PassportSouth Africa

Saudi Arabia: do South Africans need a visa?

Travel with cautionOther governments advise against travel to parts of the country, or to reconsider travel. Why

South Africans need to apply online for an e-visa before travel to Saudi Arabia. You can stay up to 90 days per year.

Tourist eVisa. South Africa is listed as an eligible country on the official Saudi eVisa portal (visa.visitsaudi.com), one of three African countries with Mauritius and Seychelles. The same tourist visa can also be issued on arrival at Saudi international airports to eVisa-eligible nationalities.13

Saudi Arabia is one of 51 countries where South Africans apply online before travelling. See them all.

Travel advice

Travel with caution

The US rates Saudi Arabia Level 3, reconsider travel. The UK advises against all but essential travel near the Yemen border, now including Abha and Khamis Mushait.

We show UK and US government advice because they publish detailed, regularly updated assessments. Checked 5 October 2026.

Read the full advice: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · US Department of State

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

Tourism, events, visiting family and relatives, leisure and Umrah outside the Hajj season. Hajj is not allowed on a tourist visa. Study and paid work are not allowed.14

Confirmed on an official government source

Passport validity

At least 6 months remaining from the date of entry.2

Confirmed on an official government source

How to apply

Apply online at visa.visitsaudi.com (the official portal; the unified government platform is ksavisa.sa). Steps: fill in the form, pay, receive the eVisa by email. Fee: the government visa fee is SAR 300 under the Tourist Visa Regulations, plus compulsory medical insurance and processing charges, bringing the online total to SAR 535 (reported by SA Government News in 2023 and current secondary sources). Processing is usually within 3 working days. Valid one year, multiple entry. Fees are non-refundable, even if refused. Visa on arrival is an alternative at airports (reported total SAR 480 without the online processing charge).124578

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Where South Africans apply

Online for the tourist eVisa. Other visa types (business, work, family) go through Tasheer, the Saudi visa service centre network (vc.tasheer.com). Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, 711 Duncan Street, Hatfield, Pretoria; tel +27 12 362 4233; zaemb@mofa.gov.sa.68

Confirmed on an official government source

Travel insurance

Mandatory. Medical insurance approved in the Kingdom is a condition of the tourist visa and is bundled into the eVisa fee. The included cover is up to SAR 100,000; extra travel insurance is recommended.43

Confirmed on an official government source

Return or onward ticket

Not published by official sources

Proof of funds

No official amount published. Some sources say travellers should be able to show funds for accommodation, food and transport.8

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Accommodation or invitation

Not published by official sources

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

None required for ordinary tourists arriving from South Africa. Umrah pilgrims need a quadrivalent meningococcal (ACWY) vaccination. A yellow fever certificate is required only when arriving from yellow fever risk countries. Returning to South Africa: Saudi Arabia is not on South Africa's yellow fever risk list, so no certificate is needed on return.78

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

No separate arrival form. Customs: declare cash and valuables above SAR 40,000 on entry or exit.7

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Extending your stay and overstaying

No extension provision is published for the tourist visa. Overstaying is penalised under the Tourist Visa Regulations; fines start at SAR 100 per day and can lead to detention, deportation, entry bans and exit bans.47

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Transit

Saudia and flynas passengers can get a free stopover visa of up to 96 hours (processing and insurance charges still apply), applied for when booking the flight. Not checked on a Saudi government page.9

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Travelling with children

Under the Tourist Visa Regulations, visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian or a safe companion. Applications for under-18s are made by a parent or guardian. Women travelling for Umrah have additional rules according to secondary sources.24

Confirmed on an official government source

What changed

20 September 2026UK FCDO extended its advice against all but essential travel near the Yemen border to include Abha and Khamis Mushait, after Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi cities since mid-July 2026.
15 September 2026US State Department set Saudi Arabia at Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) citing Iranian drone and missile threats, armed conflict, terrorism and exit bans.
29 April 2026Each Hajj season, visit visa holders are barred from entering or staying in Makkah (in 2025 from 29 April to 11 June). Expect the same window around Hajj in 2027.

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Saudi Ministry of Tourism, official eVisa portal visa.visitsaudi.com
  2. 2Saudi Ministry of Tourism, eVisa terms and conditions visa.visitsaudi.com
  3. 4Saudi Ministry of Tourism, Tourist Visa Regulations cdn.mt.gov.sa
  4. 6Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in South Africa za.saudiembassy.sa

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 3UK FCDO gov.uk
  2. 5SAnews (South African Government News Agency), 29 Oct 2023 sanews.gov.za
  3. 7US Department of State travel.state.gov

News and guides

Leads we check, never the answer

  1. 8The Global Travel Agency (GSA), South Africa thegsa.co.za
  2. 9Gulf News gulfnews.com

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book. Spotted something out of date? Report a change.