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UK nationals can now apply for a new Saudi Arabia Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA, which came into effect on 1 July 2026. You must get the ETA online before you travel. It allows multiple entries and is valid for 730 days from the date it is issued, with a total stay of up to 180 days across that period. It can be used for tourism, business, study and Umrah outside the Hajj season. Hajj is not included and needs its own separate visa.
Quick answer: the Saudi ETA is an online travel authorisation for UK passport holders, valid for 730 days, allowing multiple entries and up to 180 days total stay. Apply online before you fly. It does not cover Hajj or include health insurance.
Travel and visa rules can change. Always check the latest GOV.UK Saudi Arabia travel advice and official Saudi visa guidance before travelling.
The Saudi ETA is an online travel authorisation for UK passport holders, introduced by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and started on 1 July 2026. It lets eligible UK travellers apply for permission to enter Saudi Arabia without visiting an embassy.
It is not a blanket replacement for every Saudi visa. It covers tourism, short study, business and Umrah outside the Hajj season, per current GOV.UK guidance, but not employment, residence or Hajj.
For many UK travellers, this means one less piece of paperwork to manage before a holiday or pilgrimage. If you are also arranging flights, hotels, transfers and other parts of your journey, a UK travel agency such as TravelApp can help you organise the wider trip while you handle the government application directly.
1 July 2026, as stated in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs official announcement via Saudi Press Agency.
UK passport holders travelling for tourism, business, short study or Umrah outside Hajj season. Eligibility is based on the passport you travel on, not where you live, explained further below for UK residents who are not British citizens.
If you are booking an Umrah trip, it is worth checking this before paying for flights or accommodation. Getting the entry requirements right first can save you from having to change other parts of your trip later.
The Saudi ETA is valid for 730 days from the date it is issued, with multiple entries allowed. You can stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 180 days in total across that period, either in one visit or spread across several trips.
For example, entering for 30 days, leaving, then returning later for 60 more counts both stays towards your 180-day total. Saudi authorities describe the scheme as allowing up to 180 days within a year; for planning, GOV.UK's wording, 730-day validity with a 180-day total stay across it, is the one to work from.
The key point is simple: 730 days is the validity of the ETA, not the length of one stay. Keep that distinction in mind when planning repeat trips to Saudi Arabia.
You will need:
A valid passport, with an expiry date at least six months after your arrival date in Saudi Arabia
A working email address, since your ETA is sent digitally
A photo or scan of your passport details page, in the format the portal requests
A payment method accepted by the official portal
Your travel details, where the application asks for them
The official Saudi Visa platform provides the exact photo and document format when you apply, so check it there rather than relying on a third-party guess.
A useful tip: get these details ready before you start. It makes the application easier and reduces the chance of stopping halfway through to find a missing document.
If you are planning Umrah, you may also be arranging flights, hotels and transfers at the same time. Keeping these parts of the trip organised from the start can make the whole process much easier.
Step 1: Open the Official Saudi Visa Platform. Go directly to the official Saudi Visa Platform. Avoid unofficial visa-agent websites, which often add extra fees and can carry outdated rules.
Step 2: Select the Correct Application Route. Choose the ETA option matching your nationality and travel purpose, using the categories shown on the official portal.
Step 3: Enter Your Passport Details. Enter your full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and passport expiry exactly as they appear on your passport. A small mismatch can delay your application.
Step 4: Provide the Required Travel Information. Complete the travel details the application asks for, such as your planned entry point and dates. Only enter what the portal actually requests.
Step 5: Review the Application Carefully. Before submitting, check your passport number, name spelling, date of birth, expiry date, nationality and email address. Mistakes here are a common cause of delay.
Step 6: Pay the Applicable Fee. The fee is displayed during the official application process, shown in Saudi riyals, and can change. Treat any figure on a third-party website as unconfirmed until you see it on the official portal.
Step 7: Submit and Save Confirmation. Once you submit and pay, save your ETA confirmation electronically and keep a copy accessible for check-in and arrival.
You do not need to use a travel agency to submit the ETA. The official portal is there for travellers to apply directly.
However, the visa is only one part of a Saudi trip. If you would rather have help arranging the flights, accommodation and wider Umrah journey, a UK agency such as TravelApp can help with those travel arrangements while you complete the official ETA process yourself.
There is no official published guarantee on processing time, and some applications may be referred for extra checks, which can extend the wait. Apply well before your travel date rather than the night before.
This also gives you time to sort out flights, hotels and other arrangements without having to make rushed decisions. If your travel date is fixed, it is better to resolve the entry requirement first and book the rest of your journey with confidence.
This is especially important if you have already booked connecting flights, hotels or an Umrah package. Giving yourself extra time means there is more room to deal with an unexpected delay without putting the rest of your plans under pressure.
The fee is shown during the official application process on the official Saudi Visa Platform, and it can change. We have not published a specific figure here, since we could not confirm one against an official Saudi government source at the time of writing.
Confirm the exact current fee on the official portal before you pay, and treat figures on other sites as unverified.
Do not choose a visa service simply because it appears first in Google. Check that you are using the official Saudi application route and understand exactly what you are paying for.
Yes. Current GOV.UK guidance confirms the ETA can be used for Umrah outside the Hajj season. The ETA is a travel authorisation, not a full pilgrimage booking system, so it does not automatically hand you every Umrah permit.
Once approved, Saudi Arabia's official Nusuk platform, run by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, is where pilgrims arrange Umrah visits and Rawdah access. Check current pilgrimage guidance before you travel, since Umrah procedures can involve extra steps beyond the ETA itself.
