Saudi Arabia has launched a Package Visa, and India is on the first eligibility list. The headlines are all some version of "Saudi makes visas easier for Indians." That part is true. What almost none of them mention is the price floor: SR4,000 per adult, minimum, for a two-day trip.
At roughly ₹23 to the riyal, that's about ₹93,000 before you've bought a single meal. This is not a budget route. It's a convenience product, and it's worth understanding exactly what you're buying before the word "easier" does your thinking for you.
What the Package Visa actually is
It is not a new visa category so much as a new way of buying one. You purchase an approved travel package through an accredited provider, and the tourist e-visa is issued within 48 hours of that purchase — bundled in, no separate application, no embassy visit.
The Ministry of Tourism has accredited two providers so far: Reserval and Almosafer. Seven nationalities are eligible in this first phase: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jordan, Egypt and Mexico. More are expected in later phases.
Every package must include three things:
- A confirmed round-trip flight
- Accommodation at a Ministry of Tourism–licensed hotel rated four stars or above
- Electronic visa application processing
The visa itself is single-entry, valid for three months, and permits a stay of minimum two days and maximum 88 days. You can add optional extras — event tickets, activities, tours.
The number nobody leads with
Here is the pricing, which is the whole story:
| Item | Official price | Approx. ₹ |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum package, first 2 days | SR 4,000 per adult | ~₹93,000 |
| Each additional day | SR 1,000 | ~₹23,000 |
| A 5-day trip | SR 7,000 | ~₹1.63 lakh |
| A 7-day trip | SR 9,000 | ~₹2.10 lakh |
Converted at approximately ₹23 per SAR. The riyal is pegged to the dollar, so check the rate on the day — the SAR figures are the ones that matter.
To be fair to the scheme: that price includes your flights and your hotel. It is not a visa fee. But the four-star minimum is a floor built into the rules, and a floor is exactly what a budget traveler is trying to avoid. You cannot bring this number down by staying somewhere cheaper, because staying somewhere cheaper disqualifies you.
Package Visa vs the normal route
| Package Visa | Standard tourist visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa cost | Bundled — not itemised | ~SR 300 base (~₹7,000) |
| Realistic all-in | From SR 4,000 (~₹93,000) | ~SR 500 with insurance (~₹11,700) |
| Speed | 48 hours after purchase | 24 hours to ~10 working days, route depending |
| Hotel | 4-star minimum, compulsory | Your choice — hostel, guesthouse, anything |
| Flights | Must be bought in the bundle | Your choice, any fare, any airline |
| Flexibility | Cancel the package, lose the visa | Visa stands on its own |
Be careful with the "standard visa" column. Saudi's entry routes for Indians have changed repeatedly — direct e-visa eligibility, visa-on-arrival for US/UK/Schengen visa holders, and agency-only routes have all applied at different times, and sources still contradict each other on which applies to whom today. We're giving you the commonly cited figures, not a promise. Verify your specific route on the official portal (visa.visitsaudi.com) before you budget anything.
Three catches worth knowing
- Cancel the package, lose the visa. The visa cannot be cancelled separately, and if the travel package is cancelled the visa is revoked with it. Your entry permission is tethered to a booking you may want to change.
- Umrah is not included. The Package Visa does not cover Umrah arrangements or services in Mecca and Madinah. Holders can travel anywhere in the Kingdom after arrival, including both holy cities — but if a pilgrimage is your purpose, this is not the product for it.
- The four-star rule is the point, not a detail. Saudi is not accidentally excluding budget travelers here. A scheme that requires licensed four-star-plus hotels is designed to raise average spend per visitor. That's a legitimate policy goal. It just isn't aimed at you.
Who this is actually for
There is a real customer here, and it isn't a budget traveler:
- Short-notice business or event trips. A 48-hour turnaround with no embassy visit is genuinely valuable if you have a fixed date and no time to lose.
- People who were going to book four-star anyway. If a nice hotel and flights were already your plan, bundling the visa in costs you nothing extra and removes the paperwork.
- Anyone burned by a rejection. Saudi has a meaningful rejection rate for Indian applicants. Handing the process to an accredited provider is a way of buying certainty.
If you are none of those — if you are the person this site is normally written for — the Package Visa costs you a great deal of money to solve a problem you can solve for a fraction of it.
What to do instead
Apply for the ordinary tourist visa through the official portal or an authorised route, book your own flights when the fare is right, and sleep wherever you like. You will spend somewhere in the region of ₹11,000–18,000 getting the visa depending on the route and service fees, instead of ₹93,000 getting a visa plus a hotel you didn't choose.
Then put the difference into the actual trip. AlUla and Hegra are the reason to go to Saudi Arabia. Neither of them is cheaper because you arrived on a bundled visa.
The honest summary: the Package Visa is a good product badly reported. It buys speed and certainty, not savings. Anyone telling you Saudi just got cheaper for Indian travelers hasn't read past the press release.
FAQ
Is India eligible for the Saudi Package Visa?
Yes. India is one of the first seven eligible nationalities, alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jordan, Egypt and Mexico. More nationalities are expected in later phases.
How much does the Saudi Package Visa cost?
The minimum package is SR 4,000 per adult for the first two days, plus SR 1,000 for each additional day. At roughly ₹23/SAR that is about ₹93,000 minimum. The price includes round-trip flights and a four-star-or-above hotel; the visa is bundled rather than priced separately.
Is it cheaper than the normal Saudi visa?
No. The standard tourist visa is commonly cited at around SR 300 base, with realistic all-in costs near SR 500 once mandatory insurance is included. The Package Visa buys speed and convenience, not a lower price.
How fast is the visa issued?
Within 48 hours of completing the purchase of an approved package. No embassy visit and no standalone visa application are required.
Can I use it for Umrah?
The Package Visa does not include Umrah arrangements or services in Mecca and Madinah. Visa holders can still travel anywhere in Saudi Arabia after arrival, including the holy cities, but this product is not designed for pilgrimage.
What happens if I cancel my trip?
The visa cannot be cancelled on its own, and if the travel package is cancelled the associated visa is revoked. Your entry permission depends on the booking staying intact.