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.
Adults apply on behalf of minors — with authority
The Saudi eVisa terms are unambiguous about who can use the service: a person must be at least 18 to use the service and apply for an eVisa. Children do not lose out because of this — they simply travel on applications made for them. An adult using the service on behalf of a minor must accept the terms for the minor and represent that they have authority to do so, and the same entitlement rule applies when applying for another adult.
The practical structure for families is therefore: the parent or guardian applies first (their own application), then completes a separate application for each child, entering the child's passport details exactly as printed. Each traveler — from teenager to infant — ends up with an individual eVisa checked individually at the border.
Who applies for whom — the rules at a glance
| Situation | Rule | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant under 18 | Service use requires age 18+; an adult applies on the minor's behalf | Parent or guardian submits a separate application with the child's passport details |
| Infants and toddlers | Same rule — own application, own eVisa | No age exemption; babies need individual approvals |
| Applying for another adult | You must represent that you are entitled to apply on their behalf | Use for elderly relatives or travellers who cannot apply themselves |
| UK ETA for children | A separate application per child is required | Same one-traveler-one-application structure on the ETA route |
| Family itineraries | Names, passport numbers and dates must be consistent across all applications | Mismatches between family members' records cause border friction |
Per the visa authority's published visa terms and the ETA's per-child application rule — verified 31 October 2026.
Where family applications go wrong
The most common failure is treating the family as one booking. Parents complete their application smoothly, then rush the children's applications with details typed from memory — and a child's passport number or birthdate typo is only discovered when the issued eVisa is checked against the passport. Since submitted applications cannot be corrected or refunded, apply for yourself first, then handle each child's application with the passport physically open beside you.
The second issue is authority paperwork at the border. A parent travelling with children shares a surname and faces no questions; a guardian, grandparent or one parent travelling alone with children may be asked to show the relationship or the consent of the other parent. This is a general border-preparedness point rather than an eVisa term — carry birth certificates or consent letters when the family structure is not obvious from the passports.
Finally, remember the timing structure: children's eVisas are issued independently, so they do not always arrive in the same confirmation window as the parents'. Check every attachment separately, and keep each traveler's eVisa copy with their own passport documents rather than in one combined folder.
Check the authority
- Do not submit on behalf of another person without the authority to do so.
- Keep names, passport numbers and dates consistent across every family application.
- Carry the issued eVisa for each traveler, not one copy for the family.
- Prepare relationship or consent evidence if the travelling adult is not the child's parent.
Related Saudi Arabia guides
Saudi Arabia FAQs
Can a minor use the service alone?
No. The terms say the service user and applicant must be at least 18; an adult may use the service on behalf of a minor if they have authority.
Can I apply for another adult?
Yes, only if you represent that you are entitled to make the application on their behalf.
Does one family application cover everyone?
No. Each traveler needs their own application and their own issued eVisa — including infants.
Do children pay the same fee?
Each application carries the same fee components shown at checkout, so budget the full per-application amount for every child.
What documents should a non-parent guardian carry?
Border officers may ask for evidence of the relationship or parental consent — carry birth certificates or consent letters when the passports do not make the family structure obvious.
Applying for a Saudi family group?
Prepare the adult representative authority and each traveler's passport details before applying.
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