Visa-free travel to Saudi Arabia: what has changed

Since 11 May 2026 an agreement on a mutual visa-free regime has been in force between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Without a visa you can make tourist, private and short business trips with a total length of up to 90 days per calendar year.

The visa-free regime does not cover all purposes. Work, study, Hajj and Umrah still require a visa, and document requirements in these cases are set by the visa rules.

Do you need insurance for Saudi Arabia?

While Russians were getting an electronic visa, medical insurance was included in its price, and there was no need to think about it separately. With the move to visa-free entry this link has disappeared. There is no official clarification on whether insurance is required for visa-free entry, so check the requirements before the trip.

In any case, a travel policy is recommended here. Private medicine in Saudi Arabia is expensive, Russian OMS (compulsory medical insurance) does not work abroad, and the climate and type of travel around the country add risks. If you travel on a visa (work, study, pilgrimage), check separately which insurance requirements apply to your category.

What matters in the policy

  • Sum. Given the cost of private clinics, the calculator offers USD 50,000 by default. For family trips and older travellers it makes sense to consider a higher limit.
  • Period. The policy is issued for every day of the trip. Remember that the visa-free regime counts the total number of days in a calendar year, while insurance is valid for the specific dates stated in the policy.
  • Deductible. A programme without a deductible spares you extra payments at every doctor's visit.
  • Territory. If you combine the trip with neighbouring countries, choose a territory that covers the whole route.

Trip specifics and risks

Heat and the desert

The country is hot for most of the year, and desert areas and ancient sites such as AlUla often mean long drives and hours in the open sun. Dehydration, heatstroke and sunburn are very real here. For jeep rides over the dunes and other desert activities choose the active leisure option, and for long hours in the sun the calculator has an option covering sunburn.

Diving in the Red Sea

The Red Sea coast attracts divers and snorkellers. Insurers treat scuba diving as active leisure or sport, and without the option an underwater injury may not be covered. Include diving in your programme and check the conditions in the policy terms: permitted depth, certificate requirements and whether an instructor must be present.

Mecca and Medina

Mecca and Medina have a special access regime, and a visa-free tourist trip does not mean you can visit these cities. Pilgrimage is arranged under its own rules, including a visa. Keep this in mind when planning your route.

Expensive private medicine

Even a simple visit to a private clinic can be costly, and with a hospital stay the bill grows very quickly. That is why not only the sum insured matters but also the right actions in an insured event: treatment is arranged by the assistance company, not by you.

How to choose a programme

For a city trip to Riyadh or Jeddah, a medical programme with emergency dental care and baggage is enough. For the desert, add active leisure and accident cover. For diving on the coast, include this activity in the programme. If you have chronic conditions, the option covering their flare-ups in a hot climate is especially useful. For trips paid in advance, trip cancellation and flight delay come in handy.

If you are planning a trip around the region, see the pages about insurance for the UAE, for Qatar and for Egypt. The general section on travel policies is travel insurance.

What to do in an insured event

  1. Call the assistance company on the phone number given in your policy and state your policy number, location and what happened.
  2. Wait until the operator approves the clinic and treatment. Do not pay for treatment yourself without approval.
  3. Keep medical reports, prescriptions, invoices and receipts: they will be needed to settle the claim.

All the steps are described in detail in the Insured event section.

How to buy a policy online on polisre.ru

Insurance for Saudi Arabia can be purchased in a few minutes through the Cherehapa service (Polis Re's partner). The policy is issued by the insurance company you choose.

  1. In the calculator, select the country, dates and travellers' ages.
  2. Compare offers from 16 insurance companies and add options: active leisure, diving, chronic conditions.
  3. Enter details in Latin letters exactly as in the international passport and pay for the policy.
  4. The policy will be sent to your e-mail: save it on your phone and print a copy.

Some insurers have programmes for people who are already travelling; check the conditions (for example, a waiting period) in the calculator.