Visa-Free Countries for Saudis 2026 — The Updated List (What Do Residents Need?)
By Mohammed Al-Ahdal — founder of Smooth Travel · Last updated 2026-09-24
Summary
The Saudi passport is one of the strongest Arab passports, and the list of exemptions has grown a lot over the last two years. But a resident of Saudi Arabia is in a completely different position — read the second column.
The Main Table (updated — see "Last updated" at the top of the page)
| Destination | Saudi Citizen | Resident of Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| GCC countries | With national ID | Depends on the country and profession |
| Turkey | Exempt — 90 days | E-visa (we issue it) |
| Russia | Exempt — 90 days (from 11 May 2026) | E-visa (we issue it) |
| Thailand | Exempt — 30 days from 15 September 2026 (the 60-day exemption was cancelled) + TDAC card | E-visa (we issue it) |
| Indonesia / Bali | Visa on arrival e-VOA — 30 days + Bali tax | Visa (we issue it) |
| Malaysia | Exempt — 90 days + MDAC card | Depends on nationality |
| China | Exempt — 30 days (until 31 December 2026) | Depends on nationality |
| Georgia | Exempt (medical insurance mandatory from 1 January 2026) | Depends on nationality |
| South Korea | K-ETA electronic authorization | Depends on nationality |
| Maldives | Free visa on arrival + IMUGA | Usually on arrival |
| Sri Lanka | Electronic ETA (free for Saudis from 25 May 2026) | Depends on nationality |
| Pakistan | Exempt — 90 days | — |
| South Africa | Exempt — 90 days + electronic traveller declaration | Depends on nationality |
| New Zealand | Visa-exempt + NZeTA and IVL tax | Depends on nationality |
| Canada | Visa (not eligible for eTA) | Visa |
| Oman / Qatar | Exempt | Visa (Oman · Qatar) |
| UAE | Exempt | E-visa (we issue it) |
| United Kingdom | Electronic ETA before travel | Visa depending on nationality |
| Japan | E-visa (stay up to 90 days) | Depends on nationality |
| India | E-visa + arrival card | E-visa depending on nationality |
| Vietnam | E-visa | E-visa |
| Azerbaijan | Temporarily exempt until 15 February 2027 (30 days/visit) | Depends on nationality (we issue it) |
| Europe (Schengen) | Visa + biometrics | Visa + biometrics |
| USA | Visa + interview | Visa + interview |
Even If You're Exempt — Don't Forget
- A passport valid for 6 months at least
- A return ticket and hotel booking — the immigration officer may ask for them
- Travel insurance (usually not mandatory, but it saves you a lot)
- Electronic arrival forms — Thailand TDAC, Malaysia MDAC, Indonesia All Indonesia, Singapore SG Arrival Card (all of them here)
- An international driving licence if you're renting a car (we issue it in 24 hours)
FAQ
Does the exemption cover all types of Saudi passports? The table is for the ordinary passport. Diplomatic and special passports have different agreements. Does the exemption allow work or study? No, it's for tourism and visits only. How often is this list updated? We review it monthly from the official sources.
Official sources: The websites of the embassies and foreign ministries of each country (listed in the monthly update log)
Related links: UK ETA · Japan visa · India visa
Last updated: 2026-09-24