Saudi Arabia visa application

[RooFlyer]

Australians can get a visa-on-arrival for Saudi Arabia, or an eVisa beforehand. There are also 'transit' visas available via Saudi airlines:

Visas to Visit Saudi Arabia | Tourist Visa Requirements | Visit Saudi

Discover the different types of Saudi tourist visas and entry requirements easily and learn how to obtain the electronic tourist visa to start your journey!

www.visitsaudi.com

I've just successfully applied for an eVisa, so posting here are as there are a few tips.

Mostly straightforward. Create account. My activation e-mail didn't arrive so after 10 mins I had it re-sent and it arrived almost instantly. The pic you need to upload has to be between 5 and 100kb and 200x200px. Small! If you get it below 100kb it will allow upload and then cropping.
Tip is where you have to enter your accommodation. It will bring up your hotel OK, but for me would not accept the phone number - must be 9 digits after the country code; number I entered was correct, but it kept saying it was invalid. I found a WhatsApp Saudi-Visit help number +966 11 490 7617 and after entering a bunch of info who I was, the human came on quickly and helpfully. The hotel phone number and e-mail is optional! Doesn't say so, but leaving them blank works.

Thereafter simple: pay fee which includes compulsory medical insurance. SR395 = A$157. Valid for multiple entries of up to 90 days, for a year from date of issue.

Then taken to a 'status' page. 'Under consideration' at first, but approved in about 5 minutes. At the status page you can print the visa (need to allow pop-ups) and the medical insurance thing. Only the visa is e-mailed to you.

Arriving 1 Feb this year.

Note: Certain medicines need a prior permit to bring in (I haven't gone through it yet)

SFDA Launches "Traveler's Permit for Controlled Drugs" Service at LEAP 2025

The Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, today launched the "Traveler's Permit for Controlled Drugs" service at the LEAP 2025 conference. The new service was unveiled at the SFDA pavilion. This initiative aims to enhance the travel...

www.sfda.gov.sa

 

[RooFlyer]

If you wish to take 'narcotic' (opioid, including Codeine) or 'psychotropic' (such as Temazepam) substances into Saudi Arabia, you need a permit.

Apply here:

Home Page - نظام الأدوية المقيدة

The 'customer journey' is only of limited help. Create an account (you'll need to go back later to get the Permit). Paperwork needed is a little bit more than, say Indonesia, but consists of :
+ Doctors letter of what (the Permit says < 6 months old, bit the application doesn't say this!), trade name, dose, number (of doses), why, 'treatment plan' etc. My doctor covered that in a few words.
+ Prescription
+Photo of medicine box
+Passport etc

Upload everything, submit and it says 'pending'. I went back 2 days later and it was 'completed' and you click to bring the permit PDF up on the screen. Nothing came to my phone.

Interestingly, although I declared 20 Temazepam (number left in the box), the Permit was only given for 8 - the number of days in my stay. So if you are travelling on, and want to have more for later, that might be an issue. Maybe doctor could double the dose in the letter??

On arrival, you need to show the permit and the medication.