Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially expanded eligibility for its international tourist visa program, adding four new nations to the list of eligible countries.
Citizens and passport holders from Mexico, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia can now apply for tourist visas online and ahead of their arrival, to enter the Kingdom for leisure, business, religious visits, and family travel. By expanding the tourist e-Visa and visa-on-arrival eligibility to these four additional countries, the Kingdom has increased the total number of eligible countries to 72.
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Under the updated regulations announced via the official Visit Saudi platform, eligible travellers from these four nations can access multiple visa pathways based on their specific travel needs. Options include an online eVisa applied for prior to departure, a visa on arrival subject to established entry requirements, or a transit and stopover visa designed for travellers connecting through Saudi airports. The tourist visa framework permits multiple entry purposes, allowing holders to attend entertainment events, participate in trade exhibitions and conferences, visit family and friends, and perform Umrah outside of the primary Hajj season.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that while application channels are now open for all four newly added nationalities, all visits remain subject to the Kingdom’s standard entry regulations, passport validity requirements, and travel instructions. Travellers are advised to confirm specific documentation guidelines and application conditions via official government channels prior to booking travel.
A Growing List of Countries
The latest strategic update to entry and visa requirements for Saudi Arabia, brings the total number of eligible countries that can obtain visa-on-arrival or e-visas to over seventy. These new additions to the list aligns with Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts under Vision 2030 to encourage and enhance international access, diversify the nation's revenue streams away from oil, and streamline inbound travel for global visitors.
In July 2026, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for British passport holders, expanding permitted stays from 90 days to 180 days per year. The digital, one-year multiple-entry permit removes the need for consular appointments while doubling the 90-day limit previously enforced under the standard e-Visa. Introduced to mirror the UK’s inclusion of Saudi citizens in its own ETA program, the new authorisation covers travel across leisure, commerce, family visits, and short educational modules.
In 2025, travel to Saudi Arabia became significantly easier for Portuguese citizens, thanks to the country's addition to the Kingdom’s digital e-visa framework. The straightforward online application allows Portuguese passport holders to obtain an e-visa and entry clearance within minutes, bypassing traditional embassy channels.
The expanded access supports Saudi Arabia's broader initiative to welcome global travellers ahead of a busy calendar of high-profile entertainment, sports, and cultural events across key destinations.
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