Passport holders with U.S., Schengen or UK tourist or commercial visas can enter Saudi – SPA

Passport holders with U.S., Schengen or UK tourist or commercial visas can obtain tourist visas upon arrival into Saudi Arabia, state news agency SPA reported on Thursday (Jan 2).

SPA cited a source in the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage as saying that the passport holder must have used their visa to enter the United States, United Kingdom or any of the 26 Schengen countries before entering Saudi Arabia.

These visas upon arrival into Saudi Arabia for passport holders with pre-existing U.S., UK or Schengen visas are not included in the electronic visa programme, it added.

Saudi Arabia started issuing tourist visas on September 28 as part of efforts to boost tourism revenues as the country diversifies its economy away from oil exports.

Saudi Arabian authorities said on October 8 that 23,715 tourist visas were issued between September 28 and October 8.

Citizens of 49 eligible countries can apply for electronic visas while citizens from other nations must apply separately. The 49 eligible countries are mainly in Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania, including three Muslim-majority countries Brunei, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan.

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