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Saudi Arabia Tourist e-Visa for South African Passport Holders (2026)

E-Visa (apply online)
🖥 E-Visa Available — Apply online before travel
n/a Rejection Rate Not Published
2/5 Difficulty
1–3d Processing
ZAR 1,750 Total Cost

Quick Facts

Requirement E-Visa
Visa Fee ZAR 1,750
Processing Time 1–3 working days
Appointment Wait ~ weeks
Stay Duration Up to 90 days
E-Visa Available online

Saudi Arabia's tourist visa programme, launched in 2019, has opened a remarkable destination — Riyadh, NEOM, AlUla, Jeddah, and the Red Sea — to South Africans. The e-visa costs USD 107.25 (~ZAR 1,750, health insurance included), takes minutes to apply for online, and is typically approved within 24 hours. Multiple entry, 1 year validity. No yellow fever required for South Africans.

Key Warnings

  • Saudi Arabia observes strict Islamic law — dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered for both genders), avoid public display of affection, and respect prayer times.
  • Alcohol is completely prohibited in Saudi Arabia. This includes bringing alcohol in your luggage.
  • Obtain a return ticket before entering — Saudi immigration occasionally asks for proof of onward travel.

Insider Tips

  • AlUla (ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, sister to Petra in Jordan) is Saudi Arabia's must-see UNESCO site. Hegra is 2,300 years old and far less visited than Petra. Book guided tours in advance.
  • Riyadh's Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) is a spectacular cliff-top panorama 90 km from the city — a free, drive-to destination offering views over a 75 km escarpment.
  • Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast (NEOM and Sharma El Sheikh) offers world-class diving and snorkelling on pristine coral reefs — increasingly accessible via NEOM airline's new routes.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Go to visa.visitsaudi.com

    Open the official Saudi Tourism Authority visa portal. Click 'Apply Now' for the tourist e-visa.

  2. Create an account and fill in details

    Enter passport details, personal information, and upload a passport photo. The form takes approximately 10 minutes.

  3. Pay USD 107.25

    Pay by credit or debit card. The fee includes mandatory health insurance — no separate purchase needed.

  4. Receive e-visa (usually within 24 hours)

    The approved e-visa is emailed as a PDF. Print or save it to your phone — you will present it on arrival.

  5. Fly to Saudi Arabia

    Direct Saudi Airlines and Flynas flights from JNB. Present your passport and e-visa at arrival.

Required Documents

  • Valid South African passport (6+ months validity, passport scan required)
  • Digital passport photo (uploaded during online application)
  • Credit or debit card to pay USD 107.25 online

Recommended (Optional)

  • Return flight details (may be requested at immigration on arrival)
  • Hotel booking in Saudi Arabia

Why Applications Get Rejected

  • Passport validity or photo does not meet spec

    The e-visa is decided automatically, so formatting failures are refused without a human reading the application.

    Fix: Six months of passport validity from arrival, and a photograph that meets the stated dimensions and background.

  • Purpose outside the tourist visa's scope

    The tourist e-visa covers leisure, family visits, events and Umrah. Work or study is outside it.

    Fix: Apply for the correct category — using the tourist visa for work is a refusal and a re-entry problem.

  • Mandatory insurance not held

    Health insurance is bundled into the visa fee, but travellers who apply through third parties sometimes end up without it.

    Fix: Apply at visa.visitsaudi.com, where the insurance is included in the price shown.

No published rejection rate. Saudi Arabia publishes no visa refusal statistics by applicant nationality. Checked August 2026.

Latest Updates

2026-08

Saudi Arabia's tourist e-visa bundles the mandatory health insurance

The tourist e-visa at visa.visitsaudi.com includes compulsory health insurance in the price shown. Third-party sites charging separately for the visa and the insurance are adding a margin to something already bundled. The visa covers leisure, family visits, events and Umrah, but not work or study.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do South Africans need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
South Africans need a Saudi Arabia Tourist e-Visa, which is applied for online at visa.visitsaudi.com. Cost is USD 107.25 (~ZAR 1,750), which includes mandatory health insurance. The visa is valid for 1 year, multiple entry, 90 days per visit. Approval typically takes 24 hours. No yellow fever certificate required for South Africans.
Is alcohol allowed in Saudi Arabia?
No — alcohol is completely prohibited in Saudi Arabia. This includes bringing alcohol into the country in your luggage. Saudi Arabia also does not sell alcohol in stores, restaurants, or hotels. Plan accordingly before visiting.

Data Sources & Verification

Last verified:

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