Saudi Arabia Launches Unified National Visa Platform

Saudi Arabia has introduced the Unified National Visa Platform as the official electronic system for issuing and managing most of the Kingdom's visas. Operated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs channel at visa.mofa.gov.sa, the portal handles online submission, payment, tracking, and issuance for tourist, family visit, business, work-entry, and personal visit visas.

The platform brings visa services under one central system and is linked with other government back-ends, including the Passports Directorate. It works alongside — but does not replace — existing services: أبشر covers post-arrival services for residents and citizens such as iqama and exit/re-entry visas, مقيم supports establishments managing workers already inside the Kingdom, and قوى handles work visas and permits from the employer side.

Tourist eVisa fees

The tourist eVisa is applied for online through the system linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For 2026, the standard online cost totals 535 ريال سعودي, made up of a 300 ريال سعودي government fee, 180 ريال سعودي mandatory medical insurance, and a 55 ريال سعودي platform transaction fee. The visa is valid for one year, allows multiple entries, and permits stays of up to 90 days

Eligible nationalities may also obtain a visa on arrival at the airport for a total of 480 ريال سعودي (government fee plus insurance, with no online platform fee), carrying the same one-year, multiple-entry validity and 90-day maximum

A stopover or transit visa is available through the unified system for passengers travelling on الخطوط السعودية or طيران ناس, with the visa itself issued free of charge.

For residents and travellers alike, the unified platform means a single official route for applying, paying, and tracking visas — reducing confusion over which channel to use and helping ensure applications are processed through the correct government system.

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