British Indian Ocean TerritorySaudi Arabia: eTA

British Indian Ocean TerritorySaudi Arabia

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

eTA

British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need an approved electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Saudi Arabia, but no embassy visa.

An electronic travel authorisation must be approved online before departure. No embassy visit.

Source: envoyglobal.com (checked September 11, 2026).

RequirementeTA

Maximum stay6 months within any 365-day period

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-14

Visa-free access to Saudi Arabia21 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Saudi Arabia passport holders visiting British Indian Ocean Territory: Visa required.

Other visa-free destinations for British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders

See all British Indian Ocean Territory destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need an approved electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Saudi Arabia, but no embassy visa.

How long can British Indian Ocean Territory citizens stay in Saudi Arabia without a visa?

Up to 6 months within any 365-day period, for tourism, ordinary passport.

What currency is used in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi riyal (SAR).

What is the emergency number in Saudi Arabia?

112 / 911 / 999.

What time zone is Saudi Arabia in?

Riyadh (UTC+3).

What is the nearest airport to Riyadh?

King Khalid International Airport (RUH), about 31 km away.

How many countries can enter Saudi Arabia without a visa?

21 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Saudi Arabia visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a British Overseas Territory situated in the Indian Ocean. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands, many very small, amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres. The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 square kilometres, the site of a Joint Military Facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Official administration is remote from London, though the local capital is often regarded as being on Diego Garcia.

RegionEastern Africa

Area60 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+246

Drives on theright

Climate in British Indian Ocean Territory

Warmest April, coolest August, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, May, June, August, September, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for British Indian Ocean Territory, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.9°C	26.2°C	404mm	268h
February	28.3°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	257mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.3°C	121mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.8°C	211mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.5°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.3°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	88mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.8°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.4°C	238mm	305h
December	27.7°C	25.8°C	365mm	296h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission.

Full source list on About.

About Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia that occupies the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula. Covering a land area of approximately 2,149,690 km2 (830,000 sq mi), it is the fifth-largest country in Asia and the twelfth-largest in the world. It is bordered by the Red Sea to the west, Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north, the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast, and Yemen to the south. The Gulf of Aqaba in the northwest separates it from Egypt and Israel. Riyadh is the capital and largest city, while other major centers include Jeddah and the two holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina.

CapitalRiyadh

RegionWestern Asia

Population37M

Area2,149,690 km²

CurrencySaudi riyal (1 USD ≈ 3.75 SAR)

LanguagesArabic

Calling code+966

Drives on theright

TimezoneRiyadh (UTC+3)

Nearest airportKing Khalid International Airport (RUH), 31 km

Emergency number112 / 911 / 999

UNESCO sites8

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$34,537 (2025)

Tourist arrivals20.3M (2019)

Climate in Riyadh

Warmest July, coolest January, driest May, sunniest August. Best time to visit: March, October.

Monthly climate normals for Riyadh, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	19.4°C	7.7°C	16mm	299h
February	24.3°C	11.2°C	2mm	279h
March	27.9°C	15.2°C	1mm	324h
April	33°C	20.9°C	10mm	312h
May	38.3°C	25°C	0mm	348h
June	41.9°C	28.4°C	0mm	360h
July	43.6°C	31.2°C	0mm	359h
August	41.9°C	29°C	0mm	364h
September	39.7°C	26.1°C	0mm	326h
October	32.6°C	19.1°C	0mm	341h
November	28.2°C	16.1°C	5mm	301h
December	21.6°C	10.4°C	4mm	301h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Saudi Arabia is the quintessential Arab kingdom. Vast deserts, scorching heat, immense oil wealth, camel races, glitzy shopping malls, traditional souq markets, you can find every Arabian cliche you can think of and then some here. A deeply conservative country that was entirely closed off to (non-pilgrimage) tourism for decades, the government did a drastic policy U-turn in 2019 and has been trying to open up the country to the world and shed the country's straight-laced image, with mixed success.

Full source list on About.