The Saudi Visa for your Trip to Saudi Arabia
If you are considering of going to Saudi Arabia as a tourist or to meet a family or on a business trip, then applying for a Saudi visa can become a necessary task.
Usually, a visitor should be able to apply for the required Saudi visa online/ at the nearest Saudi embassy in the country of your residence.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Saudi Visa
It is advisable to check the Saudi visa requirements, before applying for your visa to Saudi Arabia.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when obtaining the visa for Saudi Arabia:
- You do not plan to carry out unpaid job that can otherwise be undertaken by a paid staff in Saudi Arabia.
- You do not intend to participate in an employment relationship in Saudi Arabia.
- You do not plan to provide services to Saudi organisations (this is allowed with a Saudi work visa or business visa).
- You do not plan to offer or market services or products to consumers in Saudi Arabia.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the Saudi Arabia Government.
- You do not pose a threat to the health or safety and security of residents of Saudi Arabia.
- You are able to demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your trip and return from Saudi Arabia.
Do I need a Saudi visa?
It relies on your citizenship as well as the type of travel document you are using to travel to Saudi Arabia.Please visit here to verify if you require a Saudi visa.
Exactly who can obtain a Saudi visa?
Any individual wanting to go on holiday to Saudi Arabia can make an application for a Saudi visa.
There are many kinds of visa for Saudi Arabia which you can use as a visitor to Saudi Arabia. If you are not sure which kind of Saudi visa you require to apply, please contact the nearest Saudi visa office to obtain further information as purpose of this web page is to give you basic overview when requesting Saudi visa.
What type of Saudi visa do I need?
This depends on three factors:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the citizenship according to the passport is from a country that is on visa free travel to Saudi Arabia or eligible to obtain a visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia, then you may not need to get a Saudi visa prior to departure from your home country. Please click here to find out if you need a Saudi visa.
- The timeframe of your trip in Saudi Arabia – If you wish to remain in Saudi Arabia for a much shorter period less than ninety days, then you can obtain the Saudi visa. If you like to stay longer, then speak to the nearest Saudi visa office to secure the suitable visa for your travel.
- The activities you hope to execute in Saudi Arabia – If your sole reason of travelling is for tourism, then you can apply for all kinds of Saudi visas stated on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Get Saudi Tourist Visa
- Holiday visa application for Saudi Arabia – Completed Saudi visa Form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to going into Saudi Arabia and 3 months after departing Saudi Arabia. It has to have a minimum of two extra visa web pages and can not be older than 10 years.
- Passport type photo – Photo must be no older than six months and must be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Give a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Saudi visas information if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Saudi Arabia – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some circumstances the Saudi visa office may request prepaid air travel tickets to Saudi Arabia.
- Travel insurance policy – Evidence of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the Saudi consular office provided with the Certificate of Insurance and the table of benefits. The travel insurance policy must cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency must be issued by an insurer. If you are thinking about using your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Saudi Arabia, please get in touch with Saudi consular office for additional information and travel insurance coverage requirements for the Saudi visa.
- Original bank declarations – Original bank statements for the last 3 months showing enough funds to cover your trip in Saudi Arabia. If statements are printed online then it has to be Validated (stamped) by the bank officials.
- Hotel Reservations in Saudi Arabia – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, length of stay. In the majority of situations, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Work letter – This letter needs to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, confirming your ongoing employment, the status of employment, monthly salary and annual leave. Likewise, please offer your three latest pay slips. If you are self-employed: provide certified copies of business registration, tax return.
- For students. Please provide the following:
- Evidence of present student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, affirming ongoing enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any type of scholarships, and confirming semester break.
- Insurance policy from Organisation/University– Supply a letter from the University stating the purpose, period of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance coverage for the entire journey in addition to the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
As a whole, visa applications for Saudi visa should be sent for an optimum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the journey.