Safely Explore Saudi Arabia With International Travel Insurance

For many international visitors, yes—but the requirement is more specific than simply buying any travel insurance. Saudi Arabia requires mandatory health insurance as part of tourist visa issuance, while visitor insurance rules also apply to certain visit and transit visas.

What Does Saudi Arabia Require?

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Health Insurance (CHI) has said that health insurance is compulsory for tourists applying for a tourism visa. The policy is provided through approved insurers and is effective from the date of issue of the tourist visa. It is meant to offer emergency healthcare during the visitor’s stay.

Additionally, CHI provides mandatory visitor and Umrah insurance plans for the respective visa types. So travelers should look at the rules for their type of visa and not assume the same rule applies across the board.

Is the Visa Insurance Enough?

The mandatory visa-linked policy mainly focuses on emergency medical protection. It may not provide the wider benefits available under comprehensive travel insurance, such as:

• Trip cancellation or interruption
• Travel delays or missed connections
• Lost or delayed baggage
• Higher medical or evacuation limits
• Other trip-related benefits, depending on the plan

For this reason, some travelers choose additional coverage even when health insurance is already included with their Saudi visa.

Travel with Extra Protection through Travelner Insurance

Travelers who are looking for travel insurance online in Saudi Arabia can check out the available plans through Travelner Insurance. Depending on the policy you choose, benefits may include emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, trip cancelation or interruption, travel delays, baggage protection, and 24/7 emergency assistance.

Compare the coverage limits, exclusions, deductibles, and effective dates prior to buying with the insurance already provided through your Saudi visa.

In short, mandatory health insurance is built into Saudi tourist visa issuance, while additional travel insurance is optional but may provide broader protection for your journey.

>>> Read more: Entry requirements - Saudi travel guidelines

The cost of travel insurance to Saudi Arabia depends on the length of the trip, the age and number of travelers, and the type of coverage included in the plan. Travelers can expect rates to increase as their trips lengthen, more services are provided, and more travelers are protected.

• Hospital room and board expenses
• COVID-19 medical expenses
• Emergency medical evacuation