Saudi Stopover Visa: The 96-Hour Transit Visa, Explained
Flying Saudia or flynas with a layover in the Kingdom? The stopover visa turns that layover into up to four days in Saudi Arabia. How it is issued, what it allows, and when you need a real visa instead.
- Up to 96 hours (four days), single entry, tied to a connecting Saudia or flynas booking
- Issued inside the airline booking flow - there is no separate application site
- Umrah is permitted on it outside the Hajj season, with Nusuk booking for slots
- It cannot be extended and does not replace the tourist eVisa for real trips
What the stopover visa is
The stopover visa is a short, single-entry visa of up to 96 hours - four days - created for passengers whose Saudia or flynas journey connects through a Saudi airport. Instead of sitting in the terminal, you can leave the airport, see the city, and pick up your onward flight.
It is a transit product, not a small tourist visa. It exists only as part of a connecting booking, it cannot be extended, and once it is used, that journey's stopover is done.
How you actually get it
There is no separate application portal and no embassy visit. The stopover visa is offered inside the booking flow when you buy a qualifying Saudia or flynas ticket with a layover - you add it to the booking, answer the visa questions there, and the visa is issued against your passport and sent to you with your travel documents.
The visa itself carries no embassy fee; a modest insurance and administration amount can form part of the booking total, and it is shown before you pay. If a website offers to sell you a standalone stopover visa for a flight you have not booked, that is not how the product works.
What you can do with 96 hours
Four days is enough for the classic first taste: Diriyah and old Riyadh from the capital's airport, or Al-Balad and the Corniche from Jeddah. Many travellers use the stopover for Umrah - it is permitted outside the Hajj season, with Umrah and Rawdah slots booked in the Nusuk app.
Plan the stopover like a short trip, not a long layover: book a hotel near what you want to see, keep your onward boarding pass safe, and leave a generous margin for returning to the airport - your onward seat is not protected if you drift back late.
Who should not rely on it
If Saudi Arabia is your destination rather than your connection, you need the tourist eVisa or another proper visa - the stopover only exists inside a through-ticket. The same applies if you want multiple entries, a stay beyond four days, or to travel on an airline outside the two national carriers' booking flow.
Nationality still matters: the stopover route does not override the normal eligibility rules, and travellers whose passports need a pre-arranged visa for Saudi Arabia should confirm their position before building a trip around a layover.
Common questions
Is the stopover visa really free?
There is no embassy visa fee. A modest insurance and administration amount may be included in the booking total and is shown before you pay - if a third-party site charges a large stopover visa fee, you are not buying the official product.
Can I leave the airport on a stopover visa?
Yes - that is its purpose. You can enter the Kingdom for up to 96 hours, visit the city and even perform Umrah outside Hajj season, then take your onward flight.
Can I get a stopover visa without a flight booking?
No. It is issued as part of a qualifying Saudia or flynas booking with a Saudi layover. Travelling to Saudi Arabia as your destination needs the tourist eVisa or another visa.
Ready when you are
Check your eligibility in a minute, then apply online - a specialist reviews your documents before anything is submitted, and your total is confirmed in writing before you pay.
