Saudi Arabia travel advice

Passengers must have a travel document with gender F or M to enter and transit Saudi Arabia.

You may need vaccination certificates before you travel, these may include: 

• a yellow fever vaccination certificate  
• meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine

To find out what certificates you may need, please visit the Travel Health Pro website for more information.

Passport

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia.

Visa

You must get an e-visa or an electronic visa waiver (EVW) either before you travel or on arrival at any of Saudi Arabia’s international airports. The type of visa you require depends on your reason for travelling and how long you want to stay.

Please check your visa regulations here.

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Saudi Arabia.

Find out more here

If your child is under 18 and travelling without a parent or guardian into, out of, or via Saudi Arabia, there are a few important travel requirements you need to be aware of.
 

Who does this apply to?

These requirements apply specifically to Saudi nationals under the age of 18.

If your child is not a Saudi national, they generally won’t need travel permits or consent forms from Saudi authorities. However, it’s still essential to check the entry requirements of your destination — please note that visas are not available on arrival for children under 18 travelling alone.
 

Is authorisation needed for both departure and return?

Yes. Saudi nationals under 18 will need parental or guardian authorisation for both their departure from and return to Saudi Arabia.

There are a few exceptions, including if the child:

• Is married

• Is studying abroad with government sponsorship (supporting documents required)

• Is travelling for official government business (official letter required)
   

What documents are needed?

If your child is a Saudi national under 18 and travelling alone, they’ll need the following:

• A valid travel permit issued via Absher (Saudi Arabia’s online government platform)

• Parental or guardian consent, provided either through Absher or as a notarised letter

• Any additional documents required by the destination country, such as a notarised parental consent affidavit

These documents must be arranged in advance by the parent or legal guardian to help avoid delays at the airport.

For full details on Virgin Atlantic’s policies for young persons travelling alone, please visit our dedicated page here.