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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on October 4 that citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana now qualify for the kingdom’s streamlined tourist visa program. Travelers from both nations can secure the visa electronically in advance or obtain it upon arrival at any Saudi entry point. The ministry described the expansion as another step in its work to facilitate travel from a growing number of countries while maintaining all standard regulatory requirements. This adjustment reflects the latest in a series of updates that have progressively widened access since the e-visa system debuted in 2019.
Visitors holding the visa may use it for tourism, to perform Umrah, or to attend events, exhibitions and conferences across the kingdom. The document also covers trips to see relatives and friends, provided all applicable rules are followed. According to the ministry, the visa remains valid for one year and permits multiple entries with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days. Such flexibility is designed to encourage broader participation in Saudi Arabia’s expanding calendar of cultural and sporting activities.
Ministry of Tourism data placed international arrivals at 29.3 million in 2025, part of a combined 123 million domestic and inbound trips that generated record spending of SR304 billion. A World Economic Forum assessment released in 2026 ranked the kingdom 29th globally in its Travel and Tourism Development Index, marking an advance of 17 places since 2019. These gains have been driven in part by successive e-visa expansions that have lowered entry barriers for citizens of more than 50 countries and territories.
The addition of Kosovo and Guyana follows earlier inclusions from Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America between 2023 and 2025. Industry forecasts cited by the Ministry of Tourism project that international leisure tourism overnight stays will rise 93 percent between 2025 and 2030, outpacing both regional and global averages. The ministry has tied these policy changes directly to Vision 2030 goals of diversifying the economy and positioning tourism as a central pillar of non-oil growth.
For Guyanese passport holders the update removes a prior condition that required a valid United States, United Kingdom or Schengen visa. Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stated that the country is now the only South American nation to enjoy this direct access. Officials in Georgetown framed the development as an outcome of strengthened bilateral ties that encompass trade, investment and people-to-people contacts.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah reported that more than 1.2 million Umrah pilgrims arrived from 109 countries between mid-June and early October 2026, a 30 percent increase over the same period last year. Eased visa rules for additional nationalities are expected to sustain momentum in religious tourism while supporting the Nusuk platform’s digital booking system. Separate data from the Tourism Development Fund show more than 2,100 projects backed with USD 8.8 billion to expand hospitality capacity toward a 2030 target of 675,000 licensed hotel rooms.
