Can I get a transit visa in Saudi Arabia?
No. Saudi Arabia does not issue transit visas on arrival for Indian passport holders. All applications must be completed before departure via Saudia, Flynas, or the Enjaz platform.
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Last Update: 18-05-2026
Saudi Arabia received approximately 100 million visitors in 2023, up from 93 million in 2022, according to the Saudi Tourism Authority. That figure includes both tourists and transit travellers using the kingdom's position as a Gulf hub between South Asia, Europe, and Africa. For Indian travellers flying between India and onward destinations, a Saudi stopover is one of the most practical layover routes available.
The transit visa is a Category B visa that authorises a single-entry stay of up to 96 hours. It is not a tourist visa, and the distinction matters at the consulate. The transit category exists specifically for travellers with confirmed onward travel to a third country, which means an Indian national applying with no onward ticket, or with an onward leg returning to India, will be refused.
Eligibility for the Saudi transit stopover visa extends to all Indian passport holders whose itinerary includes a connecting flight through a Saudi airport. No third-country visa such as a US, UK, or Schengen visa is required to qualify for the transit category. Those documents apply to a separate Saudi Arabia tourist visa pathway and have no bearing on transit eligibility.
Your Indian passport must meet two firm conditions before an application can be submitted.
A confirmed onward booking is not the same as a tentative itinerary, and Saudi immigration treats the difference strictly.
The in-booking stopover visa process is tied to the operating carrier, not the flight number printed on your ticket.
⚠️ Note:
A flight number beginning with SV or XY does not confirm Saudia or Flynas operation. Check the "operated by" field in your booking confirmation. If the operating carrier differs, your application must go through Enjaz. The in-booking visa option will not appear for ineligible itineraries.
Mandatory medical insurance is a non-negotiable condition of the Saudi transit visa, regardless of application route.
💡 Expert Tip:
💡 Expert Tip
The Saudi eVisa portal specifies technical parameters that differ from the standard Indian passport photo. Review the Saudi visa photo requirements in full before visiting a studio, as most studios in India default to the rectangular 35 x 45 mm format unless you specify otherwise.
⚠️ Note
A standard Indian passport photo (35 x 45 mm, rectangular) does not meet the Saudi eVisa requirement (200 x 200 pixels, square). Studios default to the rectangular format. Specify the square digital crop before the photographer edits your image, or resize it yourself before uploading.
The Saudi transit visa carries two separate validity parameters, and both clocks run simultaneously from the moment of issuance.
⚠️ Note:
Saudi visa fees are denominated in Saudi Riyals and converted to Indian Rupees at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment. An applicant paying on a day when the SAR-INR rate is higher will pay more in rupees than the approximate figure above. Check the current rate before budgeting your application.
The online application for the Saudi transit visa runs through your flight booking if you are flying Saudia or Flynas, or through the Enjaz platform at enjazit.com.sa for all other carriers. Both routes produce the same eVisa delivered to your email. The steps below follow the Saudia and Flynas in-booking process, which is the faster route for eligible passengers.
⏳ Note
Apply at least 72 hours before departure from India. Approvals through Saudia and Flynas portals often arrive within minutes, but processing can extend to 24 hours during Ramadan and Hajj season. An unprocessed application at the airport check-in counter means you cannot board your flight.
The fee structure for the Saudi transit visa varies based on your application route, and several sources online present figures that apply to different categories without distinguishing between them. You can apply for your Saudi visa online through Teleport if you want a managed process that accounts for the correct fee route from the outset.
| Application Route | Fee | Note |
Saudia / Flynas in-booking | ~SAR 94 (₹2,100) | Includes insurance and admin; no issuance fee |
Enjaz online platform | SAR 300 | Consular fee; insurance arranged separately |
VFS Global offline | SAR 300 + VAC service charge | Service charge varies by centre location |
An Indian Community Welfare Fund fee of SAR 12 is charged in addition to the regular visa fees for applications processed at Saudi missions abroad and VFS Global centres in India. All figures are current as of 2026 and subject to revision by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The consular fee is non-refundable regardless of the visa outcome.
🚫 Stop
Do not apply through any website other than Saudia.com, the Flynas website, or enjazit.com.sa. Fraudulent third-party portals collect payment and document scans without submitting any application. A fake visa confirmation is flagged as document fraud at Saudi immigration, resulting in denial of entry and a travel ban that affects future applications including tourist and business categories.
Processing time depends entirely on your application route. For passengers using the Saudi visa check tool to track an in-progress application, status updates reflect the route-specific timelines below.
💡 Expert Tip:
No. Saudi Arabia does not issue transit visas on arrival for Indian passport holders. All applications must be completed before departure via Saudia, Flynas, or the Enjaz platform.
Only if you exit the international transit zone. Staying airside for under 12 hours requires no visa. Crossing immigration requires one, regardless of layover length.
The visa is valid for use within 90 days of issuance. Once inside Saudi Arabia, the maximum permitted stay is 96 hours, non-extendable under any circumstances.
Yes. The transit visa permits you to exit the airport. You may also perform Umrah, but must pre-register a time slot through the Nusuk platform before visiting holy sites.
Saudia and Flynas offer the integrated in-booking stopover visa at checkout. All other carriers require a separate Enjaz platform or VFS Global application.
For an online Saudi transit visa, the fee is SAR 300. For offline applications, additional service fees may apply, depending on the Visa Application Centre (VAC).
No paid or unpaid work is permitted. Umrah is allowed; Hajj is not. The visa is single-entry. Women do not require a Mahram to travel on a transit visa in 2026.
The transit visa is valid for 90 days from issuance with a 96-hour in-country stay. The Saudi Arabia tourist visa is a separate category with different validity terms.
Indian passport holders need a transit visa to exit any Saudi airport's international transit zone, regardless of layover duration, once they cross immigration.
The Saudi transit stopover visa permits a maximum stay of 96 hours, is valid for 90 days from issuance, and is delivered by email as an eVisa, not a passport sticker.
The visa carries no issuance fee when booked through Saudia or Flynas, but mandatory medical insurance and administrative charges bring the 2026 total to approximately SAR 94 (around ₹2,100).
Overstaying the 96-hour window is non-extendable and triggers fines starting at SAR 15,000 for a first offence, per the Saudi General Directorate of Passports.
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