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Do American citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
United States 
Saudi Arabia United States passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia, so no application is needed before travelling.
Visa on arrival
- Entry requirement
- Visa on arrival
- Maximum stay
- Check on entry
- Apply before travel
- No
- Last updated
- February 2026
How to apply
Checked November 2026⚠️ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises applicants to avoid unauthorised individuals or companies and to use the official KSA Visa platform (ksavisa.sa), which displays a government verification badge. Use only the official links below.
Visa on arrival
- Fee
- Same tourist visit visa (fee and insurance as for the e-Visa)
- Stay
- Up to 90 days
- Notes
- Available to holders of valid US, UK or Schengen visit visas and to permanent residents of the US, EU or UK.
At the border
- The tourist visa allows tourism, family visits, events and Umrah, but not Hajj or work.
- Health insurance is mandatory and is bought as part of the visa application.
- UK citizens can use the Saudi ETA (separate application for each traveller, including children); it cannot be used for work or Hajj.
- Nationals not eligible for the e-Visa or visa on arrival apply through a visa service centre or Saudi embassy after starting the application on KSA Visa.
Official source: KSA Visa platform - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia · Not yet confirmed officially: Passport validity rule (commonly 6 months; not on the pages read), Launch date of the Saudi ETA for UK citizens, Exact current list of e-Visa eligible nationalities (Saudi Tourism's visa.visitsaudi.com lists 72 countries; the MOFA list may differ), recentChanges: none confirmed with dates on official pages
What United States passport holders need to do
- Bring a passport with enough validity and at least one blank page.
- Have the visa fee ready, often in cash, plus passport photos if they are requested.
- Carry proof of onward travel and accommodation to show the immigration officer.
United States is one of 69 passports in the “visa on arrival” group for Saudi Arabia. See the full Saudi Arabia visa requirements for every passport.
Other easy destinations in Asia for United States passport holders
Saudi Arabia is one of 36 destinations in the “visa on arrival” group for the United States passport, which ranks #10 worldwide with a mobility score of 158. Of 50 destinations in Asia, 37 need no visa arranged in advance; the easiest are listed below.
| Destination | Requirement | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
 Armenia | Visa-free | 180 days |
 Brunei | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Georgia | Visa-free | 360 days |
 Hong Kong | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Israel | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Japan | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Kazakhstan | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Kyrgyzstan | Visa-free | 60 days |
 Macau | Visa-free | 30 days |
 Malaysia | Visa-free | – |
 Mongolia | Visa-free | 90 days |
 Palestine | Visa-free | – |
Frequently asked questions
Do American citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
United States passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia, so no application is needed before travelling.
Do Saudi Arabia citizens need a visa for the United States?
Saudi Arabia passport holders need to obtain a visa from an embassy, consulate or visa centre before travelling to the United States.
Saudi Arabia visa requirements for other passports
Data last updated February 2026. This page covers short visits such as tourism. Rules can change at short notice and differ for work, study or long stays. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of Saudi Arabia before you book.