Absher Travel for Visitors is a new pre-arrival service from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior for people driving into the Kingdom through its land border crossings. Launched on 26 October 2026, it lets GCC citizens and other visitors register themselves, their car and their vehicle insurance in the Absher app before they reach the border. It is optional for now and becomes mandatory six months after launch.
If your parents, siblings or friends plan to visit you by road from Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait or Jordan, this is the change to pass on.
What changed at Saudi land border crossings
Visitors arriving by road can now finish their entry formalities online before the journey. The Ministry says the goal is to automate entry for travellers and vehicles at all of the Kingdom’s land ports.
The service was built with eight partners, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, ZATCA, the Insurance Authority, Jawazat and Public Security.
| Detail | What the Ministry has said |
|---|---|
| Launched | 26 October 2026 |
| Where | All Saudi land border crossings |
| Platform | Absher app |
| Who it is for | GCC citizens and visitors arriving by land |
| Mandatory from | Six months after launch (around late April 2027) |
| Fees | Not announced |
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Who is affected by Absher Travel for Visitors
The service is aimed at GCC nationals and other visitors who drive into Saudi Arabia, including family members coming on a visit visa by car.
Many expats in Saudi Arabia host relatives who prefer the road, because a car means more luggage and no flight costs. Those visitors will need this service once it becomes compulsory.
The Ministry has not said whether Saudi citizens or iqama holders returning by road must use it. The announcement only mentions GCC citizens and visitors, so residents should not assume anything has changed for them yet.
How to register before the trip
The visitor completes five steps in the Absher app before setting off:
- Open the Absher app and choose Absher Travel for Visitors.
- Select your nationality.
- Enter your mobile number and travel document type.
- Choose the land border crossing and your expected arrival date.
- Fill in the traveller details, vehicle details and vehicle insurance.
The official app links are on the Absher platform, and announcements appear on the Ministry of Interior portal.
What expats should tell visiting family now
Nothing is compulsory yet, so a road trip planned for the coming weeks can go ahead as normal. Trying the service early is still the sensible move.
- Sort the visa first. The service handles border formalities, not the visa. Your visitor still needs a valid visit visa or GCC entry eligibility.
- Keep the car papers to hand. The vehicle step asks for the details of the car that will cross.
- Pick the right crossing and date. If plans change, check in the app whether the details can be updated before leaving.
- Plan around spring 2027. Six months from 26 October points to late April 2027, so spring road trips should register by default.
In practice, first-time visitors who have never used Absher find this hardest. A quick video call while they fill in the form can save a long wait at the border.
What the Ministry has not said yet
The announcement did not cover any fee for the service, which insurance products are offered or their cost, the exact compulsory date, or what happens to a visitor who arrives without registering after that date. Treat figures circulating on social media with caution until the Ministry publishes them.
What has not changed
Visitors still need a valid passport or GCC travel document, the right visa and a car with valid papers. Jawazat and customs checks at the crossing continue as before.
We will update this story when the Ministry publishes fees, insurance details and the compulsory start date.