Before you visit any country, you have a few requirements to be eligible to enter the country. One of these important requirements is the visa. A few years ago, applying for a Saudi visa was limited. Since the Saudi government announced the Saudi Vision 2023, the government started a lot of improvement in everything including e-visa. They established different kinds of visas for different purposes such as Tourism visas, Visiting Family and Friends visas, Medical visas, Umrah visa, Business visa, Transit visa, Work visa, Hajj visa, and other types of Saudi visas.
That leads people to ask many questions such as :
- “How can I apply for a Saudi e-visa?”
- “How can I apply for the Hajj visa?”
- “Which visa type should you apply to visit your friends in Saudi Arabia?”
- “How long does it take for Saudi eVisa to be approved?”
- “How long is my Saudi visa valid?”
In this post, I will go with you through different types of visas and how to apply for them. At the end, I will do my best to answer the most frequent questions. If you have any more questions, feel free to write them in the comments.
In this post, I will go with you over different types of Saudi visas and their requirement:
Tourism Saudi Visa
These kinds of Saudi Visas are suitable for people who want to visit events and tourist activities such as Riyadh Season. Also, tourists who want to visit family and friends in Saudi Arabia are eligible for this visa. Surprisingly, you can perform Umrah using a Tourism Saudi Visa.
The Duration and Validity of Tourism Saudi Visa:
- For single entry: The validity of a Tourism Saudi Visa is 90 days whereas the stay duration is 90 days.
- For multiple entries: The validity is 1 year with the same duration of the single entry (90 days).
The fees of Tourism Saudi Visa:
- The Tourism Saudi Visa fee is $80 (refundable)
- The digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable)
- The insurance digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable).
- Insurance fees vary based on the selected provider.
What is the processing time for the Tourism Saudi Visa?
The processing time for a Tourism Saudi Visa is 1 minute to 3 business days.
Eligibility of Tourism Saudi Visa:
You can obtain the Tourism Saudi Visa in different ways:
First: Electonic Visa (e-Visa):
- This is the easy way to get your visa and it will be delivered to you via email.
- You need to have citizenship from one of the eligible countries including Holders of visit visas (Schengen, USA, UK), Permanent residents in the USA, EU, or the UK, OR Residents in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Second: through Service Centers or Embassies
- If you do not meet the above eligibility, you still can get the Tourism Saudi Visa through visa service centers or Saudi embassies worldwide. In this way, the application process varies based on the applicant’s place of residence as follows:
- Through Service Centers: This option is available in certain countries where visa service centers are present.
- Visa through Saudi Embassies: In case of visa service centers are not available in the applicant’s country, visitors can apply for a visit visa through the KSA Visa platform and then proceed directly to the Saudi Arabian embassy in their country of residence.
Third: Get your visa on Arrival:
- This way is specific for eligible countries or individuals meeting specific requirements including Holders of visit visas (Schengen, USA, UK) AND Permanent residents in the USA, EU, or the UK.
What are the requirements for a Tourism Saudi Visa?
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old (unless they are accompanied by a legal guardian)
- All required documents must be prepared. That includes a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining.
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Saudi Arabia, including accommodations, food, and transportation expenses.
How to apply for the Tourism Saudi Visa?
You can apply for Tourism Saudi Visa through the link: https://ksavisa.sa/visa/tourism/apply
Family and Friends’ Saudi visa
Mainly, this kind of visa fits people who have relatives, friends, and family members in Saudi Arabia. The way it works is by asking these relatives to invite you to visit Saudi Arabia. So, you can use it to see your relatives, and attend events and touristic activities such as Jeddah and Riyadh Seasons. It allows you to freely move between cities within Saudi Arabia. However, you are not authorized to undertake the Haj pilgrimage using this Saudi VisIt is important to be aware that the inviter is responsible for ensuring that the guest complies with the specified duration of stay. Failure to comply may result in legal penalties and financial fines.
What is the duration and validity of a Family and Friends visa?
- For a Single Entry visa, the validity is from 3 months to 1 year while the stay duration is 90 days.
- For multiple entry visa, the validity is 1 year with a stay duration of 90 days.
What are the costs and fees for the Family and Friends Saudi visa?
- Visa fee is $80 (refundable)
- The digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable)
- The insurance digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable).
- Insurance fees vary based on the selected provider.
What is the processing time for the Family and Friends Saudi visa?
- The processing time for this Saudi visa is between 2 to 5 business days.
