Saudi Arabia does not currently have visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Zone. As of November 2025, Saudi nationals must obtain visas to travel to any Schengen country. Claims that the European Union is praising partnerships on Schengen visa waivers, or that exemptions are “a matter of time,” are unverified by official EU sources. The Kingdom is engaged in preliminary discussions with the European Union regarding potential visa exemptions for Gulf nationals, though no official timeline has been announced.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Current Visa Options and Availability
The European Union allows Saudi citizens two primary pathways for Schengen travel. Both options require advance applications and fees, but offer different convenience levels for travelers planning European visits.[9]
Five-Year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa Currently Available
The five-year, multiple-entry visa permits repeated visits within five years without reapplying for each journey. This arrangement is especially practical for business professionals and frequent leisure travelers.[10][11]
Key features of the five-year visa:
- Valid for five years from issuance.
- Multiple entries permitted throughout validity period.
- Individual trip limited to 90 consecutive days.
- Applicable across all 31 Schengen Area countries.
- Single application covers entire five-year period.
Cost and processing details include €80 for adults; €40 for children ages 6-12. Processing time is typically 15 business days. Peak season (May-September) may exceed standard timelines.[12][13][14]
Single-Entry Schengen Visa for Occasional Travel
Standard single-entry visas remain available for travelers planning one trip or sporadic European visits. These follow identical 90-day stay rules but require new application for each separate journey.[15][16]
Schengen Area Membership and Travel Regulations
The Schengen zone comprises 31 countries total with unified border and visa policies. This integrated travel system allows visitors to move freely across member countries without internal border checks.[17][18]
Schengen Zone Country Composition and Structure
The Schengen zone includes 27 European Union members and four non-EU participants (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein).[19][20]
| Membership Category | Country Count | Description |
|---|---|---|
| EU Members | 27 | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden |
| Non-EU Participants | 4 | Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein |
| Total Schengen Countries | 31 | Full internal freedom of movement |
The 90-Day Rolling Period Stay Rule
Visitors can remain in the entire Schengen Zone for maximum 90 days within any consecutive 180-day rolling period. The Entry/Exit System (EES), launched October 12, 2025, automatically tracks this limit digitally. Overstaying results in fines, travel bans, and future visa rejections.[21][22][23][24]
Entry/Exit System Implementation Since October 2025
The EES replaced manual passport stamps with digital biometric registration on October 12, 2025. First-time Schengen entrants after this date must provide facial photographs and fingerprints at border kiosks. Processing requires approximately 5-15 minutes. Subsequent entries require only facial verification (2-5 minutes). Children under 12 are photographed only; no fingerprints required.[25][26][27][28][29]
The Oman Foreign Ministry clarified in official communications: “The new system does NOT remove the need to obtain a Schengen visa”.[30]
Proposed Visa Exemption: What Is Verified and What Is Not
EU discussions about potential Saudi visa exemptions remain preliminary with no formal approval. Christophe Farnaud, EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, confirmed preliminary work is underway to examine exempting Gulf nationals. However, no official timeline for any decision exists.[31][32][33]
Comprehensive search of official EU sources (EEAS, European Commission, EU Delegation) found no official EU statements praising Saudi Arabia on Schengen visa waivers. Claims that exemptions are “a matter of time” lack confirmation from any official EU announcement. The October 6, 2025 GCC-EU Joint Council meeting focused on general cooperation, not visa exemptions.[34][35][36][37][38]
Saudi Arabia’s actual diplomatic priority is regional integration through the GCC unified visa expected in 2026. This demonstrates that Saudi priorities lie with intra-Gulf travel, not European exemptions.[39][40]
