COVID-19: Saudi Arabia opens border to tourists from 49 countries
One-year multiple-entry visa enables visitors to stay for up to 90 days in Kingdom
Dubai: Saudi Arabia opened its doors to vaccinated tourists from 49 countries as of August 1, allowing them to obtain a one-year multiple-entry visa that enables them to spend up to 90 days in the Kingdom.
The terms and conditions for obtaining tourist visa and entering the Kingdom include full immunization with one of the approved vaccines in the Kingdom. They need to submit a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours from the time of travel and apply through the “Muqeem” portal.
After a gap of almost 18 months since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic early last year, the Kingdom has dedicated a website to register those who want to obtain tourist visas through the fast and easy-to-use online portal.
Tourists and visitors from 49 countries are eligible to apply for e-visa. Tourists can perform Umrah and travel across the Kingdom.
Eligible nationalities
Tourists who are eligible to obtain tourist visas are those from the US, Canada, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Switzerland, San Marino, Spain, Brunei, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), as well as Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Oceania, Australia and New Zealand.
The Ministry of Tourism on Thursday announced the decision to open the Kingdom’s doors to tourists and lift the suspension of entry for tourist visa holders.
Tourists to the Kingdom are also required to register their data related to vaccination doses on the new electronic portal, the ministry said in a statement, adding that data is also recorded through the “Tawakkalna” app and is needed to be shown to enter public places.
To accommodate travellers, the Kingdom has upgraded the Tawakkalna app, allowing temporary visitors to register with their passport details. The app is required for entry into both public and private entities as well as many public places in the Kingdom including shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
The fully vaccinated are those who have received two doses of a vaccine approved in Saudi Arabia, which are Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson.