Apply visa
Last Update: 01-05-2026
Indian nationals can obtain a Saudi Arabia transit visa that permits a stay of up to 96 hours. It is available online through the ENJAZ platform or offline through a Visa Application Centre, with no supporting documents required for the online route beyond a valid passport.
The online fee is SAR 300 (approximately ₹6,800 at current rates as of 2026). Processing typically completes within 3 to 4 working days, though applying 10 days before travel is the safe window.
Transit visa holders can perform Umrah, visit the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, and explore cities including Riyadh and Jeddah within the 96-hour window, provided travel to a third country is confirmed.
Travelling on Saudia or flynas airlines unlocks additional stopover benefits including discounted packages. These apply to the airline booking, not the visa itself.
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.
The Saudi transit visa authorises a single entry into Saudi Arabia for a stay of up to 96 hours, ending with departure to a third country. It is issued under Category B by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is materially different from the Saudi Arabia tourist visa in eligibility, documentation, and permitted activity.
Within the 96-hour window, there are no consular restrictions on movement inside Saudi Arabia. You can travel between cities, visit religious sites including the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah and the Grand Mosque in Makkah for Umrah, check into hotels, or remain at the airport. The visa does not distinguish between these activities. What it does require is that you depart Saudi Arabia within 96 hours of entry, on a confirmed onward flight to a country other than India.
The transit category does not allow employment, business meetings classified under business visa rules, or any activity that would normally require a separate Saudi visa class. An applicant whose declared purpose at the application stage matches a tourist or business profile rather than a transit profile may have their application reclassified by the consulate, which delays processing.
⚠️ Note:
The 96-hour countdown begins at the time of entry into Saudi Arabia, not from the date printed on the visa. If you enter at Jeddah on a Monday at 14:00, your authorised stay ends on Friday at 14:00. Overstaying a Saudi transit visa, even by a few hours, is a formal immigration violation and is recorded against future Saudi visa applications.
The document requirements differ meaningfully between the online and offline routes. Indian applicants choosing the online ENJAZ route have a significantly lighter documentation burden than those filing through a Visa Application Centre. The online route is the right default unless your case has a complication ENJAZ cannot accommodate.
Your valid Indian passport is the only physical document required. The passport must have at least 6 months of validity beyond your intended travel dates and at least one blank page for entry stamps. A 200 x 200 pixel photograph uploaded digitally is required during the application form. Photo specifications follow the standard outlined in our guide to Saudi visa photo requirements. You do not courier any document or visit a centre.
For both routes, there is no requirement to submit bank statements, accommodation bookings, or employment letters. The transit category is a lighter file specifically because its purpose is transitory rather than settlement, and Saudi consulates do not assess financial means for a 96-hour stay.
💡 Expert Tip:
The ENJAZ platform is the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs digital visa service and handles applications for multiple visa categories including transit. The offline route goes through a Visa Application Centre and involves physical document submission. Most Indian applicants use ENJAZ, but the offline route remains available when in-person submission is preferable.
| Application Route | Fee | Currency |
Online (ENJAZ) | SAR 300 | Saudi Riyal (approx. ₹6,800 at 2026 rates) |
Offline (VAC) | SAR 300 + VAC service charge | Service charges vary by centre |
The SAR 300 fee is the consular fee set by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is non-refundable regardless of the visa outcome. For offline applications, the Visa Application Centre charges a service fee on top of the consular fee. VFS Global India charges typically range from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 for Saudi applications as of 2026, though verify the current rate at your VAC before visiting.
Both the online fee and the offline consular fee are non-refundable. The VAC service fee is also non-refundable once an application is submitted.
⚠️ 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.
