Saudi Arabia opens tourist visa to four new countries

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on 5 November that it had added Mexico, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia to the list of countries eligible for tourist visas, according to Zawya, citing Saudi Gazette.

The ministry said the visa covers attending events, Umrah, exhibitions and conferences, as well as visiting relatives, widening the permitted reasons for travel for citizens of the four countries.

Eligible travellers can use e-visas, visas on arrival, or transit and stopover visas, under separate requirements for each type.

According to the same source, the addition expands Saudi Arabia's visa system, which allows citizens of specific countries to enter for tourism, events and family visits.

What do these terms mean?

E-visa: An entry permit applied for online and issued electronically before travel, without the need to visit an embassy.

Visa on arrival: An entry permit issued to a traveller when they arrive at the destination country's airport, provided the published conditions are met.

Transit and stopover visa: A permit that allows a traveller to pass through a country or stop there for a short period during a journey to another country.

Umrah: A visit to the Grand Mosque in Mecca to perform the Umrah rituals, a form of worship that can be performed at any time of the year.