With a vibrant economy, cultural history, and religious affiliation, Saudi Arabia is a popular destination for tourists, business professionals, expats, and religious pilgrims alike. Whether you’re planning to go to the Kingdom for tourism, work, or religious purposes, it is important to get the right visa. This article explains the various visa services in Saudi Arabia, the application process, and the related fees. Understanding these aspects will help you have a positive experience when applying for a visa to enter Saudi Arabia.
Types of Visas in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has a variety of visas based on different travel purposes; understanding the appropriate visa for your trip will help ensure a simple application process. Below are the main categories:
- Tourist Visa
Saudi Arabia’s tourist visa program is relatively new and emerged from the Vision 2030 effort to generating tourism in the country. This visa allows travelers to see the country’s history, cultural sites, geographical landscapes, and new tourist attractions.
- Eligibility: The tourist visa is open to citizens of eligible countries, most applicants can apply online via the Saudi eVisa portal or via Saudi embassies.
- Duration: The tourist visa is valid for one year from the date of issuance and allows for multiple-entry. Each entry, you can stay for up to 90 days.
- Requirements: Applicants must have a passport with at least six months of validity, travel insurance, and proof of return travel.
- Cost: Fees range from $80 to $120, depending on processing speed.
A tourist visa permits travelers to see some of the great sites of Saudi Arabia, such as the Red Sea coastline, AlUla, Riyadh’s contemporary skyline, and the historical site of Diriyah; however, travelers should be sure to respect local customs and laws without hesitation.
- Business Visa
Anyone to travel to Saudi Arabia for business purposes, including but not limited to attending meetings, conferences, trading negotiations, or networking, is required to secure a business visa.
- Eligibility: Business travelers must have an official invitation from a company or organization that is registered within Saudi Arabia.
- Duration: A business visa is typically issued for a short visit lasting anywhere between 30 to 90 days or a longer visit lasting approximately 3 to 6 months. Generally, business visas can also be issued as multiple entry visas.
- Requirements: The application process for a business visa generally requires an invitation letter, a valid passport, passport-sized photography, and an indication of business activity.
- Cost: The fees for a business visa generally average between $100 and $300, depending again on the duration and the form of visa issued.
A business visa does not allow the holder to perform work in Saudi Arabia, and any persons intending to work in the Kingdom should apply for a work visa.
- Work Visa
Saudi Arabia hosts a large number of expatriate workers due to its growing economy, and especially workers in the areas of construction, healthcare, education, and information technology, due to its growing need for workers in those areas.
- Eligibility: A work visa is only issued to an employee once the employee has gained employment with a Saudi employer.
- Duration: Usually valid for one or two years, it can be renewed at the request of the employer.
- Requirements: The visa must be sponsored by the employer and be accompanied by an employment contract. Applicants must complete a medical examination and provide attested copies of their educational certificates.
- Cost: The costs are generally assumed by the employer, which include the visa fees ($300 to $500), the cost of the medical exams, and processing fees.
Work visa holders must obtain the Iqama (residence permit) upon entering Saudi Arabia in order to work and reside there.
- Residence Visa (Iqama)
The Iqama is a required residency permit for expatriates intending to work or live in Saudi Arabia. Without an Iqama, foreign nationals will not have access to necessary services such as healthcare, banking, or telecommunications services.
- Eligibility: Sponsored by a Saudi employer.
- Duration: Renewable annually.
- Requirements: A valid work visa, medical tests, employer sponsorship, and biometric verification.
- Cost: Fees range from $500 to $1,000, including medical examination and residency processing.
An Iqama holder can sponsor their immediate family members to receive their residency through the family visa program.
- Family Visit Visa
Expatriates living in Saudi Arabia can invite immediate family to visit them through the family visit visa program.
- Eligibility: Family visits can be sponsored by a family member in Saudi Arabia and are available to appropriate individuals such as spouses, children, parents, and in-law(s) to be eligible for sponsorship.
- Duration: Visas are available for 30, 90, and 180 days depending on the approval.
- Requirements: The documents required include the application for the family visit visa, sponsorship from a family member in Saudi Arabia, proof of relationship evidenced by a copy of a marriage certificate and/or birth certificate, and copies of passports.
- Cost: Fees typically range from $100 to $200.
- Hajj and Umrah Visas
Saudi Arabia issues special visas for Muslim pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina for the purpose of religious pilgrimage. The intent of these visas is only for individuals traveling to fulfill the sacred Islamic pilgrimage, Hajj and Umrah.
- Eligibility: They are not available for non-Muslim, as they cannot enter Mecca and Medina. Muslim applicants must ensure they meet all of the religious and legal requirements for entering the holy city presented by the Saudi authorities.
- Duration: The visa itself is only valid during the time of the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. The Hajj visa is issued only at the time of the official Hajj pilgrimage, while the Umrah visas are issued throughout the remainder of the year but not during the active Hajj pilgrimage.
- Requirements: Applicants must show their intention to travel as a Muslim by showing a valid passport, a minimum of six months validity of the passport, a certificate of being a Muslim from the mosque or Islamic center, a certificate of health showing they are not contagious of any disease, and a travel package of booking from an appointed travel operator. Women are required to travel with a Mahram (a male guardian) if under the age of 45 while women who are over the age of 45 can travel in a group without a Mahram.