Eligibility to the Family and Friends Saudi visa:
- A Saudi Arabian resident or citizen should initiate the visa process and provide the invitation request.
- Guests can come from anywhere, but they must have a relationship with the inviter.
How to apply for the Family and Friends Saudi visa?
By visiting this website: https://ksavisa.sa/visa/family/details
Medical Saudi Visa
This type of visa is for people who want to come to the country for medical purposes. Additionally, you can use it to visit your relatives and friends in Saudi Arabia, attend events and activities as well as perform Umrah (But not for the Haj pilgrimage).
What is the duration and validity of a Medical Visa?
- For a Single Entry visa, the validity is 90 days (3 months) while the stay duration is 90 days.
- For multiple entry visa, the validity is 1 year with a stay duration of 90 days.
What are the cost and fees for the Medical Visa?
- Visa fee is $80 (refundable)
- The digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable)
- The insurance digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable).
- Insurance fees vary based on the selected provider.
What is the processing time for the Medical Visa?
- The processing time for this Saudi visa is between 1 minute to 3 business days.
What are the requirements of a Medical Visa?
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old (unless they are accompanied by a legal guardian)
- All required documents must be prepared. That includes a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining.
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Saudi Arabia, including accommodations, food, and transportation expenses.
How to apply for a Saudi Medical Visa?
- You can apply for a Saudi Medical Visa through the link: https://ksavisa.sa/visa/medical/details
Umrah Visa
The main reason for this Saudi visa is that Umrah allows you to enter Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. However, you still be able to use this Saudi visa to move between cities and attend touristic activities and events as well. Again, holders of Umrah visa are not authorized to undertake the Haj pilgrimage.
What is the duration and validity of the Umrah Visa?
- For a Single Entry visa, the validity is 90 days (3 months) while the stay duration is 90 days.
- For multiple entry visa, the validity is 1 year with a stay duration of 90 days.
What are the costs and fees for the Umrah Visa?
- Visa fee is $80 (refundable)
- The digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable)
- The insurance digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable).
- Insurance fees vary based on the selected provider.
What is the processing time for the Umrah Visa?
- The processing time for this Saudi visa will be available on the official platform for booking Haj permission (through Nusuk). It is because it varies year to year based on the government plan improvement every year.
What is the difference between Umrah and Hajj?
- Umrah is available throughout the year except during the Hajj season, which is from the 15th of Dhul Qa’dah to the 15th of Dhul Hijjah (Islamic Hijri Calendar).
What are the requirements of an Umrah Visa?
How to apply for an Umrah visa?
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old (unless they are accompanied by a legal guardian)
- Women do not require a male guardian (mahram) to accompany them for Umrah.
- All required documents must be prepared. That includes a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining.
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Saudi Arabia, including accommodations, food, and transportation expenses.
By visiting the link: https://www.nusuk.sa/
Business Visa
This Saudi Visa can be used for business and allows commercial and business-related visits to Saudi Arabia for meetings, conferences, or partnerships. You cannot use this type of Saudi visa for permanent work since there is a special visa for permanent work as will come later. Similar to previous types of visas, you can use a Saudi Business Visa to move between cities and attend touristic activities and events as well. Again, holders of Umrah visa are not authorized to undertake the Haj pilgrimage.
What are the requirements of a Business Visa?
- An invitation letter must be provided to demonstrate your relationship with the inviting company and clearly state the commercial purpose of the invitation.
- In the absence of an invitation letter for a business visit visa application, applicants must ensure that they provide comprehensive details about their business activities and affiliation within the visa application.
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- Applicants must be at least 18 years
- All required documents must be prepared. That includes a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining.
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Saudi Arabia, including accommodations, food, and transportation expenses.
What is the duration and validity of a Business Visa?
- For a Single Entry visa, the validity is 90 days (3 months) while the stay duration is 90 days.
- For multiple entry visa, the validity is 1 year with a stay duration of 90 days.
What are the cost and fees for the Business Visa?
- Visa fee is $80 (refundable)
- The digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable)
- The insurance digital services fee is $10.5 (Non-refundable).
- Insurance fees vary based on the selected provider.
What is the processing time for the Business Visa?
- The processing time for this Saudi visa is between 1 day to 2 business days.
Eligibility of Business Visa:
- For all citizens of other countries.
How to apply for a Saudi Business Visa?
