Turkey Visa Guide · Saudi Arabia

Turkey Visa for Saudi Citizens

Saudi passport holders do not need a visa for Turkey. You can travel on the passport alone for up to 90 days in any 180 — the counting is the catch. Here is how it works.

Go to evisa.gov.tr Explore Turkey tours

Turkey has been a summer habit for Saudi travellers for years — Istanbul and the Bosphorus, the Black Sea greenery around Trabzon and Uzungöl, Bursa, Cappadocia and the Antalya coast all sit within a direct flight of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The question before booking is still the same one: do Saudis need a visa for Turkey, and is there anything to apply for? The short answer is no — Saudi citizens have been visa exempt since December 2023.

This guide explains, in plain language, how long Saudi citizens may stay, how the 90-day allowance is counted across repeat trips, what your passport needs to look like, what it costs — nothing — and what happens at passport control. It is written for ordinary (tourist) passport holders travelling for tourism or short business.

Because entry rules and exemptions are set by the Turkish government and can change, treat everything below as guidance and confirm the current requirements on the official portal before you book a long trip or travel.

⚠ Visa rules can change — always confirm current requirements on the official Republic of Türkiye e-Visa site (evisa.gov.tr) before travel. Fees and conditions below are approximate guidance, not a guarantee.

Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Turkey?

No. Saudi passport holders are exempt from the Turkish visa requirement for short visits and enter on the passport alone — there is no e-Visa to buy, no consulate appointment and no visa-on-arrival counter to join. The exemption came into force on 23 December 2023, which is why older pages still telling Saudi travellers to apply for an e-Visa are simply out of date. The allowance is not unlimited, though: the 90-day count below is the part worth reading carefully.

How long can Saudis stay in Turkey? The 90-day rule

Up to 90 days within a 180-day period. That is a rolling window rather than a fresh allowance for each trip: officers can look back over the previous 180 days and add up every day you have already spent in Turkey, so leaving the country and returning does not reset the clock. Three separate month-long stays in the same half-year will use the exemption up. A normal one- or two-week holiday never comes close to the limit — but if you summer in Turkey every year, or travel back and forth on business, count your days properly. Overstaying can lead to a fine and a re-entry ban.

Do you need to apply for anything? (official portal evisa.gov.tr)

For a short tourist visit, no — and this is where money gets wasted. Because Saudi Arabia is visa exempt, there is nothing to apply for and nothing to pay. You can still confirm your own status on the official Republic of Türkiye portal at evisa.gov.tr: select Saudi Arabia as your country and the tool will tell you whether a visa is required. Use it to check, not to buy. Avoid third-party "visa" websites that cheerfully sell Saudis an e-Visa they do not need — the government site is the only official source.

Cost & what the exemption covers

There is no fee. Visa exemption means exactly that: no visa charge, no service charge and no portal payment for a qualifying short visit, and nobody at the airport will ask you to pay for an entry permit. If a website or agent quotes you a price for a Turkish "e-Visa" on a Saudi passport, that charge is theirs rather than the Turkish government's. The exemption covers ordinary (tourist) passports travelling for tourism or short business — it is not a residence or work permission.

Passport validity & entry conditions

Visa-free entry still depends on your passport being acceptable at the border. Turkish practice generally expects an ordinary Saudi passport with comfortable remaining validity beyond your trip, and many airlines apply a six-month rule of their own at check-in regardless of what the border itself would accept. Renew a passport that is close to expiry rather than risk an argument at the desk, and make sure you are travelling on an ordinary (tourist) passport. Confirm the current position on the official sources before you book.

Documents needed

There is no visa paperwork to assemble, but immigration may still ask what any visitor is asked: a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and evidence of sufficient funds for the stay. None of it is usually a problem — keep your hotel booking and itinerary on your phone. If you are travelling with family, carry the children's passports and, if you are visiting relatives, their address written down.

At the airport

On arrival, join the foreign passports queue and present your Saudi passport. With no visa to show, clearance is normally quick — officers may ask about your hotel, how long you are staying and your return flight. Check the entry stamp before you leave the desk: that date is what starts your 90-day clock, and it is the figure you will count from on a later trip.

Apply on the official portal

The only official place to apply is the Republic of Türkiye e-Visa portal. Avoid third-party sites that charge inflated fees.

Go to evisa.gov.tr →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Saudis need a visa for Turkey in 2026?

No. Saudi passport holders are visa exempt for short visits and can enter Turkey on the passport alone, for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. There is nothing to apply for and no fee to pay. Rules can change, so confirm your status on evisa.gov.tr before you travel.

When did Turkey become visa-free for Saudi citizens?

The exemption for Saudi nationals took effect on 23 December 2023. A lot of older guidance and third-party pages still describe a Turkish e-Visa for Saudis — that advice predates the change. Check the position for yourself on evisa.gov.tr.

How long can Saudi citizens stay in Turkey without a visa?

Up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It is a rolling count: every day you already spent in Turkey during the previous 180 counts, not just the days of this trip. If you visit often or are near the cap, verify your position before booking.

How much does a Turkey visa cost for Saudi citizens?

Nothing — there is no visa, and therefore no fee, for a qualifying short visit. If a website offers to sell you a Turkey visa on a Saudi passport, it is selling you something you do not need. You can check your status free of charge on evisa.gov.tr.

Do Saudis need a Turkey e-Visa?

No. The e-Visa exists for nationalities that require a visa. Saudi Arabia is visa exempt for short visits, so there is no e-Visa to buy. You can confirm this yourself by selecting Saudi Arabia on evisa.gov.tr.

Is there visa on arrival in Turkey for Saudi passport holders?

You do not need one. Visa on arrival is for travellers who require a visa — as a Saudi passport holder you are exempt, so you go straight to passport control and are stamped in.

Which website is the official one for Turkey entry rules?

Only evisa.gov.tr, the Republic of Türkiye government portal, is official. Third-party sites look similar and charge fees for a visa Saudis do not even need.

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