevant Saudi government portal, with British nationals eligible without consular interview. This guide explains the three routes, their fees, their conditions, and the editorial reality of where third party expediter services do and do not add value. It is not regulated immigration advice.
TL;DR: The 60 Second Answer
- Tourist e-Visa via visa.visitsaudi.com: around £107, one year multi entry, 90 days per visit.- Umrah e-Visa: separate portal, specific to Mecca and Medina religious travel, includes mandatory health insurance.
- Business e-Visa via Saudi Business Visa Platform: requires Saudi host sponsorship.
- Tourist e-Visa includes mandatory health insurance bundled into the fee.
- GCC residents now eligible for the Saudi ETA scheme since May 2026; UK residents apply via standard e-Visa.
- Third party expediters charge £150 to £200 for the Tourist e-Visa that the official portal issues for around £107.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Sourced from GOV.UK
Saudi tourism opening and the visa categories that followed
Saudi Arabia's tourism visa scheme launched in September 2019 as part of the broader Vision 2030 economic diversification programme. Before this, visa access for British nationals was effectively restricted to business sponsorship, religious pilgrimage, or family connection. The Tourist e-Visa changed this fundamentally by allowing British passport holders to apply directly online without consular interview, sponsorship, or invitation letter.
The main visa categories available to UK applicants in 2026 are: Tourist e-Visa (for leisure travel, family visits, and certain conferences and events), Umrah e-Visa (for the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina), Business e-Visa (for commercial activities with a Saudi host sponsor), Work Visa (issued only after employment authorisation by the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources), and Family Visit Visa (issued via Saudi host sponsor for relatives of residents).
The Hajj pilgrimage operates under a separate quota system administered by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. UK Hajj pilgrims apply through one of the authorised UK Hajj tour operators rather than directly through the e-Visa portal; the operator handles the quota allocation, visa application, and logistics package as a bundle.
The Tourist e-Visa is the route most commonly used by general UK travellers. It covers leisure travel anywhere in Saudi Arabia outside the holy mosque areas (which require the separate Umrah or Hajj routes), and permits attendance at sports, cultural, and entertainment events including AlUla, Diriyah, the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and the various festivals introduced under the Vision 2030 cultural programme.
Tourist e-Visa via visa.visitsaudi.com
The official Tourist e-Visa portal is visa.visitsaudi.com, operated by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. The application is short (typically 10 to 15 minutes), takes a digital scan of the passport bio data page, and is paid in Saudi Riyals or major foreign currencies through international card processing. British passport holders are eligible without any sponsorship or invitation requirement.
The Tourist e-Visa is issued as a one year multi entry visa with a 90 day per visit cap and a 180 day aggregate cap across the validity year. The fee in 2026 is approximately 535 Saudi Riyals (around £107 at current exchange rates), which includes the visa fee itself and mandatory health insurance for the duration of stays in the Kingdom. The health insurance bundling is unusual in international visa systems and reflects the Saudi government's policy of ensuring all tourists are covered for medical incidents.
Processing time for the Tourist e-Visa is typically minutes to hours rather than days; many applications are approved within five to ten minutes of payment, with the e-Visa delivered by email shortly thereafter. For applications requiring additional review (typically those flagging mismatches between application data and passport data), processing can take 24 to 72 hours but rarely longer.
The Tourist e-Visa permits stays in Saudi Arabia for tourism, leisure, family visits, attendance at events, and certain business meetings that do not constitute formal commercial activity requiring a Business Visa. It does not permit Umrah, Hajj, employment, or formal residence. Visitors found to be working on a Tourist e-Visa face fines, deportation, and possible future entry bans.
Umrah e-Visa for religious travel to Mecca and Medina
The Umrah e-Visa is a separate visa category specifically for the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. It is applied for through dedicated Saudi government channels and is distinct from the Tourist e-Visa in both portal and conditions. UK applicants typically apply via the Nusuk platform (the Saudi government's integrated pilgrim services system) or through an authorised UK Umrah tour operator.
The Umrah e-Visa permits travel for the specific religious purposes of Umrah, with conditions including dress code, gender separation requirements at the holy sites, and the requirement that travellers must follow the prescribed Umrah ritual. The visa is typically issued for 30 days and allows entry only at certain Saudi airports (primarily Jeddah and Medina) configured for Umrah pilgrim arrivals.
