Short answer
Saudi residents who leave Saudi Arabia and plan to come back need a valid exit/re-entry visa, along with a valid passport and residency permit, and they must meet the entry rules of the country they are driving into. The road crossing does not change these rules.
- An exit/re-entry visa is needed to leave temporarily and return
- Your residency permit and passport must be valid for the trip
- The destination country sets its own entry rules for Saudi residents
- Family members each need their own documents
Interactive Check
Before you leave Saudi Arabia · 0 of 5
A personal checklist only. It is kept on this page and nothing is sent.
Leaving Saudi Arabia: the exit/re-entry visa
Expatriate residents who leave Saudi Arabia temporarily need an exit/re-entry visa. It is issued through Saudi government digital services, and the official service page describes how it is issued.
Fees, validity periods and extension rules are set by the Saudi authorities and change from time to time, so check them on the official service before you travel rather than relying on a figure from a blog.
Your residency permit and passport
Check that your residency permit (Iqama) and passport are valid for the whole trip, including the return. Problems with either can stop a journey at the border.
Entering the next country
Being a Saudi resident does not by itself let you enter another country. Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan each set their own entry rules for residents of other GCC states, and those rules depend on your nationality.
Check the destination country's official immigration channel for your nationality before you set off.
Traveling with family
- ›Each family member needs their own valid passport and residency status
- ›Each dependent who will return needs their own exit/re-entry visa
- ›Check the destination's entry rules for every traveler, not just the main resident
If you drive your own car
A Saudi-registered car also needs documents and insurance for the destination country. For Bahrain, the King Fahd Causeway Authority's Jesr app offers vehicle insurance for the crossing. A car that is not in your name needs an authorization from its owner in the form the authorities require.
If you book a private transfer
With a private transfer the vehicle documents are the operator's responsibility, but your exit/re-entry visa, passport, residency and entry eligibility remain yours.
Questions
Do Saudi residents need an exit/re-entry visa to drive to Bahrain?
Yes, if they plan to return. Expatriate residents need a valid exit/re-entry visa to leave Saudi Arabia temporarily, whether by road or by air.
Where is the exit/re-entry visa issued?
Through Saudi government digital services. The official service page on my.gov.sa describes the process.
Does my Iqama let me enter the UAE or Bahrain?
Not by itself. Each country sets its own entry rules for residents of other GCC states, depending on nationality. Check the destination's official guidance.
Do my children need their own exit/re-entry visas?
Each dependent who will return to Saudi Arabia needs their own valid documents, including an exit/re-entry visa. Check the official service for dependents.
Official Sources
- Saudi exit/re-entry visa service (my.gov.sa) (opens in a new tab)
- Saudi Ministry of Interior (opens in a new tab)
- King Fahd Causeway Authority (opens in a new tab)
- Bahrain NPRA (opens in a new tab)
- UAE ICP (opens in a new tab)
Related
Need private transport across a border?
We arrange private cross-border road transportation and confirm the vehicle and driver arrangement before you book. We do not handle visas or immigration.