The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism has introduced a new initiative—a package visa that simplifies the process of planning trips to the Kingdom for tourists from seven countries.
VOID_REWRITE_END_EN_The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism has introduced a new initiative—a package visa that simplifies the process of planning trips to the Kingdom for tourists from seven countries.
VOID_REWRITE_END_EN_The pilot program allows visitors to obtain a tourist visa as part of an approved travel package. This package combines flights, accommodation in licensed hotels, and electronic visa processing within a single booking process. This service significantly simplifies travel for international tourists, as instead of submitting separate applications, eligible visitors can select an approved travel package and receive the visa along with travel insurance.
The visa is issued electronically and instantly upon completion of the purchase of the travel package, eliminating the need to visit an embassy or submit a separate application.
Currently, citizens of seven countries can use this service provided they purchase an integrated travel package through a tourism agency approved by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism. The Ministry has stated plans to continuously add new nationalities to the program's participant list.
The countries currently eligible to apply are Jordan, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan. The visa cost is 402.21 Saudi riyals (393 dirhams), which includes both the visa processing fee and the medical insurance premium. In case of visa refusal, the authorized tourism service provider must refund the cost of reimbursable services included in the package; however, the visa processing fees and insurance premiums are non-refundable.
To obtain a tourist visa under the integrated package, there are four steps: first, select a package from accredited agencies; second, make a secure payment through the digital platform; third, receive the visa and insurance instantly after completing the booking; and fourth, receive all necessary documents via email.
Visa processing is completed within a maximum of 48 hours after purchase and subsequent data verification. The visa is single-entry and valid for three months from the planned departure date. Minimum package requirements include confirmed accommodation in a Ministry-licensed hotel with a rating of no less than four stars, confirmed round-trip flight bookings, and the visa application itself. The minimum package cost must be 4000 Saudi riyals (approximately 3911 dirhams) per adult for the first two days, plus an additional 1000 Saudi riyals (977 dirhams) for each subsequent day. The minimum package duration is two days, and the maximum is 88 days. Accommodation within the package must fully correspond to the flight itinerary, covering the period between arrival and departure.
The period between the purchase completion date and the departure date must not be less than 48 hours. Although these packages do not include services in the holy cities of Mecca or Medina, they provide a tourist visa allowing entry into Saudi Arabia, from where any city, including Mecca and Medina, can be visited. In addition to the mandatory core services, tickets for events and other recreational tours can be integrated. Children under 18 years old can be added to the package in numbers up to five, and children are exempt from the minimum package cost requirement. It is important to note that once the visa is issued, the package cannot be canceled independently, and if it is canceled, the visa will be automatically revoked. Changing visa details after issuance is strictly prohibited, so applicants are urged to carefully check all information before purchasing. Nevertheless, changes to flight and accommodation dates within the package are possible, but they must be made exclusively through the authorized service provider from whom the package was purchased.