The fee structure for the Umrah e-Visa includes the visa itself plus mandatory health insurance and certain religious services charges. The total cost varies but typically runs between SAR 300 and SAR 500 (around £60 to £100) depending on the booking channel and the services package.
Most UK Umrah travellers book through an authorised UK tour operator (regulated under the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah supervision) which bundles the visa, flights, accommodation in Mecca and Medina, transport, and guide services into a single package. Independent Umrah travel on the e-Visa alone is technically permitted but operationally complex, particularly for first time pilgrims unfamiliar with the rituals and logistics.
Business e-Visa and the Saudi Business Visa Platform
The Business e-Visa is applied for through the Saudi Business Visa Platform (an entry point on the same Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa portal), and requires sponsorship by a Saudi based host company. The sponsor initiates the visa request through their account on the Saudi government's business visa system, and the applicant then completes the application on the inviting reference.
The Business e-Visa permits commercial activities: meetings, negotiations, trade fair attendance, contract signing, factory inspections, and similar engagements with a Saudi business counterpart. It does not permit paid employment; applicants taking up Saudi employment must apply for a Work Visa through the separate Ministry of Human Resources process.
Validity and stay periods vary by category. Single entry Business e-Visas are typically issued for 60 day stays within three months of issue. Multi entry Business e-Visas can be issued for one year validity with 30 to 90 day stays per visit. The Saudi sponsor determines the requested validity at the point of issuing the invitation.
Fees are split between the application fee paid by the visitor (typically around SAR 300 to SAR 600 depending on category) and certain sponsor side fees paid by the Saudi host company. Most UK business visitors do not see the sponsor side fees directly because they are handled by the Saudi counterpart.
Saudi ETA expansion and what changed in May 2026
The Saudi government expanded its electronic travel authorisation scheme in May 2026 to include Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) residents who hold residence permits in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, or the United Arab Emirates. This means that British nationals resident in these GCC countries can now apply for a Saudi ETA rather than the full Tourist e-Visa, with a simpler application process and lower fee.
The ETA expansion does not apply to British nationals resident in the United Kingdom. UK residents continue to apply for the Tourist e-Visa through visa.visitsaudi.com on the same terms as before. The ETA scheme is specifically a residence based rather than citizenship based authorisation, designed to facilitate intra GCC travel for the long resident expatriate population in the Gulf states.
For dual residents (UK based but with periods in the GCC) the Tourist e-Visa remains the route from the UK. Anyone applying from a GCC country of residence may qualify for the ETA route depending on the specific bilateral arrangements between Saudi Arabia and the residence country. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the current eligible nationalities and residence categories on the official visa portal.
The broader trajectory of Saudi visa policy in 2026 is toward simplification and openness. The Tourist e-Visa has been progressively extended to cover more nationalities, the validity period has been extended from initial 90 day single entry to current one year multi entry, and the Umrah visa rules have been relaxed to permit limited tourism alongside religious travel where the underlying purpose is genuine. UK travellers benefit from this trajectory as one of the first nationality groups to access the Tourist e-Visa in 2019.
Official portals versus third party expediters
The Saudi Tourist e-Visa portal accepts British passport holders directly without intermediary. The official fee is approximately £107 inclusive of health insurance, and the typical processing time is minutes to hours. Third party UK visa expediters offering "Saudi Arabia visa" services typically charge £150 to £200 for the same Tourist e-Visa, representing a £45 to £95 markup over the official cost.
What the expediter is selling is form completion assistance, customer support, and email forwarding of the e-Visa once issued. The underlying e-Visa is the same one the Saudi government issues directly. There is no expediter privileged channel into the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs system, and the expediter cannot accelerate processing.
The clearest case for an expediter is the combined Saudi plus other country visa scenario (Saudi plus UAE, Saudi plus Bahrain) where a UK traveller is processing multiple Gulf visas in parallel. Consolidated handling saves separate applications and can be worth the markup. For Saudi alone with a straightforward tourism itinerary, the official portal is direct and inexpensive.
