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A transit visa lets you leave the airport and spend up to 96 hours in Saudi Arabia during a layover. Saudia and flynas offer a free stopover visa that even allows you to perform Umrah. Here's how it works.
A Saudi Arabia transit visa lets travellers who are passing through the Kingdom leave the airport and stay for a short period during a stopover. The headline option is the free 96-hour stopover visa offered by the national carriers, Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) and flynas, when you book eligible connecting flights.
With this stopover visa you can spend up to 96 hours (four days) in Saudi Arabia between flights. That is enough time to explore cities such as Riyadh or Jeddah, visit friends and family, or even travel on to Makkah and Madinah to perform Umrah and visit the holy sites.
If you are only changing planes and never leave the international transit area of the airport, you generally do not need to enter the Kingdom at all. The stopover visa is specifically for travellers who want to step outside the airport during their layover.
Saudi Arabia 96-hour transit and stopover visa guide
Unlike a simple airside connection, the 96-hour stopover visa is designed to encourage travellers to spend time in Saudi Arabia during their journey. Once you clear immigration, you are free to move around the country for the length of your stay.
One of its most distinctive features is that it permits Umrah. Pilgrims connecting through Jeddah or Riyadh can use the stopover visa to travel to Makkah and Madinah, provided they observe the usual rules for entering the holy sites. This makes it a convenient option for travellers who want to combine a pilgrimage with an onward journey.
A Saudi Arabia stopover / transit visa typically allows you to:
A transit visa is for short stopovers only, not for living, studying, or taking up employment in Saudi Arabia. Eligibility, validity, and any charges can change, so always confirm the current terms with your airline and the official Saudi eVisa portal before you travel. For official information, visit the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs eVisa portal.
A free electronic stopover visa offered when you fly into or connect through Saudi Arabia with Saudia or flynas, allowing you to leave the airport.
Staying within the international transit area of the airport between connecting flights without formally entering the Kingdom.
The free stopover visa is tied to booking eligible connecting flights on Saudia or flynas.
You should hold a confirmed onward or return ticket leaving Saudi Arabia within the visa's validity.
Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date you enter the Kingdom.
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The free 96-hour stopover visa is one of Saudi Arabia's most traveller-friendly initiatives. It is offered through the national carriers to encourage visitors to spend time in the Kingdom while connecting to onward destinations. Here are the key facts:
Because it can be used for Umrah, the stopover visa is popular with pilgrims routing through Jeddah or Riyadh. If your main purpose is a longer holiday rather than a quick layover, compare it against the Saudi tourist eVisa or a dedicated Umrah visa.
The most straightforward way to obtain the stopover visa is to request it when booking your flights with Saudia or flynas. During or shortly after booking an eligible connecting itinerary, you can add the free stopover visa, which is then issued to you electronically by email.
Alternatively, eligible travellers can apply through the official Saudi eVisa system online. You complete a short application, upload a photo, and receive your electronic visa linked to your passport before you fly. Keep a printed or digital copy to show at check-in and on arrival.
The stopover visa is generally issued free of charge, though service or processing charges may apply in some cases. Because terms are updated from time to time, confirm the current fees, validity, and eligibility directly with the airline or the Saudi eVisa portal before you travel.
Both let you leave the airport and explore Saudi Arabia, but they suit different trips. The table below summarises the main differences:
| Feature | 96-Hour Transit / Stopover | Tourist eVisa |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Short layovers between flights | Holidays and longer visits |
| Maximum stay | Up to 96 hours (4 days) | Longer stays per entry |
| Cost | Generally free with Saudia / flynas | Paid application fee |
| Tied to an airline? | Yes – eligible Saudia / flynas flights | No – any carrier |
| Umrah permitted? | Yes | Yes |
If you need to stay longer than four days or you are not flying with Saudia or flynas, the tourist eVisa is usually the better choice. Explore all your options on our Saudi Arabia visa guide.
It depends on your journey. If you stay within the international transit area (airside) and never enter the Kingdom, you generally do not need a visa. If you want to leave the airport during your stopover, you need the free 96-hour transit / stopover visa, which is issued through Saudia or flynas or the Saudi eVisa system. Requirements can vary by nationality and routing, so confirm with your airline.
The 96-hour stopover / transit visa is generally free of charge when you book eligible connecting flights with Saudia or flynas, though small service or processing charges may apply in some cases. Always confirm the current cost and fees with the airline or the Saudi eVisa portal before you travel.
Request the stopover visa when booking eligible connecting flights with Saudia or flynas, or apply through the official Saudi eVisa system online. You complete a short application, and the visa is delivered electronically by email before you travel. Keep a printed or digital copy for check-in and arrival.
Not always. If your connecting flight lets you stay airside in the international transit area, you generally do not need a transit visa. You only need the 96-hour transit / stopover visa if you want to leave the airport during your layover. Check with your airline, as this can depend on your nationality and itinerary.
The stopover visa offered by Saudia and flynas allows a stay of up to 96 hours (four days) during your layover. Always confirm the exact validity on your issued visa and with the airline.
The 96-hour stopover visa is generally issued free of charge when you book eligible connecting flights with Saudia or flynas, though service or processing charges may apply in some cases. Confirm current terms with the airline or the Saudi eVisa portal before you travel.
Yes. The 96-hour stopover visa permits travellers to perform Umrah and visit Makkah and Madinah during their stay, subject to the usual rules for the holy sites. For dedicated pilgrimage trips, see our Umrah visa guide.
You can request the stopover visa when booking eligible flights with Saudia or flynas, or apply through the official Saudi eVisa system online. The visa is delivered electronically by email before you travel.
If you stay within the international transit area and do not enter the Kingdom, you generally do not need a visa. You only need the stopover / transit visa if you want to leave the airport during your layover. Check with your airline as rules can depend on your nationality and routing.
The transit / stopover visa is a free, short-stay option (up to 96 hours) tied to Saudia or flynas flights and ideal for layovers. The tourist eVisa is a paid visa for longer holidays that works with any airline.
Add the free 96-hour stopover visa when you book with Saudia or flynas, and confirm the current terms on the official Saudi eVisa portal before you fly.