Travelling to Saudi Arabia
Entry requirements by nationality
- Argentina: visa required
- Australia: visa on arrival
- Brazil: visa required
- Canada: visa on arrival
- Chile: visa required
- Germany: visa on arrival
- India: visa required
- Israel: visa required
- Italy: visa on arrival
- Japan: visa on arrival
- Malaysia: visa on arrival
- Mexico: visa required
- Netherlands: visa on arrival
- New Zealand: visa on arrival
- Singapore: visa on arrival
- South Korea: visa on arrival
- Spain: visa on arrival
- Ukraine: visa on arrival
- United Kingdom: visa on arrival
- United States: visa on arrival
What you can bring
- Alcohol: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
- Cannabis: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
- Cash: allowed, must be declared — Declaration is required when cash, bearer negotiable instruments, gold bars, precious metals, gemstones, or jewelry total SAR 40,000 or more (or the equivalent in foreign currency). There is no cap on the amount that may be carried — only a mandatory declaration above the threshold.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Controlled medication: depends on specifics — Any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance carried by a traveler for personal treatment (the kind of medicine that, as commonly prescribed, includes stimulants such as Adderall/amphetamine and Ritalin/methylphenidate, benzodiazepines such as Xanax/alprazolam and Valium/diazepam, and opioid painkillers such as codeine and oxycodone) must be cleared in advance through SFDA's Controlled Drugs System (CDS) at cds.sfda.gov.sa before arrival in or departure from Saudi Arabia. Clearance requires either (a) a detailed medical report from a licensed medical institution, issued within the last 6 months, naming the diagnosis, treatment plan, and the drug's scientific name and dosage, or (b) a doctor's prescription in the patient's name, issued within the last 6 months, with diagnosis, drug details and the institution's seal — plus a copy of the patient's ID and a signed pledge that the medicine is for the named patient's own use at their own risk.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Drones: depends on specifics — ZATCA lists drones as one of its named examples of "restricted materials that require approval from competent authorities" (the other named example being medicines) — meaning a drone cannot simply be carried through like an ordinary personal item, but isn't outright banned either. Travelers must disclose the drone at customs and obtain the necessary authorisation before entry.Detailscompare everywhere →
- E-cigarettes: depends on specifics — Since around August 2020, Saudi Customs has banned individuals from importing e-cigarettes, shisha and their accessories through shipping companies and personal website purchases — goods imported this way are confiscated, a fine is imposed, and a seizure record is registered. Companies licensed by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) may still import these products in commercial quantities.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Fresh produce: depends on specifics — "The importation of the following products requires special approval by Saudi authorities: agricultural seeds ..." — quoted directly. Seeds need advance authorization from Saudi authorities before import.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Meat & dairy: depends on specifics — "Saudi law prohibits importation of the following products: weapons, alcohol, narcotics, pork and pork products..." — pork and pork products are absolutely prohibited, no exceptions. Separately, "the importation of the following products requires special approval by Saudi authorities: ... live animals ..." — live animals need advance authorization before import.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Medication: allowed, within limits — Saudi Arabia's SFDA-run Controlled Drugs System (CDS) traveler-clearance regime applies only to medicines containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances (see the separate controlled-medication entry) — the SFDA's published traveler clearance terms do not describe a separate permit or state a numeric quantity cap for ordinary (non-controlled) prescription or OTC medicine.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Tobacco: allowed, within limits — Up to 200 cigarettes are duty/tax-free. Quantities above 200 but up to 2,400 cigarettes are still permitted as personal baggage but are subject to customs duties and taxes on the entire quantity, and require Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) approval. Quantities exceeding 2,400 cigarettes must go through commercial import procedures and cannot be brought as personal baggage.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Weapons: prohibited — ZATCA's prohibited-items list bans "all types of electric shock" devices, laser devices (with one narrow exception: a single red laser pen not exceeding 5 milliwatts), fireworks, "eavesdropping devices of all shapes and types," speed radar detectors, and items described as "tear softeners" (tear-gas-type irritants). Surveillance devices disguised as everyday objects — the source specifically names hidden-camera watches, pens, glasses, and toy airplanes — are also prohibited.Detailscompare everywhere →
From the blog
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-02. Official source