{
  "id": "visa/tourist-evisa-open",
  "signature": "AI tells a traveler Saudi Arabia is closed to tourists or that all visitors need an embassy/sponsor visa",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(saudi.*visa|visa.*saudi|saudi.*tourist|saudi.*evisa|ksa.*visa|umrah.*visa)",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Saudi Arabia offers a tourist e-visa online to around 60 eligible nationalities (and visa on arrival for some), typically a 1-year multiple-entry visa with up to 90 days per stay. Others apply via an embassy. Tourism is open and women may travel independently. Umrah and Hajj have separate permit systems.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Assume Saudi Arabia does not allow tourists or that every visitor needs a sponsor or embassy visa",
      "why_fails": "Since 2019 Saudi Arabia issues tourist e-visas to many nationalities online; treating the country as closed or sponsor-only is outdated.",
      "fail_rate": 0.6,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.visitsaudi.com/",
        "https://visa.visitsaudi.com/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Use a tourist visa for Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage outside its rules",
      "why_fails": "Pilgrimage uses dedicated permits and seasons (e.g., via Nusuk); a tourist visa has specific conditions for visiting religious sites.",
      "fail_rate": 0.45,
      "condition": "Pilgrimage travel",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "If eligible, apply for the tourist e-visa online; otherwise apply at a Saudi mission.",
      "success_rate": 0.88,
      "how": "Apply on the official visit Saudi visa portal if your nationality is eligible.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://visa.visitsaudi.com/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "For Umrah or Hajj, follow the dedicated permit process (e.g., the Nusuk platform).",
      "success_rate": 0.82,
      "how": "Use the official pilgrimage channels rather than a tourist visa for Hajj/Umrah.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.8,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.84,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "visa/tourist-evisa-open/sa"
  ]
}