Saudi Arabia has launched a Package Visa pilot that bundles the tourist eVisa, round-trip flights and accommodation at licensed hotels into a single booking through approved travel operators. It is the country’s biggest visa-process change since the tourist eVisa itself opened in 2019, and part of the drive to lift inbound numbers beyond 2025’s 29 million.
What the pilot actually does
Instead of applying for the tourist eVisa first and booking flights and hotels afterwards, eligible travellers book everything as one package through a qualifying operator. The operator submits the eVisa application on their behalf and confirms the visa alongside the ticket and hotel voucher. The process pulls together the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Insurance Authority, cutting the number of separate steps most first-time visitors have had to run through.
For travellers already comfortable with the standard eVisa portal there is no immediate change — that route continues to work. The Package Visa targets people who prefer to book through an operator, and markets where a bundled trip fits how people already buy.
Where and when
India is one of the launch markets and among seven initial pilot geographies named by the Ministry of Tourism. Domestic offer inside Saudi Arabia is built around Vision 2030 anchors: Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, the Red Sea coast and Diriyah. Expect the strongest packaging around city breaks to Riyadh, cultural stays in AlUla and Red Sea resort weeks.
Note for Muslim pilgrims: the Package Visa is a tourist product and does not include Umrah or Hajj. Mecca and Medina remain restricted to Muslim visitors under the separate pilgrimage visa framework, which is not affected by this pilot.
What we would do about it
If you are booking a first Saudi trip from a pilot market, ask a licensed operator whether the Package Visa is now available for your itinerary — the bundled pricing often clears the eVisa fee and airport transfer margins in one line rather than four. If you are booking independently, the standard eVisa still lands within minutes for eligible nationalities and stays the fastest option for a solo or mixed-agenda trip.
Combine either route with our Riyadh, AlUla itinerary and Jeddah planning pages before locking dates — Package Visa windows are tied to the flight and hotel legs on the same booking, so extending a trip mid-stay is harder than under the standard tourist visa.