Does Saudi Arabia Offer Visa on Arrival to Indians?

This page explains who falls inside that exception and what everyone else should do instead. All rules and fees are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full set of Saudi visa options, documents and centres, see our Saudi Arabia visa guide for Indians.

Who qualifies for a Saudi visa on arrival?

Saudi Arabia's official visa tool, run on Visit Saudi, places India in its 'Visa by Package' group. India is not in the visa-waiver or exemption groups. An ordinary Indian passport therefore does not open the arrival route by itself.

You become eligible only if you also hold one of the following:

• A valid US, UK or Schengen visa for tourism or business that has been used at least once, with an entry stamp from the issuing country in your passport. Digital entry stamps are not accepted.
• A permanent residence permit from the UK, the US or the EU.

Two further conditions apply to every Saudi visitor route. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into Saudi Arabia. Travellers under 18 cannot enter alone; they must come with a parent, grandparent or adult sibling.

Notice what the list leaves out. A GCC residence visa valid for 3 or more months beyond entry makes you eligible for the Saudi eVisa on the KSA Visa portal, but the official entry rules for Indians mention visa on arrival only for US, UK and Schengen visa holders and UK, US or EU permanent residents.

How much does visa on arrival cost compared with the other routes?

Visit Saudi publishes its fees in Saudi riyals, and KSA Visa publishes some in US dollars. No official INR fee is published, so your card or bank converts the amount when you pay.

If you qualify for both arrival and eVisa routes, the arrival visa bundles insurance into SAR 395, while the eVisa's SAR 339.44 excludes it. The eVisa lets you land with the visa already issued.

If you hold only an Indian passport, how do you get a Saudi visa before flying?

Three official routes remain open to you:

1. Package Visa. Since 6 July 2026, India has been on the eligible list of the Ministry of Tourism's Package Visa pilot. You buy a travel package from an accredited agency (Reserval, Almosafer, Webook.com or Almatar). The visa and travel insurance are issued on completion of the booking and sent by email. Issue is instant, but travel must start at least 48 hours after purchase.
2. Embassy, Consulate or Tasheer visa. You apply on the KSA Visa platform. Where a visa service centre is needed, Tasheer runs them in India: KSA Visa lists 11 authorised visa offices plus Saudi missions in New Delhi and Mumbai, and Tasheer's India portal lists 14 centres. Tasheer books appointments, records biometrics, collects fees and returns passports.
3. Transit/Stopover visa. When you book a flight with Saudia or Flynas, the visa is created and emailed on booking and approval.

The Package Visa has firm conditions. It needs a confirmed hotel booking rated 4 stars or above and licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, plus a confirmed round-trip flight booking. One package covers 2 to 88 days, a maximum of 9 tourists over 18 and up to 5 children. It excludes Makkah and Madinah. Visit Saudi lists a package minimum of 4,000 per adult for the first two days plus 1,000 for each extra day.

Do Umrah or business trips work differently?

Yes. Neither runs through visa on arrival for an Indian passport holder without the US, UK or Schengen link.

• Umrah visa: applied for through Nusuk and authorised agents, for Muslims of all nationalities. It is available all year except the Hajj season (15 Dhul Qa'dah to 15 Dhul Hijjah).
• Tourism visit visa via KSA Visa: Muslim visitors may perform Umrah and visit Makkah and Madinah, but Hajj is not permitted. During the Hajj season, entry is only through specific designated ports.
• Business visit visa: applied for on KSA Visa with an invitation letter from the inviting company, usually decided within 1-2 working days. The visit must not be linked to a permanent employment contract in Saudi Arabia.

If your trip is a pilgrimage, do not plan it around a Package Visa, because packages exclude Makkah and Madinah.

Mistakes that leave Indian travellers stuck at check-in

• An unused visa. A US, UK or Schengen visa you have never entered on does not qualify. It must have been used at least once.
• An e-gate entry. If your only proof of use is a digital entry record, it is not accepted. A physical entry stamp from the issuing country is required.
• An expired visa. The rules refer to a valid US, UK or Schengen visa, so check its end date against your Saudi travel dates.
• A short passport. Six months' validity beyond your date of entry is required on every route.
• A same-day package. A Package Visa bought less than 48 hours before departure cannot be used for that departure.
• Assuming a refund. KSA Visa says rejected or cancelled applications trigger an automatic refund request processed within 45-60 business days, but Visit Saudi's eVisa FAQ says tourist visa fees are non-refundable in any case. Read the terms before you pay.

You can confirm your own eligibility on the official Visit Saudi visa requirements tool by choosing India as your nationality. For the wider picture across destinations, our visa hub for Indian passport holders lists every country we cover.

If you take the embassy or Tasheer route, the file asks for a return ticket, flight itinerary and proof of where you will stay. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter together. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Saudi visa on arrival with a Schengen visa I have never used?

No. The official rule requires a US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa that has been used at least once, with a physical entry stamp from the issuing country. An unused visa does not qualify, and digital entry stamps are not accepted.

Is Saudi Arabia visa-free for Indian passport holders?

No. Saudi Arabia's official visa tool places India in its 'Visa by Package' group, not its visa-waiver or exemption groups. Indians need a visa before travel unless they qualify for visa on arrival through a used US, UK or Schengen visa or UK/US/EU permanent residence.

Does a GCC residence permit get an Indian a Saudi visa on arrival?

The official entry rules list a GCC residence visa valid 3 or more months beyond entry as a basis for the Saudi eVisa on the KSA Visa portal (SAR 339.44, insurance extra). Visa on arrival is described only for holders of a used US, UK or Schengen visa or UK/US/EU permanent residence.

How long can I stay on a Saudi tourist visa issued through KSA Visa?

KSA Visa lists a single-entry tourism visit visa as valid for 90 days with a stay of up to 90 days, and a multiple-entry visa as valid for 1 year with a stay of up to 90 days. A Package Visa trip is limited to 2 to 88 days.