For Umrah travel, the appropriate route is an authorised UK Umrah tour operator rather than a general visa expediter. The Umrah tour operator combines the visa application, religious package, and logistics as a single regulated service under Saudi government supervision. General visa expediters do not have the authorisation framework to handle Umrah pilgrimages, and using them for Umrah specifically is rarely the correct choice.
Editorial Disclaimer
Content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute regulated immigration, legal or financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and does not provide regulated immigration advice. Rules, fees and processing times change without notice. Verify current entry requirements directly with GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs official visa portal before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia in 2026?
Yes. Saudi Arabia requires a visa for all British passport holders. The standard tourism route is the Tourist e-Visa via visa.visitsaudi.com, costing around £107 for one year multi entry with 90 days per visit. Umrah religious travel uses the Umrah e-Visa applied for via the Nusuk platform or an authorised tour operator. Business travel requires the Business e-Visa with a Saudi host sponsor. Employment in Saudi Arabia requires a Work Visa issued only after employment authorisation.
How long does the Saudi Tourist e-Visa take to process?
Typically minutes to hours for straightforward applications. Many British applicants receive the e-Visa within five to ten minutes of payment, with the document delivered by email. Applications requiring additional review (typically those with data mismatches between the form and the passport scan) take 24 to 72 hours. Plan for at least three days before travel as a safety margin, even though most applications complete much faster.
Can I do Umrah on a Saudi Tourist e-Visa?
Tourist e-Visa holders are permitted limited access to Mecca and Medina under the relaxed rules introduced as part of the 2019 tourism opening, but the prescribed Umrah ritual is technically intended for Umrah e-Visa holders. For genuine Umrah pilgrimage, the dedicated Umrah e-Visa or an Umrah package through an authorised UK tour operator is the appropriate route. The Saudi authorities have indicated that the boundaries between Tourist and Umrah e-Visa scopes will be progressively clarified.
Is there a Saudi visa on arrival for British citizens?
No general visa on arrival scheme. The Tourist e-Visa is the standard pre travel route and is processed online before the flight. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has discussed introducing limited visa on arrival arrangements for certain nationalities, but as of May 2026 British nationals continue to use the e-Visa pre travel route. The e-Visa is sufficiently fast that on arrival is rarely needed.
Does the Saudi e-Visa include health insurance?
Yes. The Tourist e-Visa fee of around £107 includes mandatory health insurance covering medical incidents during the visit. The insurance is administered through a Saudi government scheme and applies automatically; no separate policy is needed. The insurance covers basic medical care; visitors with pre existing conditions or planning high risk activities should consider supplementary travel insurance from a UK provider.
What if I have an Israeli stamp in my passport?
Saudi Arabia historically refused entry to passport holders with Israeli entry stamps, but this position has softened in recent years as part of broader regional normalisation. As of 2026, an Israeli stamp is no longer an automatic bar to a Saudi visa, though immigration officers retain discretion at the border. Travellers with significant Israeli stamps should consider applying with a new passport where possible. The position continues to evolve and should be checked closer to travel.
Should I use a third party service for a Saudi visa?
For a straightforward Tourist e-Visa application, no. The official Saudi government portal accepts British passport holders directly at the lowest cost and processes most applications within hours. Third party expediters charge £150 to £200 for the same e-Visa the official portal issues for around £107. For combined Saudi plus other Gulf country visa applications or for Umrah packages, a specialist tour operator or expediter may add genuine value.
How we verified this
Verification draws on the official Saudi Tourist e-Visa portal at visa.visitsaudi.com, the GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice page for Saudi Arabia (entry requirements section), the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular policy pages, and the Nusuk platform documentation for the Umrah category. The May 2026 GCC ETA expansion is referenced from the Saudi Press Agency announcement. All fee references reflect the published rates as of May 2026 and are subject to change by the Saudi government without notice. Verified May 2026.
Primary Sources
- Saudi Tourist e-Visa Portal: official Ministry of Tourism application system
- GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice Saudi Arabia: entry requirements and visa categories
- Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs: consular and visa policy
- Nusuk Platform: Saudi government integrated pilgrim services for Umrah
- GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice Saudi Arabia: overall safety and travel guidance
