Second Edition | May 2026

About this Guideline In line with the Authority’s commitment to providing distinguished customs services and enhancing service quality, this Guideline has been prepared to clarify the procedures for vehicle entry through customs ports. It also outlines the mechanism for using temporary and permanent license plates on imported vehicles. 2. Key Definitions The following terms and expressions, wherever they appear in this Guideline, shall have the meanings assigned to them below, unless the context requires otherwise: 1.  The Authority: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). 2.  Common Customs Law (The Law): The Common Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/41) dated 03/ 11/ 1423 H corresponding to (6 January 2003). 3.  Implementing Regulation: The implementing Regulation of the Common Customs Law, issued by Ministerial Resolution No. (2748) dated 25/11/1423 H corresponding to (28 January 2003). 4.  General Department of Traffic: One of the departments under the General Directorate of Public Security at the Ministry of Interior in the Kingdom, responsible for all traffic-related matters. 5.  Vehicle: Any equipment or means of land transport designed to operate on wheels or tracks and propelled or towed by mechanical or physical power. This definition excludes means of transport designed to operate on railway tracks (1) . 6.  Carried Vehicle: A vehicle loaded onto a transporter for transit through or entry into the Kingdom. 7.  Non-Carried Vehicle: A vehicle driven by its owner or an authorized representative. 8.  Temporary Plates: Plates designated to allow vehicles to travel on roads within the Kingdom for a limited period when necessary, after payment of the fees prescribed by the General Department of Traffic (2) . 9.  Permanent Platese: Plates featuring letters and numbers that identify the vehicle, issued by the General Department of Traffic in the name of the vehicle owner and linked to the vehicle registration. 10.  Transit Visa: A visa granted by a Saudi embassy abroad to foreign drivers, permitting them to pass through the Kingdom’s territories to their destination country. 11.  Tourist Visit Visa: An entry permit granted subject to specific conditions, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi missions abroad, or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ digital embassy platform, or upon arrival (3). (1) Article 2 (18) - Traffic Law (2) Article 7 (4/1) - Implementing Regulations of the Traffic Law (3) Article 1 - Regulations for Visit Visas for Tourism.