Saudi Arabia will allow Gulf residents to easily apply for its e-Visa and residents of the UK, US and EU to get a visa on arrival as the Kingdom bids to attract 100 million visitors annually.
The announcement was made on Thursday, and follows a decree signed by the Kingdom’s Minister of Tourism.
The GCC resident permit for applicants must be valid for at least three months.
GCC residents can now apply for an e-Visa through the online portal, and residents of the UK, US, and the EU can apply for a visa on arrival in the Kingdom.
Holders of a valid tourist or business visa from the UK, US, or one of the Schengen Agreement countries will continue to be able to apply for a visa on arrival, provided that it has been used at least once to enter the country granting the visa, the ministry said.
The new regulations remove the need for many would-be visitors to visit their country’s embassy before entering Saudi Arabia, increasing opportunities for potential travelers through a simplified process, the ministry added.
