Saudi Arabia attracts Indian tourists with various tourist visa options, providing simpler entry to its diverse locations. Explore the dynamic cityscape of Riyadh, the cultural diversity of Jeddah, the undiscovered gems of the Red Sea, and the historical wonders of AlUla with stopover visa, eVisa services, and visa-on-arrival. The updated regulations and range of visa choices accommodate diverse travel requirements, thereby motivating a greater number of tourists to discover the diverse nation.
There are currently ten facilities for facilitating visas in Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kolkata, and Calicut. More centres with specialised services are planned to open in other cities. This aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to welcome 7.5 million Indian tourists by 2030 to capitalise on India’s potential as the world’s largest source market. The goal of Saudi Arabia is to welcome 2.2 million tourists by the end of 2024.
Saudi Arabia Stopover Visa
Indian tourists can now apply online 90 days in advance for a Stopover visa on the Saudia website. The visa is valid for 96 hours and costs a small amount for administrative and insurance services.
eVisa
Indian nationals possessing a current tourist or business visa that is valid and has been stamped as proof of entry from the US, UK, or any other Schengen nation are eligible for the eVisa. Eligible individuals include permanent residents of these countries and those holding a valid residency visa from a GCC nation that is valid for at least three months from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia. Before travel, the eVisa can be acquired on the official website.
Visa-on-arrival
A visa can also be obtained upon arrival at Saudi international airports by visitors who meet the same requirements as a valid tourist or business visa from the US, UK, or Schengen nations with entry stamps. In Saudi airports, applications can also be made at passport control offices or self-service kiosks by individuals who hold permanent residency in these nations.
Those who do not meet the aforementioned requirements may apply for a visa at the Centre in India. The procedure includes preparing documents, scheduling appointments, submitting applications, enrolling in biometrics, and retrieving passports. The Umrah-seekers may choose from among these available visa alternatives.
Advantages of the New Visa Options:
Increased Travel Flexibility: Indian tourists now have more freedom to arrange their trips to Saudi Arabia thanks to multiple entry visas and longer validity periods.
Promotion of Tourism: The purpose of the tourist visa is to encourage more Indian travellers to experience Saudi Arabia’s world-class modern attractions as well as its rich cultural legacy.
Building Business Relationships: The business visa makes it easier for Indian professionals to travel abroad, which promotes closer commercial partnerships and economic relations between the two nations.
Support for Academic and Cultural interchange: By enabling Indian students to pursue higher education in Saudi Arabia, the student visa promotes academic and cultural interchange.
It is expected that Saudi Arabia’s proposal will greatly increase travel and tourism, improve people-to-people relations, and strengthen the already strong ties between Saudi Arabia and India
