Free Stopover Visa In Saudi Arabia Plus Free One-Night Hotel

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry launched an electronic service that will allow passengers stopping over in the country to obtain an entry visa. This move was aimed to make Saudi Arabia more accessible to international travellers and increasing tourism.

The Stopover Visa is free of charge and allows transit travellers a chance to explore the country for up to 96 hours or 4 days on the way to or from the final destination and is valid for 3 months.

The transit visa for stopovers will help those passing by and wishing to enter Saudi Arabia who wish to perform Umrah, visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and tour the Kingdom.

The stopover visa will allow passengers to stay in the country for up to 96 hours, enabling more visitors than ever to explore Saudi’s incomparable historical, cultural, and spiritual sites.

The new visa took effect on 30 January 2023 when you book a flight to Saudi Arabia.

As part of the program, travellers will also be offered free hotel accommodations for one night.

This is in addition to Saudi Arabia authorities having announced that all persons that hold a valid US, UK or Schengen visa can receive a 12-month visa on arrival upon entering the kingdom.

How To Avail of the New Stopover Visa

Passengers flying on the national air carriers Saudia or Flynas can apply for a transit visa through the electronic platforms of both airlines or through our flight partners at Trip.

The application will be automatically passed on to the unified national visa platform at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to process. A digital visa will be issued instantly and sent back via e-mail.

All travellers must meet the entry requirements, including having a passport that’s valid for at least six months.

Getting the visa does not completely guarantee entry since documents will be checked again upon arrival by an officer to confirm that everything submitted was accurate.

The ministry said the e-Transit visa for stopovers will contribute to achieving the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by bolstering its position and benefiting from its distinguished strategic location as a link between continents as well as reaching 100 million visits annually.

To help visitors make the most of their stopover visa, custom 24, 48, 72, or 96-hour itineraries have been developed to inspire visitors to stroll through Jeddah’s Al-Balad, or visit the Al-Turaif district in Diriyah, one of Saudi’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include Al-Ahsa Oasis, At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah, and the most recent addition, the Ḥimā Cultural Area. You can also use the stopovers for business or spiritual visits to Mecca, including Umrah, which requires additional registration through the Nusuk platform.

The stopover visa application process can be completed in less than three minutes and you can apply for it up to 90 days before your travel date.

free Saudi Arabia stopover visa and free hotel stay

How to Get Your Free Hotel Stay

Holders of this Saudi stopover visa are also eligible for a free one-night hotel stay during your stopover if you are flying using the country’s national carrier of Saudia.

If you fly with Flynas, the low-cost airline, the booking process is similar, but you don’t get the free hotel stay.

To get your free hotel stay in Saudi Arabia with Saudia, after your payment is confirmed, you can apply for the one-night hotel stay by using the Saudia Holidays banner that appears on the confirmation page. This will link you to the Free Saudi Arabia hotel stay page.

Availability will vary and qualifying passengers will get the free night's stay after showing their boarding pass at hotel check-in.

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