Posted by Chinenye on Fri 17th Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
Saudi Arabia has unveiled a major change to its 2026 tourist eVisa policy, leaving many African countries off the approved list while only three nations on the continent secured access.
(Saudi official. Photo by Nation News)
Saudi Arabia has revised its tourist eVisa scheme for 2026, narrowing African eligibility to just three countries out of the 66 nations worldwide whose citizens can now apply through the Kingdom's online visa portal.
As a result, the majority of African nations, Nigeria included, have been shut out of the streamlined entry arrangement.
The eVisa permits qualifying travellers to enter Saudi Arabia for tourism, leisure, family visits and Umrah, though it does not cover the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The application process is entirely online, removing the need for embassy appointments and the extended waiting periods typically associated with visa processing.
According to Saudi officials, the eVisa initiative is part of a broader push to grow the tourism sector, draw in international visitors and streamline entry procedures via a fully digital system.
Access remains restricted to nationals of countries and territories on the Kingdom's approved list, as published on its official tourism portal.
The three African nations retaining eVisa eligibility are Mauritius, Seychelles and South Africa.