Saudi Arabia Visa On Arrival For Pakistani Passport Holders: 2026 Requirements And Eligibility

At a Glance

Pakistani passport holders with valid UK, US, or Schengen visas can obtain visas on arrival when entering Saudi Arabia, a facility introduced to expand tourism beyond traditional religious pilgrimage.
This policy opens access to the Kingdom for Pakistani nationals who previously faced restricted entry options, while direct e-visa applications remain unavailable to Pakistani passport holders.
Applicants must have used their UK, US, or Schengen visa at least once before arrival, and the visa must remain valid throughout their Saudi visit.
The visa on arrival costs $120 or 450 Saudi Riyals and permits stays up to 90 days with freedom of movement across the Kingdom, including Umrah pilgrimage.
The arrangement reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader tourism expansion strategy launched in 2019, though Pakistani citizens continue to face more restrictive requirements than the 49 countries eligible for standard e-visas.

Saudi Arabia Extends Visa on Arrival Access to Pakistani Passport Holders with Western Visas

Saudi Arabia has made entry to the Kingdom accessible to Pakistani passport holders who possess valid visas from the United Kingdom, United States, or Schengen Area countries. The visa on arrival arrangement allows eligible travellers to enter Saudi territory for tourism or commercial purposes without obtaining advance authorisation from Saudi missions abroad.

According to the Kingdom’s tourism regulations, Pakistani nationals must meet specific criteria to qualify for this facility. The policy is administered by the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) and forms part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its visitor base beyond the millions who arrive annually for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Eligibility Requirements and Documentation

Pakistani travellers seeking to use the visa on arrival facility must hold an active visa from the UK, US, or a Schengen Area member state. Saudi authorities impose two mandatory conditions for entry under this arrangement.

The foreign visa must be valid both at the point of arrival at Saudi entry points and must remain valid after the traveller’s intended departure from the Kingdom. This requirement ensures visitors maintain legal status in the visa-issuing country throughout their Saudi stay.

Additionally, the passport must contain at least one entry stamp from the country that issued the visa. This means Pakistani travellers must have previously used their UK, US, or Schengen visa before they can qualify for Saudi visa on arrival. First-time holders of these visas who have not yet travelled to the issuing country or region cannot access the Saudi facility.

Financial Cost and Duration of Stay

The visa on arrival carries a fee of $120, equivalent to 450 Saudi Riyals, payable at the airport upon entry. This charge applies to both tourism and commercial visit categories.

Visitors granted entry under this scheme may remain in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days per entry. The visa permits multiple entries within a one-year validity period, provided each individual stay does not exceed the 90-day limit.

Religious Access and Movement Freedom

All visitors entering Saudi Arabia on visa on arrival status are permitted to perform Umrah, the lesser Islamic pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of year, unlike Hajj which occurs during specific dates. This provision addresses the religious interests of many Pakistani visitors.

Travellers face no geographic restrictions within Saudi territory. They may move freely between cities and regions of the Kingdom during their authorised stay, allowing access to both religious sites in Makkah and Medina as well as other areas.

Broader Context of Saudi Tourism Policy

The visa on arrival option for select foreign visa holders emerged as part of Saudi Arabia’s significant tourism policy shift announced in September 2019. The Kingdom’s government officially launched a tourist visa programme on 27 September of that year, marking a departure from decades of highly restrictive entry policies that primarily accommodated religious pilgrims and business visitors.

The General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage, under the leadership of Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, oversaw the implementation of the new visitor visa framework. The initiative aims to position tourism as a meaningful economic sector within the Kingdom, which ranks as the Middle East’s second-largest tourist destination largely due to the presence of Islam’s holiest sites.

Within ten days of the tourist visa programme’s launch, approximately 24,000 foreign visitors entered Saudi Arabia under the new system. Visitors from China comprised the largest group, followed by arrivals from the United Kingdom and United States.

E-Visa System and Pakistani Exclusion

While Saudi Arabia introduced an electronic visa application system in 2019, this e-visa facility remains unavailable to Pakistani passport holders. The online visa service extends to citizens of 49 countries, allowing them to obtain authorisation remotely before travel at a cost of $80.

Pakistani nationals do not currently have access to this streamlined application process and must instead rely on the visa on arrival option if they hold qualifying UK, US, or Schengen visas, or pursue traditional visa applications through Saudi diplomatic missions.

The General Authority for Civil Aviation issued guidance to national air carriers in December 2019 instructing them to accept passengers holding valid Schengen and American visas for travel to the Kingdom, provided they meet the established conditions. This administrative directive facilitated the practical implementation of the visa on arrival policy for qualifying travellers.

Tourism Development Objectives

Saudi Arabia’s expansion of visa access forms part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s economic diversification strategy aimed at reducing dependence on oil revenues. Tourism development represents a key pillar of this long-term plan, with religious tourism providing an established foundation that authorities seek to build upon with leisure and cultural travel.

The visa on arrival arrangement for holders of Western visas creates a pathway for Pakistani nationals who have already undergone security vetting by UK, US, or European immigration authorities. This approach allows Saudi Arabia to expand visitor numbers while maintaining security protocols, as applicants have been pre-screened by trusted foreign governments.

The policy reflects Saudi Arabia’s gradual opening to international tourism while maintaining differentiated access levels based on nationality and previous travel history. Pakistani passport holders continue to face more restrictive entry requirements than nationals of countries included in the e-visa programme, but the visa on arrival option represents expanded access compared to previous decades when entry was largely limited to those with employer sponsorship or pilgrimage visas.

Saudi Arabia Visa on Arrival for Pakistani Passport Holders: 2026 Requirements and Eligibility