Saudi Arabia has recently removed most of its entry requirements for visitors wanting to enter the country for tourism purposes.

In the last few days, the nation’s government announced that visitors will no longer be required to show proof that they have been vaccinated against Covid-19 – and that a negative PCR test result will also no longer be needed by those looking to visit the country.

Entry will now look similar to 2019, with almost every covid-related entry requirement now discontinued. However, there are still a few unique entry rules for visiting Saudi Arabia that every traveler needs to be aware of before they book a trip.

A decision was also made by the Saudi Arabian authorities to remove the requirement for individuals from certain countries to undergo quarantine – with the Arab nation also announcing that they will allow residents from red-list countries to now enter.

Saudi Arabia – throughout the Covid-19 pandemic – has maintained a red list of countries, which includes nations that have experienced high transmission rates of the virus, as well as mutant strains of Covid-19.

Back last year, Saudi Arabia lifted its travel ban for travelers coming from the U.S. and UK – amongst other nations.

As of March 8, 2022, entry into Saudi Arabia looks much like pre-pandemic times, with;

*  No pre-flight testing
*  No tests on arrival, or after arrival
*  No quarantines
*  No countries banned due to covid-related issues
*  No proof of vaccination

So, What Entry Requirements Remain For Travelers Wanting To Visit Saudi Arabia Right Now?

Although you are no longer required to show proof that you have been vaccinated against Covid-19, undergo any form of quarantine – as well as present a negative Covid test result upon arrival – there are still a few entry requirements for travelers coming from the likes of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Let’s take a look at what these are.

Mandatory proof of vaccination for some public places – Although travelers are not required to show proof of vaccination upon their arrival into Saudi Arabia, they are still required to present proof of their vaccination in order to enter some government and private venues, as well as when using public transport. Proof of vaccination is not required for restaurants, hotels, and many other touristic services.

Travelers should register the details of their vaccination against Covid-19 using Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health Portal.

In order to be considered fully vaccinated, travelers must have received their booster dose.

Travelers under the age of 16 are exempt from this requirement.

Mandatory health insurance – All travelers entering Saudi Arabia are required to have valid health insurance that includes coverage for the treatment of Covid-19.

Mandatory contact-tracing mobile application – Travelers must download – and register their details on – the Tawakkalna mobile application.

You are required to register your ‘home’ location inside Saudi Arabia – which you need to do no more than 8 hours prior to your arrival.

Travelers are also required to keep their mobile phone connected to the internet – as well as have their phone’s GPS settings switched on at all times – in order for the contact-tracing app to function.

Mandatory registration form – All travelers are required to fill in their details using the online arrival registration form – which needs to be done prior to your departure to Saudi Arabia.

Mandatory health declaration form – All travelers are required to fill in – and complete – a mandatory health declaration form, which they must then present upon their arrival into Saudi Arabia.

Do You Need A Visa In Order To Visit Saudi Arabia?

Yes, you do. Travelers – including those from the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom – will need to obtain a Saudi Arabian eVisa in order to enter the country.

You need to apply online – attaching the relevant supporting documents to your application – and print out your eVisa once it has been issued to you in order to present it to Saudi Arabia’s immigration upon arrival.

The eVisa will allow you multiple entries to the country for tourism purposes – with a maximum stay of 90 days – and is valid for 1 year.

The cost of the eVisa is US$177 and usually takes around 1 business day to process after you have submitted your application.

Saudi Arabia is expecting to welcome as many as 50 million tourists during the remaining months of this year (2022) – which comes as great news for the country’s tourism industry, which is looking to recover following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some nations – including the likes of Hungary, Ireland and Jordan have recently removed all of their entry requirements for travelers.