Standard processing for a Saudi transit visa is 3 to 4 working days from the time a complete application is submitted. This applies to both the online ENJAZ route and the offline VAC route, though offline applications may add 1 to 2 days for physical document handling at the centre. You can confirm the current status of an in-flight application using a Saudi visa check reference once you have your tracking number.
| Application Submitted | Expected Decision | Earliest Recommended Application |
Standard period | 3 to 4 working days | 10 working days before travel |
Hajj and Ramadan peak | Up to 10 working days | 15 working days before travel |
The 3 to 4 day standard can extend during Hajj and Ramadan seasons, when Saudi consular processing volumes rise materially above the year-round baseline. Applications submitted in the 4 to 6 weeks before Hajj have been recorded taking 7 to 10 working days during peak years, based on Teleport's case data across the last three Hajj cycles. Adjust your application timing accordingly.
⏳ Time Note:
Apply for a Saudi transit visa no earlier than 3 months before your travel date. The ENJAZ system rejects applications submitted too far in advance of the stated travel window. The practical filing window for Indian applicants is 3 months before travel down to 10 working days before departure during the standard period, and 15 working days before departure during Hajj and Ramadan.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 tourism programme has substantially expanded what transit visitors can access, and the 96-hour window is enough time for a meaningful stopover in one or two cities rather than a rushed airport-only experience. Plan your stopover around your point of entry rather than treating Saudi Arabia as a single destination, since intercity travel inside the kingdom consumes meaningful time.
The historic Diriyah district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is approximately 30 minutes from King Khalid International Airport. Travellers entering at Riyadh can complete a half-day Diriyah visit within the first 24 hours of arrival. Al-Ula and the Edge of the World escarpment require additional travel time and are practical only for travellers with the full 96 hours and an early arrival.
King Abdulaziz International Airport connects to the Al-Balad historic district in under 20 minutes. Jeddah is also the closest major Saudi city to Makkah, which makes it the most practical entry point for travellers planning Umrah during the transit window. Hotels in Jeddah and Makkah accept transit-visa guests on the same terms as tourist-visa guests.
The Prophet's Mosque is accessible from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah in under 15 minutes. Travellers connecting through Madinah can time a short stopover to visit the mosque without committing the full 96 hours. Madinah is the right entry point if your stopover is specifically for the Prophet's Mosque rather than full Umrah.
Travellers on Saudia and flynas flights can additionally access airline-bundled stopover programmes that include hotel, transport, and selected attraction access at packaged rates. These are airline products rather than visa categories, and the SAR 300 transit fee applies regardless of the carrier you fly. Indian travellers with separate business plans inside Saudi Arabia should review the Saudi Arabia business visa requirements before assuming a transit visa covers a meeting.
💡 Expert Tip:
The Saudi Arabia transit visa permits a stay of up to 96 hours from the time of entry. The 96-hour clock starts at entry, not at the date of visa issuance. You must depart Saudi Arabia before the 96-hour window closes.
Yes. Umrah is permitted for transit visa holders within the 96-hour stay period. This applies provided your entry is at an airport or port near Makkah or Madinah and your onward travel is confirmed. Verify current access policies directly with your travel agent as these occasionally update.
For the online ENJAZ route: a valid passport and a 200 x 200 pixel digital photograph. For the offline VAC route: passport, two passport-sized photographs, completed application form, and confirmed onward travel ticket.
Standard processing is 3 to 4 working days. During Hajj and Ramadan peak periods, this can extend to 7 to 10 working days. Apply at least 10 working days before travel during normal periods and 15 working days during peak seasons.
Yes. A confirmed ticket from Saudi Arabia to a third-country destination is a requirement for transit visa eligibility. An Indian national applying with only a round-trip ticket returning to India does not qualify for the transit category.
You can apply online for the Saudi transit visa via the Enjaz e-service platform by filling in the required information, including a 200 x 200 photograph.
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. An airside transit through a Saudi airport without immigration clearance does not require a transit visa. The Saudi Arabia transit visa is for travellers who will pass through Saudi immigration and spend time in the country before departing on an onward flight.
Get flat 10% OFF
On your first visa. Use code "TEL10". T&C apply