- Cost: The visa is free on the part of the traveler, but they are required to find a travel package through accredited Hajj and Umrah agencies, which includes transportation, lodging, and other associated costs. These packages can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the level of service and accommodation chosen.
- Student Visa
Universities in Saudi Arabia offer academic programs that attract international students from multiple countries for educational opportunities in various subjects, such as engineering, medicine, Islamic studies, and business. The government, through programs such as the King Abdullah Scholarship Program, offers financial support to international students.
- Eligibility: Any prospective candidate must provide an official acceptance offer from a recognized Saudi Arabian university or educational institution and show good academic standing along with program specific entry requirements.
- Duration: The visa will expire at the same time as the academic program whether it is for a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, but it is common to receive a student study visa issued for one year at a time to be renewed annually until completion.
- Requirements: The student must submit an admission letter from the university, evidence of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses, a medical examination report, evidence of educational certificates verified by the authorities, and a certificate of criminal record clarity. Some universities also require a certification letter of sponsorship from the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia.
- Cost: The visa for students is quite inexpensive at between $50 to $100, though the actual cost of studying in Saudi Arabia depends on the tuition price, lodging, and living expenses. Scholarships may be available to some students to receive housing, tuition, and in some cases, a monthly stipend. For travelers passing through Saudi Arabia while on the way to a different destination, a Transit visa must be obtained.
- Transit Visa
For travelers stopping in Saudi Arabia en route to another destination, a transit visa is required. This visa allows visitors to explore the Kingdom briefly while waiting for their connecting flight.
- Eligibility: The Transit visa allows travelers to visit briefly while waiting for the connecting flight. The very short layover Transit visa is issued for travelers with a confirmed onward flight who will be connecting to their next flight through Saudi Arabia. It also applies to travelers with layovers that meet the Transit experiences.
- Duration: The Transit visa is valid for up to 96 hours (four days), making it an easy visa to use if there is a short stay, a chance to see the sights, or meet with friends and family before traveling on.
- Requirements: The applicant will need to present a valid passport with a confirmed airline ticket with proof of onward travel and the Transit visa application. Travelers are also encouraged to have lodging arrangements if there will be an overnight stay.
- Cost: The Transit visa is affordable at about $30, giving travelers a chance to experience Saudi Arabia for a short time.
Visa Application Process in Saudi Arabia
The visa application process varies based on the type of visa. However, the general steps remain similar across categories, ensuring a streamlined approach for applicants. Following the correct procedure helps avoid unnecessary delays or rejections.
Step 1: Determine the Appropriate Visa
It’s important to identify the appropriate visa category that will suit your travel intent prior to submitting visa applications. Saudi Arabia has several different kinds of visas including tourist, business, work, student, and family visit visas. Selecting an inappropriate visa category can result in processing time delays, or outright denials so thinking that through is very important and make a wise decision to opt for , best relocation assistance in Saudi.
Step 2: Prepare Required Documents
Potential applicants must collect all the required documentation before the visa application process begins. Specific documentation can differ depending on the visa category applied for but documents such as a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months beyond a destination date, and a visa application form that is complete and accurately filled out, and at least one recent passport-size photograph are typically required documents. Additional documentation such as an invitation letter for business travelers, medical test reports (for work and residence visas), and flight and accommodation detail documentation can also be necessary for potential applicants depending on other detailed visa application requirements.
Step 3: Submit the Application
Visa applications can be submitted directly to the stated government channel to facilitate visa approval depending on the visa category to be applied for. The online Saudi eVisa portal is for tourist visa processing; while the work, business, and family visit visa type choice requires potential applicants to submit an application visa or application process, for processing, through Saudi embassies or consulates. In conjunction with submitting an approved visa, some visa applicants may also need to schedule and attend a VFS Global Visa Processing Center, where biometric images required by a country of origin, may be collected.
Step 4: Pay the Visa Fees
Visa fees will vary depend on visa type and length of stay in Saudi Arabia according to the specified Gulf Liaison Regulations that differ from the other Emirate’s entry travel requirements. Payments can also be verifiable daily through electronic or in-person government paid visa applications, although fees can switched slightly between in-process applications. It is important to check the latest fee structure to ensure the correct amount is paid, as underpayment or non-payment can lead to application rejection.
Step 5: Wait for Approval
The time for processing the visa depends on easily the type of visa. For example, someone applying for a tourist visa will likely be processed quickly, perhaps in a few days. However, the work and residence visa may take weeks since more verification is involved in the process.
Step 6: Receive the Visa
Applicants can check their visa statuses online or through the visa processing center where the application was submitted.When approved, a visa will either be stamped in the applicant’s passport or issued electronically, depending on the type of visa. For eVisas, travelers receive a copy via email which should be kept as a document and presented upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion
It may also be a good idea to review the visa carefully to make sure there are no mistakes before traveling. Working with visa services in Saudi Arabia takes planning and regulation compliance. Whether you are visiting for tourism, business, or relocating, knowing the visa types and process and considerations for cost will make your experience easier so always opt for top-notch relocation services in Saudi Arabia.
In addition to using professional visa acquisition services in Saudi Arabia or a relocation management service company in Saudi, you can arrive at your destination with more ease and less stress if you prepare in advance. With preparation, you will have a successful and rewarding experience when traveling to Saudi Arabia.
