Getting a Saudi Multiple-Entry Visa from Bahrain in 2026
Dinner in Khobar, a weekend in Riyadh, a visit to family in Dammam. Plenty of people in Bahrain make these trips again and again. For many of them, one multiple-entry tourist visa may cover a whole year of crossings. Which visa you can get, and what it costs, depends on your passport and your residence. We have put the official routes side by side below.
In shortBahraini and other GCC citizens don't need a visa under the rules Visit Saudi publishes. They travel on their ID card or passport. If you live in Bahrain on another passport, you may qualify for the tourist e-visa for GCC residents. Its published fee is SAR 339.44, with insurance shown at checkout. Your residence permit must be valid for 3 months and your passport for 6 months from entry. Some passports, for example US, EU, Malaysian or Japanese, are eVisa-eligible. If you hold one, you may apply online or may get a visa on arrival, published at SAR 395 with insurance included. The multiple-entry visa is published as valid for one year from issue, with stays of up to 90 consecutive days each time. Rules change, they depend on your passport and residence, and Saudi authorities decide every entry. Check visitsaudi.com or ksavisa.sa, or ask us, before you book or travel.
On this page
Which Saudi visa fits your passport
| You are | Route under current published rules | Published fee | Entries and stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Bahraini or other GCC citizen | No visa: ID card or passport | None | Not applicable |
| A Bahrain resident with an Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan or Nepali passport (and many others) | Tourist e-visa for GCC residents, applied for online before you travel | SAR 339.44 plus insurance, total shown at checkout | Multiple entry for 1 year, or single entry for 3 months. Up to 90 consecutive days per stay |
| A resident (or visitor) with an eVisa-eligible passport, such as US, UK, Canada, EU, Australia, Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea or Türkiye | Tourist e-visa online, or visa on arrival | SAR 395, insurance included | Same as above |
| Holder of a used US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa, or of US, UK or EU permanent residence | e-visa online, or visa on arrival on that basis | e-visa SAR 339.44 plus insurance. On arrival SAR 395 | Same as above |
| A British passport holder | Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), since 1 July 2026, besides the e-visa | SAR 50, non-refundable | Multiple entry, stays of up to 180 days |
| Flying via Saudi Arabia on Saudia or flynas | Transit / stopover visa, requested with the booking | Visa free. Application about SAR 39.50, insurance from about SAR 13 | Single entry, up to 96 hours, valid 3 months |
| Diplomatic or special passport | Saudi embassy only (not online) | Set by the embassy | Set by the embassy |
| Going to work, or for Hajj | Not the tourist visa. You need a work visa or a Hajj visa | Not covered here | Not covered here |
This is what the official Visit Saudi visa tool showed for each nationality on 6 November 2026. Your own result may be different, so run your passport through the tool before you pay. Fees are not refunded if a visa is refused, and only the Saudi authorities decide on a visa or entry.
If you can't tell which row is yours, send us each passport and residence permit in the family. Many families here hold two or three passports between them. We check each one against the official rules before you pay anything.
How "multiple entry, one year" works
The Saudi tourist visa comes as multiple entry or single entry. Visit Saudi publishes the terms like this:
- Multiple entry: valid for one year from the date of issue. Each stay can last no more than 90 consecutive days.
- Single entry: valid for three months from the date of issue, again with stays of up to 90 consecutive days.
Three points catch people out.
- The year starts on the day the visa is issued, not on your first crossing. Apply months before your first trip and you lose part of it.
- Validity and stay are two different things. Validity is the window in which you can enter. The stay limit is how long each visit may last.
- Any yearly limit on top of that is unclear. The current English and Arabic key facts on Visit Saudi say "90 consecutive days" per stay. The site's FAQ simply says the visa "permits 90 days period of stay". A 2023 notice from Türkiye's foreign ministry described the stay as "90 days in 365 days". We could not find a Saudi statement that settles it. If you plan to spend more than 90 days in total in Saudi Arabia within the year, confirm with the official portal before you plan.
For weekend travellers this rarely matters. Two nights a month comes to about 24 nights a year. Each entry is still decided at the border.
Saudi visa fees in 2026
| Route | Published fee | Approx. in BHD | Medical insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist e-visa, eVisa-eligible passports | SAR 395 (about USD 105.32) | about BHD 40 | Included |
| Visa on arrival, eligible travellers | SAR 395 | about BHD 40 | Included |
| Tourist e-visa for GCC residents | SAR 339.44 (about USD 90.50) | about BHD 34 | Shown at checkout (official pages conflict) |
| ETA for British passports | SAR 50 (about USD 13.50) | about BHD 5 | Not stated |
| Transit / stopover visa with Saudia or flynas | Visa free. Application about SAR 39.50 | about BHD 4 | From about SAR 13 |
These are the fees and insurance terms as Visit Saudi published them on 6 November 2026. The BHD column is our own rounded conversion. You pay whatever the official portal shows at checkout.
According to Visit Saudi, tourist visa fees are non-refundable in any case, and that includes a refusal.
Older articles still quote "SAR 300 including insurance". That figure is out of date. Go by the total on the official payment page, not a screenshot from a forum.
Is medical insurance included?
It depends on the route, and the official site isn't consistent about it. For eVisa-eligible nationalities and the visa on arrival, Visit Saudi lists medical insurance as included. For the GCC-resident e-visa, the key facts say it is not included and the provider sets the price. The FAQ on the same site says it is issued with the visa and included.
