Saudi Arabia Visitor Investor e-Visa

Saudi Arabia Launches 'Visitor Investor' E-visa to Streamline Entry Process

On June 7, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment announced the launch of a new 'Visitor Investor' e-visa, aimed at simplifying the entry process for investors looking to explore business opportunities in the Kingdom. This service is in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals, which aim to position the Kingdom as a leading global investment hub.

The permit, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is an electronic visa that can be obtained through the unified national visa platform. The process has been streamlined to assist potential investors. The application will be processed quickly, and the visa will be issued electronically.

In its initial phase, the 'Visitor Investor' e-visa will only be available to investors in certain, as-yet-unnamed countries. Saudi Arabia plans to expand the service's availability to citizens of other countries in future phases.

Saudi Arabia Expands Tourist Visa Programs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that it would expand the instant tourist e-visa program to include holders of visas from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Schengen area countries, as well as permanent residents of the UK, US, and European Union member states.

The e-visa, which was introduced for residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries last September, is a one-year, multiple-entry visa that allows tourists to stay in the country for up to 90 days. It permits visitors to engage in tourism-related activities such as events, family visits, and leisure, but does not cover other activities like studying.

Individuals with a visa from the UK, US, or Schengen area countries are required to have used that visa at least once to enter the issuing country or region before they can apply for the Saudi e-visa. First-degree relatives of the primary visa holder will also be granted entry into Saudi Arabia with a visa on arrival.

Last year, Saudi Arabia announced it would grant tourist visas on arrival to the same categories as part of its goal to reach 100 million tourism visits per year by 2030. It has committed USD 550 billion to tourist destinations.

Since opening to tourism in 2019, Saudi Arabia has become one of the fastest-growing tourism markets worldwide. In 2022, it reported 93.5 million visits, a 121% increase from pre-pandemic international tourism levels. The tourism sector currently contributes 4.45% to the country's gross domestic product, with a target of reaching 10%.

Saudi Arabia also announced the launch of a new 'Stopover Visa,' which allows visitors to stay in the country for up to 96 hours. This free visa is available for passengers traveling with Saudia and Flynas and is open to more countries than the tourist e-visa.