Written and reviewed by the VistoRoute visa research team · Facts last verified November 2026 · VistoRoute is a private visa assistance company and is not affiliated with any visa authority.
The lightest way to enter Saudi Arabia
Apply in three steps
Passport number, name and dates exactly as printed on your passport. Entry also needs a passport with comfortable validity — six months is the safe benchmark.
The fee is charged per application. Check the details once more before confirming — a submitted application cannot be corrected or refunded.
The authorisation arrives electronically. Save a copy on your phone and print one backup to carry with the same passport at the border.
Apply at least a week before travel. Every decision rests with the visa authority — a payment does not change that.
The Saudi ETA at a glance
| Aspect | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | UK passport holders — the ETA route's current published listing |
| Fee | SAR 50 |
| Validity | 730 days (two years) from issuance |
| Maximum stay | 180 days |
| Insurance | Not required — no bundled insurance on this route |
| Children | A separate application per child |
| Route status | Fully online — live since 1 July 2026 |
Per the visa authority's published ETA listing — verified 31 October 2026. Amounts and rules can change; the checkout displays the live amount before you pay.
Is the ETA the right document for you?
If you hold a UK passport, the ETA's listing points you to the lightest route: the lowest published fee, no insurance and a two-year validity window with 180-day stays. The tourist eVisa remains the broader document — its own list covers 66 countries plus conditional routes (US, UK and Schengen visa holders, permanent residents and GCC residents) — and it bundles medical insurance into the fee. Not a UK passport? Start from the eligible-country and routes page.
| Saudi ETA | Tourist eVisa | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | SAR 50 | USD 80 + USD 10.50 + USD 10.50 + insurance |
| Validity | 730 days (two years) | One year |
| Maximum stay | 180 days | 90 days per visit · 180 days per 12 months |
| Insurance | Not required | Bundled into the fee |
Per the visa authority's published listings for both routes — verified 31 October 2026.
Everything else, answered
Applying for children
One application per child, entered against the child's own passport details. Apply for your own authorisation first, then complete each child's with the passport open beside you — a child's passport-number typo is only discovered when the confirmation is checked against the document.
Documents to carry at the border
Travel on the same passport used in the application and carry a copy of the ETA confirmation — saved offline and ideally printed. Keep your return ticket accessible, and expect routine biometric capture at major airports. Entry remains subject to border checks and the discretion of an Immigration Officer.
If your plans change or the ETA expires
A submitted application cannot be canceled or refunded. On the plus side, two years of validity makes "applying too early" almost impossible — if a trip is postponed, the authorisation simply waits for the next one. If it lapses before you travel, a fresh application and fee are required.
How long the application takes
The flow is fill, pay, receive by email — most straightforward applications are processed quickly, but published windows allow longer for some cases. Apply a week before departure and the slow end of the window can never affect your trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Saudi ETA?
The electronic travel authorisation — a lighter, fully online entry document separate from the tourist eVisa, currently listed for UK passport holders — verified 31 October 2026.
How much does the Saudi ETA cost?
SAR 50 per the published listing, with no insurance requirement — the lowest published cost of the Saudi entry routes. The amount displayed at payment is always the authoritative one.
How long is it valid, and how long can I stay?
730 days (two years) from issuance, with a maximum stay of 180 days per the published listing.
Do children need their own ETA?
Yes — a separate application per child is required, entered against each child's own passport details.
Can I work in Saudi Arabia on the ETA?
No. The ETA is a travel authorisation for visits — paid employment is not permitted on it, and working trips belong on a dedicated work or business route through the relevant Saudi services.
Get your Saudi ETA today
SAR 50 · two-year validity · 180-day stays · delivered by email. Have your passport ready and you can finish in minutes.
Apply for the Saudi ETA ↗