Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, UK, China, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Austria, Cyprus, Canada, US, and Mauritius Face New E-Transit Visa Restrictions for Saudi Arabia

Published on April 9, 2025

Saudi Arabia has introduced new restrictions on its e-transit visa policy, limiting access to travelers from 18 specific countries. The updated guidelines apply to passengers traveling to or from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Malaysia, the Maldives, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Austria, Cyprus, Canada, the US, and Mauritius. This development, which will have a direct impact on travelers’ access to the Kingdom for stopovers, is expected to reshape the visa and transit landscape, particularly in light of Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the global tourism sector. With the updated policy, the electronic stopover visa, commonly known as the e-transit visa, is now restricted to passengers traveling to or from a set of countries categorized by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) as “Group A.”

Saudi Arabia’s Updated e-Transit Visa Policy

As part of its efforts to streamline visa procedures and create a more efficient transit experience, Saudi Arabia has limited the issuance of e-transit visas to travelers flying from or to one of the 18 Group A countries. This policy adjustment, which was revealed through official sources, specifically targets travelers with itineraries that either originate from or are bound for these select countries.

The newly defined Group A countries include some of the world’s most prominent international hubs, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and major European countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Also included are countries from Asia, such as China, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, and others like the Maldives, Turkey, and Mauritius. Travelers from these countries will now be eligible to apply for the e-transit visa if their flights meet the necessary itinerary criteria.

Group A Countries: The List of Eligibility

The list of 18 countries eligible for the e-transit visa under this updated policy is as follows:

1. Canada
2. United States
3. Austria
4. Cyprus
5. France
6. Germany
7. Greece
8. Italy
9. Netherlands
10. Spain
11. Switzerland
12. United Kingdom
13. China (including Hong Kong and Macau)
14. Malaysia
15. Maldives
16. Singapore
17. Thailand
18. Turkey
19. Mauritius

The decision to limit e-transit visas to travelers from these countries underscores Saudi Arabia’s focus on those with established, predictable travel patterns and will likely have a ripple effect on tourism and travel habits.

Streamlining the Visa Process for Passengers with Defined Itineraries

The aim behind narrowing the eligibility for the e-transit visa appears to be twofold. First, it is designed to simplify the visa process by targeting passengers whose travel patterns can be easily verified through their departure and destination points. By limiting eligibility to travelers flying from or to countries within Group A, Saudi Arabia can ensure that the applicants are more likely to have a consistent and traceable travel history, thus reducing the complexity of the application process.

Secondly, the updated policy seeks to align with Saudi Arabia’s broader immigration and tourism goals, which include regulating transit and ensuring a smooth experience for passengers who are entering the Kingdom on short stopovers. This selective approach may help control the flow of travelers and enhance security protocols, while also providing the Kingdom with greater control over the types of passengers transiting through its airports.

Visa Requirements: Valid Visas for Approved Countries

In addition to the itinerary requirements, Saudi Arabian Airlines has further emphasized that travelers seeking the e-transit visa must possess a valid visa for one of the approved Group A countries. Additionally, the traveler must have previously entered the approved country using that visa. This stipulation is meant to ensure that applicants have a verifiable travel history, which adds an extra layer of compliance and credibility to the visa application process.

For travelers seeking a stopover in Saudi Arabia under this scheme, the requirement of holding a valid visa for one of the eligible countries ensures that passengers meet Saudi Arabia’s security and travel standards. This measure may also help reduce the number of travelers who attempt to enter Saudi Arabia with uncertain or incomplete documentation.

Impact on Global Travel and Tourism

The shift in Saudi Arabia’s e-transit visa policy is expected to have a significant impact on the global travel industry, especially for passengers from countries outside the Group A list. While travelers from the approved countries will continue to enjoy seamless stopover opportunities in Saudi Arabia, passengers from countries not included in the Group A list may find themselves excluded from the visa service altogether. This may force some travelers to reconsider their routes and connections, potentially affecting airline bookings and flight patterns.

For airlines operating between the countries included in Group A and Saudi Arabia, the new policy may open up more opportunities for collaboration with Saudi Arabian Airlines and other carriers, as the restricted e-transit visa eligibility could drive higher demand for stopover services in the Kingdom. Airlines may need to adjust their schedules or marketing efforts to capitalize on the opportunity to cater to a growing number of travelers seeking to use Saudi Arabia as a layover destination.

For travelers, the updated policy offers both benefits and challenges. On the one hand, passengers who meet the eligibility criteria can now enjoy easier access to stopovers in Saudi Arabia, enhancing their travel experience with the option to explore a new destination. On the other hand, those who fall outside the approved list of countries may need to reconfigure their travel plans, especially if they were counting on the e-transit visa for a seamless journey through Saudi Arabia.

How Saudi Arabia’s Policy Could Affect Travel Demand in the Region

The implementation of this restricted e-transit visa policy may also influence broader travel demand in the region. As passengers from Group A countries become more accustomed to the ease of obtaining an e-transit visa for Saudi Arabia, there could be an uptick in tourism and business-related travel to the Kingdom. However, the exclusion of passengers from other countries may lead to fewer travelers transiting through Saudi Arabia, particularly for those who previously relied on the e-transit visa for quick layovers.

This development could encourage some countries or regions outside the Group A list to negotiate with Saudi Arabia to expand the eligibility criteria. Such adjustments could help mitigate any negative impact on passenger numbers and ensure that Saudi Arabia continues to benefit from transit traffic and international tourism.

What This Means for Travelers Planning Layovers in Saudi Arabia

For travelers, the changes to the e-transit visa rules in Saudi Arabia are significant. Those planning layovers in the Kingdom will need to check whether they fall under the approved Group A countries and ensure they meet all visa and itinerary requirements. This could add an extra layer of planning to the trip, as travelers from non-Group A countries may need to seek alternatives, such as longer connections in other countries or applying for a standard visa to Saudi Arabia if they wish to visit during their stopover.

Additionally, travelers from Group A countries will benefit from the ease of stopover access, which could encourage more international visitors to use Saudi Arabia as a convenient and culturally rich layover destination. However, those excluded from the scheme may face challenges in securing visas or finding alternative routes, ultimately influencing their travel decisions.

Broader Implications for Visa Policies and Global Transit

The narrowing of the e-transit visa eligibility in Saudi Arabia may set a precedent for other countries looking to regulate their transit visa systems more rigorously. As governments seek to balance tourism growth with security and efficient border control, other nations may follow suit by limiting their visa schemes to travelers from specific regions or countries. This could lead to more structured, regulated travel routes, with an emphasis on passengers who fit certain criteria, such as prior travel to approved countries or particular travel patterns.

On the global scale, this could make stopovers and transits more complicated for travelers from non-approved countries, affecting their ability to quickly pass through certain regions. Travelers might be forced to spend additional time and resources navigating visa requirements, which could reduce the attractiveness of certain international travel routes.

Saudi Arabia’s E-Transit Visa Update Shaping the Future of Stopovers

The narrowing of eligibility for Saudi Arabia’s e-transit visa is a significant development that will reshape the travel landscape, particularly for passengers from the 18 approved countries. As the Kingdom seeks to streamline its visa processes and better control passenger traffic, travelers will need to adjust their plans accordingly. While the updated policy offers convenience for some, it presents challenges for others who may be excluded from the stopover visa. Moving forward, this shift could impact how travelers approach layovers in Saudi Arabia and may influence travel demand and policy adjustments in the broader Middle East region.