What Is the New Package Visa?
Saudi Arabia has introduced a new 'Package Visa' service designed to streamline the travel process for tourists from several countries, including India. This isn't a typical visa application that you handle separately. Instead, the electronic tourist visa (e-visa)
is bundled together with your flights and accommodation into a single booking. The entire process is digital, managed through approved travel platforms, which means less paperwork and a more coordinated travel plan. This initiative is a significant development, as India is not currently on the list of 66 countries eligible for the standard tourist e-visa, making this package-based route a crucial new gateway for Indian passport holders.
How Does the Application Process Work?
The beauty of the Package Visa lies in its simplicity. The process is fully integrated into your holiday booking. According to the official tourism platform, Visit Saudi, travelers follow a few straightforward steps. First, you choose a pre-designed package or customize your own itinerary through an approved provider. Next, you upload your passport details and a personal photograph. After that, you complete the booking and payment. An automated system then verifies your information and eligibility. Once approved, the e-visa is issued and sent to you electronically, often within 24 to 48 hours, without needing to visit an embassy.
Who Are the Approved Providers?
To ensure the process is secure and reliable, the Package Visa is only available through travel service providers approved by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. Currently, the official Visit Saudi platform lists three key partners for this service: Almosafer, Webook, and Reserval. Each platform offers slightly different ways to build your trip. Almosafer, for example, allows you to book custom itineraries across multiple cities, while Webook offers a seamless flight and hotel booking experience. Reserval focuses on a simple step-by-step process to build and secure your trip instantly.
What Do the Packages Typically Include?
The travel packages are designed to be comprehensive, covering the essential elements of your trip. At a minimum, a qualifying package must include a confirmed round-trip flight and accommodation at a Ministry-licensed hotel with a rating of at least four stars. Beyond these basics, many packages offer a range of add-ons like guided city tours, desert safaris, visits to cultural events, and entry to key attractions. This allows travelers to tailor their journey, whether it’s exploring the futuristic skyline of Riyadh, the historic streets of Jeddah's Al-Balad, or the ancient UNESCO heritage site of AlUla.
A Key Part of Vision 2030
This new visa option is a central piece of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, an ambitious plan to diversify its economy and transform the Kingdom into a global tourism powerhouse. India is considered a top priority market in this vision, with Saudi Arabia setting a goal to attract 7.5 million Indian visitors annually by 2030. By simplifying the visa process and increasing air connectivity, the Kingdom is actively working to make itself a more accessible and appealing destination for leisure, business, and cultural tourism from India.