For UK pilgrims, the ETA can simplify the entry side of the journey. You still need to think about flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, transfers and the timing of your pilgrimage.
If you do not want to coordinate every part separately, you can also compare guided Umrah travel options from the UK through TravelApp, including packages that bring key parts of the journey together.
No. Hajj requires its own separate Hajj visa, and additional restrictions can apply around the Hajj season. Umrah eligibility on an ETA does not extend to Hajj.
Do not rely on an Umrah or tourist visa for Hajj. Hajj has its own visa rules and seasonal restrictions.
Living in the UK does not, by itself, make someone eligible for the Saudi ETA. Eligibility is based on the passport and nationality a traveller holds, not UK residence status. A UK resident travelling on a non-British passport should check the Saudi entry rules for that specific passport, which can differ from the UK ETA route described here.
Your UK immigration status, such as a Biometric Residence Permit or settled status, governs living in the UK. It does not determine eligibility for a Saudi travel authorisation. Always apply using the passport you will actually travel on, and check its Saudi entry requirements on the official Saudi Visa Platform before booking.
This is one area where UK residents can easily get confused. Living in Britain and holding a British passport are not the same thing for Saudi entry purposes.
If you are a UK resident travelling on another passport and are unsure which Saudi visa route applies to you, check the official rules for your nationality before paying for your trip.
If you are unsure which Saudi route applies to you, it can be worth checking before booking non-refundable flights or accommodation. TravelApp can help UK-based travellers understand the travel options available to them, although visa eligibility and approval remain decisions for the Saudi authorities.
As per entry requirements, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive in Saudi Arabia.
Check this before you pay for flights or a holiday package. A quick passport check now can prevent an expensive change later. It is much easier to find a passport problem before booking than after booking. Make passport validity one of the first checks on your travel list. See our guide on how long UK passport renewal takes if yours needs sorting out first.
If you are booking a full trip, TravelApp can also help you plan the flights and package around your actual travel dates and passport position.
Avoid these common mistakes:
Using an unofficial visa website instead of the official portal
Entering passport details that do not exactly match your passport
Applying with the wrong passport for your actual travel document
Assuming UK residence automatically means ETA eligibility
Leaving the application until the last minute
Confusing the 730-day validity with the 180-day stay limit
Assuming the ETA covers Hajj, or includes health insurance
Relying on an old Saudi visa article instead of current GOV.UK guidance
Do not treat the ETA as the whole trip. Getting permission to enter Saudi Arabia is important, but your flights, accommodation, transfers and pilgrimage arrangements still need planning.
If you are travelling for Umrah, this is especially important. A cheaper hotel may not always be the most convenient choice if it leaves you further from the Haram or makes transfers harder.
This is one reason some UK travellers choose to use a travel agency. TravelApp can help compare the practical parts of the journey alongside your dates and budget, so you are not left piecing everything together yourself.
Once the visa side is clear, you can focus on the practical parts of the journey, such as finding suitable flights, choosing hotels and arranging transfers.
You can book every part separately. You can also choose a package that brings key arrangements together. The right option depends on your dates, budget and how much planning you want to handle yourself.
At TravelApp, we help UK travellers plan every stage of their journey with practical travel advice, expert guidance and the latest entry requirements, so you can spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time looking forward to your trip.
The idea is simple: you handle the official ETA application through the Saudi government, while TravelApp can help take care of the travel arrangements around it.
That can be useful if you would rather compare flights, hotels and package options in one place instead of managing every booking separately.
You can compare flights to Saudi Arabia and explore Umrah packages from the UK, including Ramadan Umrah packages and options from Birmingham, London and Manchester.
Browse our wider holiday packages if Saudi Arabia is one stop on a longer trip.
Still have questions about the Saudi Arabia ETA? Get in touch with the TravelApp team on WhatsApp for expert guidance. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Whatsapp: +44 20 3137 0990
For the latest news, information and travel hacks, read Travelapp Blogs.
Quick answers to common questions. Reach out if you need more help.
The Saudi Arabia Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital travel permission that allows eligible travellers to visit Saudi Arabia for approved short-term purposes. The ETA is linked electronically to your passport and does not require a physical visa sticker.
You can apply online by completing the application form, providing your passport details, uploading the required documents, paying the official fee, and submitting the application for processing.
Yes. You can apply yourself through the official KSA Visa platform, or TravelApp can assist you with the application process. We help eligible UK travellers complete their ETA applications and answer any questions without charging an additional service fee.
No. The ETA does not permit employment or long-term residence in Saudi Arabia. Travellers intending to work must apply for the appropriate work visa.
Yes. Eligible UK travellers can use the Saudi Arabia ETA to perform Umrah, provided they travel outside the official Hajj season and meet the latest entry requirements issued by the Saudi authorities. The ETA cannot be used for Hajj.
No. The Saudi Arabia ETA cannot be used for Hajj. Pilgrims must apply through the official Hajj registration and visa process approved by Saudi authorities.
Yes. Once approved, the ETA is electronically linked to your passport. Travellers are still advised to carry a copy of their approval email when travelling.
It is recommended to apply at least a few days before travel. Although most applications are processed quickly, applying in advance helps avoid last-minute issues.
If an ETA application is refused, you may need to apply for a different visa type depending on your travel purpose. Review the refusal notice carefully and ensure all information provided was accurate.
Yes. Every traveller, including infants and children, must have their own approved ETA before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
No. The ETA application process is completed entirely online, so eligible travellers do not need to visit a Saudi embassy or visa application centre.
