Saudi Arabia tourist visa now available to all GCC residents irrespective of their profession

Riyadh: The Ministry of Tourism announced on Thursday that all Gulf Cooperation Council residents, belonging to all professions, will be able to apply electronically for a tourist visa to the Kingdom.

The tourist visa holders can now visit the different parts of the country and also perform Umrah, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Earlier, only certain categories of professions were allowed to apply for a tourist visa.

‘Visa application is now simpler, more convenient and straightforward for residents of GCC states, regardless of their profession”, tweeted Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Kingdom’s Minister of Tourism on Thursday.

The latest move comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to attract tourists and provide visitors from GCC countries an opportunity to visit tourist destinations, participate in entertainment events, and learn about the heritage and history of the Kingdom.

According to the ministry, all GCC residents would be able to enter the Kingdom with an electronic tourist visa obtained by applying through the “Visit Saudi” platform, provided that their residency permit is valid for at least three months and their passport for at least six months.

This also applies to accompanying first-degree relatives of the residency holder and domestic workers arriving with their sponsors.

People wishing to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can obtain more information and apply for a visa at www.visitsaudi.com or the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, www.mofa.gov.sa

However, the tourist visa does not allow the holder to perform Hajj or Umrah during the Hajj season.

Saudi Arabia has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of tourists every year, reaching more than 93 million visits in 2022. The tourism sector aims to reach 100 million visits annually by 2030.