- You can apply for a Saudi Business visa by visiting the link: https://ksavisa.sa/visa/business-visit/apply
Transit Explore Visa Options
These kinds of Saudi visa options are ideal for travelers crossing Saudi land borders, allowing transit to a neighboring country (Land Transit Saudi Visa), travelers passing through Saudi airports during a layover, allowing a brief stay (Air Transit Saudi Visa), and/or travelers traveling by sea, it permits temporary disembarkation at Saudi ports (Sea Transit Visa).
To apply for any 3 mentioned Saudi visas, please visit this link: https://ksavisa.sa/explore-visa-options/f07fc442-329a-4663-930b-b7757b9bc9bf
Saudi Work Visa
The Saudi visa can be divided into 3 kinds:
- Seasonal work visa
- it is ideal for workers who are hired for temporary positions that correspond to specific seasons or events in Saudi Arabia, such as agricultural harvests or tourism seasons. These visas are limited to the relevant seasonal periods.
- Permanent work visa
- It fits workers who have secured long-term employment contracts in Saudi Arabia.
- Temporary work visa
- This Saudi visa was designed for workers who have short-term employment contracts in Saudi Arabia, enabling them to work in the country for a specified duration.
To apply for any of the above Saudi work visas, please visit the link: https://ksavisa.sa/explore-visa-options/0afe65a6-0f32-4801-b06a-55dba5803096
Hajj visa
Remember when I mentioned many times in the previous visas that you are not authorized to undertake Hajj using those visas? It is because the government designed this Saudi visa specifically for Muslims around the world who wish to perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) and is limited only to the Hajj season.
Similar to the Umrah visa, you need to use the Nusuk platform to apply for a Saudi Hajj visa via the link: https://www.nusuk.sa/
Other Kinds of Saudi visa/waiver:
As was stated at the beginning of the post, the government of Saudi Arabia is working hard to satisfy people around the world and its citizens. They provide different kinds of Saudi visas and waivers such as:
- Electronic visa waiver
- It allows eligible visitors to apply for visa waiver requests to be able to enter the Kingdom.
- Residence visa
- It is designated for the families of Saudi residents and citizens, allowing them to sponsor their immediate relatives and have them reside permanently for citizens or during the validity of residency for residents.
- Escort visa
- It is associated with another valid visa or is intended for accompanying an individual of the GCC national or a Saudi national outside the Kingdom.
- Diplomatic visa
- It is granted to diplomats who hold diplomatic passports and are to visit, reside, or work in diplomatic missions in the Kingdom.
- Special visa
- This kind of Saudi visa is given to diplomats who hold special passports and is to visit, reside, or work in diplomatic missions in the Kingdom.
- Missions and organizations visit visa
- It is used to enable the foreign diplomatic missions and organizations present in the Kingdom to invite individuals whom the mission or organization wishes to host.
- Education visa
- If you are planning to study in Saudi Arabia, you need this type of Saudi visa. It is for students from outside the Kingdom who wish to enroll in one of the Saudi universities.
- Transport of goods visa
- It is granted to employees affiliated with land transport companies to deliver goods inside the Kingdom.
- Re-entry Visa extension
- It is for individuals who hold residency in Saudi Arabia but left the country with the intention to return within a certain timeframe. However, if that specified period has passed and they haven’t come back to Saudi Arabia, they can apply for an extension.
- Ratify application
- It is a service specifically for the authentication by chambers of commerce, major companies, or government entities for their visit requests or those of their affiliates.
To apply for any of the above other 10 kinds of Saudi visa/waivers/services, you can visit this link: https://ksavisa.sa/explore-visa-options/aab79697-b721-4907-b772-62a9bb42c36e
Common Frequent Questions about Saudi Visa:
What if there is a mistake in Saudi eVisa?
Unfortunately, Once an e-visa has been issued, its information cannot be changed. You will need to submit a new application.
Do I need to print my Saudi eVisa?
Yes, you must carry a copy of the eVisa at the time of your first arrival to KSA because your biometric details will be mandatorily captured by the immigration authorities on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
How can I take a picture in Saudi eVisa?
Your photo should be 200 x 200 in Width and Height and Image Size must be from 5 to 100 Kb. it should show a close-up of your face and the top of your shoulders so that your face takes up between 70% – 80% of the face or 1.4″ x 1.6″ from the chin to the crown of the head.
In conclusion, I believe you may have more information to include or questions to ask. If you have any, please leave your comments below. So, we can answer them and update this Free guide to Saudi visas for everyone.
