North Macedonians can now apply for Saudi tourist e-Visas online or on arrival

Saudi Arabia has added Mexico, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia to its tourist visa system, according to information published in early November 2026 and the current country list on the official Saudi electronic visa portal. Citizens of the four countries can now apply for a tourist e-Visa online or request a visa on arrival, removing the need to go through a Saudi embassy for travellers who meet the criteria.

Key facts

• Eligible nationalities: Mexico, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia
• Options: tourist e-Visa applied for online, or visa on arrival
• Eligible-country list on the official portal now covers 72 countries
• e-Visa validity: one year from the date of issuance, generally with multiple entries
• Permitted stay: up to three months, or up to 90 days, under the conditions of the visa issued
• Passport must have at least six months of remaining validity on entry

What is changing?

The main practical change is that travellers from the four newly included countries can complete the visa process without first visiting an embassy. Applications are submitted through the official online portal, where the form is completed and the fee paid; once approved, the visa is delivered electronically.

Saudi media, citing an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism, reported that nationals of the four countries are also covered by the visa-on-arrival regime. Conditions for individual visa types, entry points and required documentation may differ between the two options.

What can the tourist visa be used for?

Under the official terms of the Saudi e-Visa system, the tourist visa covers short-term visits for tourism and holidays, visits to family and relatives, participation in events, and Umrah outside the Hajj period. Reports on the expansion also mention travel for exhibitions and conferences.

The visa is not a work or student permit: the official terms state explicitly that it cannot be used for paid employment or study. Travellers whose trip falls outside the permitted purposes must choose a different visa category.

What are the entry conditions?

A valid travel document from an eligible country is required, with at least six months of remaining passport validity on entry. Travellers must arrive on the same passport used for the application, and biometric data may be recorded under immigration regulations.

Approval of an e-Visa does not guarantee entry, because the final decision rests with Saudi border and immigration authorities at the point of entry. The e-Visa cannot be extended, so visitors must leave before their approved stay expires. The portal also warns that service prices and associated fees may change, with the final amount shown during the application process.

Why is this happening?

Saudi authorities present the move as part of a broader policy to simplify arrivals and strengthen tourism as a pillar of economic diversification. The Ministry of Tourism reported around 123 million domestic and international tourist trips in 2025, roughly six percent more than the previous year, including 29.3 million inbound visitors and total tourism expenditure of about 304 billion Saudi riyals.

The Vision 2030 programme names tourism as a key sector for diversifying the economy. Saudi Arabia reached its original target of 100 million annual tourist visits earlier than planned and raised the goal to 150 million by 2030, with projects under way in AlUla, Diriyah, the Red Sea and Qiddiya.

What this means for travellers

Travellers from Mexico, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia can now choose between an online e-Visa and a visa on arrival, rather than applying through an embassy. Before booking, they should check the visa type they need, their passport expiry date, the permitted length of stay and the conditions stated on the issued visa.

One-year visa validity does not allow a continuous one-year stay: the portal permits multiple entries and a stay of up to 90 days, while the specific conditions of each issued document remain binding. Visitors are also subject to local laws and regulations during their stay.

The addition of the four countries brings the official eligible list to 72. Because visa rules may change, travellers should check the latest conditions on the official Saudi e-Visa portal and other official Saudi channels before buying tickets and departing.