Saudi Arabia will introduce an ETA for British citizens effective July 1, 2026

Starting Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Saudi Arabia will introduce an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for British passport holders. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the new regulation through the state news agency. The authorization applies to all types of British passports and will replace the previous e-visa process for short stays for travelers from the United Kingdom.

The new ETA allows for multiple entries with a single authorization. Stays can last up to 180 days—either consecutively or spread over multiple trips within a one-year period. The system thus offers significantly more flexibility than traditional single-entry visas and is aimed at travelers who wish to visit Saudi Arabia repeatedly, for example for tourism, business meetings, or short-term study stays.

Important to know: The ETA explicitly covers only certain travel purposes. It applies to tourism, business travel, and short-term study stays. However, it does not cover work visas, residence visas, or visas for the Umrah—these remain subject to separate procedures. For example, anyone planning a religious pilgrimage should find out about the separate Umrah visa well in advance, as different requirements apply.

Saudi Arabia explicitly presents the new regulation as a response to a similar simplification introduced by the United Kingdom. Since the introduction of the British ETA, Saudi nationals have also been required to obtain an electronic travel authorization for visa-free short-term stays in the United Kingdom, which permits stays of up to six months for purposes including tourism and family visits. The Saudi ETA for British travelers is thus part of a reciprocal system of travel facilitation between the two countries.

For travelers, this change means one thing above all: Anyone wishing to travel from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia in the future must familiarize themselves with the new ETA requirements and obtain the authorization before departure. Since details regarding validity periods, permitted travel purposes, and required application documents may still change in the run-up to the program’s launch, it is advisable to prepare your application early and thoroughly. We’ll handle the document review and application submission to ensure nothing is left to chance.

In addition to the ETA for British travelers, Saudi Arabia has long offered visitors from many other countries the option to apply for an e-visa for Saudi Arabia. If you’re unsure which type of visa is right for your trip—such as a tourist visa for Saudi Arabia or a business visa for professional purposes—you should seek advice early on to avoid delays in planning your entry.