So read the final total on the payment page before you confirm. Separate travel insurance can still help with cancellations, baggage or bigger medical bills. Ask us for a quote.
Applying online
- On visitsaudi.com, open Visa requirements and choose your nationality. If it asks, pick "I am a GCC resident".
- Click Apply now. It takes you to the official portal for your route: ksavisa.sa for most routes, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal for the ETA.
- Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport. Choose multiple entry (1 year) or single entry (3 months), check the total and pay. Keep the visa on your phone and on paper.
On the GCC-resident route, a parent applies first, then children under 18. The resident's steps and the family rules are in our Saudi visa for Bahrain residents guide.
Umrah on a tourist visa (information only)
- According to Visit Saudi, the tourist visa may be used for Umrah, but not during the Hajj season. Hajj needs its own Hajj visa.
- Umrah and Rawdah visits need a permit booked on Nusuk (nusuk.sa or the Nusuk app).
- Makkah is open to Muslim visitors only. Madinah is open to all visitors.
- In past seasons, Saudi authorities paused Umrah permits for several weeks around Hajj and limited entry to Makkah to Hajj permit holders. The 2027 dates have not been officially published yet. Going by the Hijri calendar, this is expected around April to May 2027.
- Group Umrah campaigns from Bahrain must be licensed by the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf. Check the licence before you pay anyone.
GoTrips does not sell Umrah packages, organise Umrah campaigns or offer any Umrah-specific service. This section is general information.
Crossing the causeway or flying in
At the King Fahd Causeway
Visit Saudi's FAQ says e-visa holders can enter from any formal port of entry, land ports included. Two practical points:
- The official tool lists no visa on arrival for the GCC-resident route. If you are a resident on a passport that isn't eligible, have the e-visa issued before you drive.
- Visit Saudi describes the visa on arrival as available at the airport or entry point, through kiosks or the passport office. Even if your passport is eligible, an e-visa sorted in advance saves time in the queue at the border.
Our Saudi visa and causeway guide covers the causeway toll, car insurance for Saudi Arabia and the authorisation to drive someone else's car.
At the airport
Airlines usually check travel documents at check-in. Have the e-visa (or ETA) ready, linked to the passport you are travelling on.
Every time you go
Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months from entry (US citizens are an exception, as published). If you used the resident route, your residence permit needs 3 months from entry. And the visa must still be within its year.
Why visas get refused, or entry goes wrong
Only Saudi authorities decide, and they don't always give a reason. Measured against the published rules, these are the problems we see most:
- A residence permit or passport too close to expiry on the day of entry. You need 3 months and 6 months respectively.
- The wrong route. For example, the GCC-resident e-visa without a valid GCC residence permit, or a US/UK/Schengen-based visa when that visa was never used.
- A US, UK or Schengen visa with no physical entry stamp. The official site says digital entry stamps are not accepted for that route.
- A name or passport number typed differently from the passport, or a new passport issued after the visa.
- Children applied for before a parent on the GCC-resident route.
- Using the tourist visa for paid work, or trying to reach Makkah for Hajj without a Hajj permit.
- Staying beyond 90 days on one visit.
- Diplomatic or special passports applied for online. These now go through an embassy.
How we can help from East Riffa
GoTrips is a licensed travel agency in East Riffa, arranging Bahrain travels from one office. For Saudi trips we can:
- Check your passport and residence against the published rules, and help you fill in the official application. The decision stays with the Saudi authorities.
- Book flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Abha, AlUla and more, and hotels across the Kingdom.
- Arrange travel insurance, or build a Saudi or regional trip from our holiday packages.
You'll find us at Office v30, Road 7, Block 907, East Riffa (opposite Al Rayan Hospital, free parking).
We're open Sat–Thu 9 am–1 pm and 4–9 pm, and Fri 4–8:30 pm. Phones are answered 24/7.
Call or WhatsApp us on +973 7790 7722.
If you're planning several trips this winter, send us your passport, residence and dates. We'll tell you which route the official rules point to before you pay.
Read next: Saudi visa for Bahrain residents & the King Fahd Causeway · Winter holidays from Bahrain · Holiday packages from Bahrain
Frequently asked questions
Is the Saudi tourist visa multiple entry for one year?
How long can I stay on a Saudi multiple-entry visa?
How much is the Saudi visa from Bahrain in 2026?
Can I get a Saudi visa on arrival at the King Fahd Causeway?
Do Bahrainis need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Can I do Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa?
Has the GCC unified tourist visa launched?
Official sources (checked 6 November 2026)
- Visit Saudi, visa requirements and visa tool by nationality visitsaudi.com
- Visit Saudi, FAQ visitsaudi.com
- Saudi visa portal ksavisa.sa
- Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unified visa platform visa.mofa.gov.sa
- Nusuk, Umrah and Rawdah permits nusuk.sa
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah permit haj.gov.sa
- Zawya, Saudi ETA for British visitors (July 2026) zawya.com
- Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi e-visa terms (2023) mfa.gov.tr
- Khaleej Times, GCC unified visa "soon" (September 2026) khaleejtimes.com
This is general guidance, and rules change. Check the official portals before you book or travel, or contact us and we'll check the latest requirements for you.