To get a tourist visa for Saudi Arabia, you need to apply for an eVisa or for a visa through your closest consulate of Saudi Arabia. You may also get a visa on arrival, or you might not need a visa at all. It depends on your passport.
Saudi Arabia is a part of the GCC or Gulf Cooperation Council. Citizens of these countries enjoy freedom of movement in any other GCC country. They can live and work in any of these countries.
The Saudi eVisa allows individuals from some countries to travel to the Kingdom by applying for an eVisa before their visit or upon arrival in the region. Nationals from most European countries, the United States, China, and other countries can apply for a Saudi eVisa. See more information below.
People from countries not included in the eVisa program can contact the Saudi embassy or consulate nearest to them. And they can start the process on the visa application website of the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Do I need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia is a part of the GCC or Gulf Cooperation Council.
GCC countries are Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bairhen, Oman, and Qatar.
Citizens of these countries enjoy freedom of movement in any other GCC country. They can live and work in any of these countries.
You don’t need a tourist visa if you are a citizen of a GCC country. You don’t need a passport. You just need a national identification card to come to Saudi Arabia.
You can apply for an eVisa or you can get a visa on arrival, if you have a passport from one of these countries or territories:
Canada and the United States;
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom;
Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, Republic of Korea (South Korea);
Australia and New Zealand.
You can apply for an eVisa also if you are a resident of any GCC country, any EU country, the UK, or the US. You want to go through the visa application portal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Before, it was the Enjazit portal.
All countries above can also get a visa on arrival.
You can get a visa on arrival if you have a tourist or business visa from the UK, US, or Schengen area and you have used your visa at least once to enter its country or area.
Everyone else needs to apply for a tourist visa at their closest Saudi consulate using the MOFA visa application portal.
Israeli citizens are denied a Saudi visa in general, and if you have an Israeli stamp on your passport, you may still have denied entry. Contact your closest Saudi consulate for advice.
You want to check your visa requirements with the airline you plan to fly with. They are the people who will stop you before boarding if they think you don’t comply with their visa requirements for Saudi Arabia.
You can find many tools online about visa requirements around the world. TravelDoc Air France is a good example.
How to apply for a tourist visa at a Saudi consulate
To apply for a tourist visa at a Saudi consulate, you need to find the Saudi consulate that is closest to you. You can search for it, or you can look it up in this list from the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Before, it was the Enjazit portal.
The main visa requirements are proof of employment at home, itinerary and return tickets, and proof of financial stability with bank statements. See more below.
Read any information available on your consulate website and contact them with questions. In most cases, you can apply with your consulate in person and or through the visa application portal of the Saudi MOFA. Each embassy might also have a list of authorized visa agents that can help you to apply for a fee.
The following guidelines come from the Saudi embassy in the United States. The details for your application may change depending on your consulate, so please contact them.
First of all, you must have a passport, which needs to be valid for at least six months. The passport should contain at least two (2) clear visa pages adjacent to each other. Do make sure that your passport must be acceptable to enter both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the applicant’s next destination.
For the visa application, you need one (1) recent passport-size color photograph, which needs to be on a white background. Photograph(s) of yours must be a full-face shot in which you need to be facing the camera directly. The side or angled views are considered to be invalid, and they will not be accepted. Guidelines for full-face shot accepted photograph for a visa.
You need to fill out your application form. Remember you must fill out the application form in capital letters. The black-ink pen is preferred to fill out the form, or you may get it printed otherwise. Also, remember to include your email address on the application.
The fees for the visa need to be paid by online method by using the MOFA portal. You may also get your fees to get paid by any of the visa agents authorized by the embassy. Do not forget to take your receipt for the fees you paid on the website portal. You have to attach all the required documents with the receipt.
Some of the rules are crafted just for minors (under the age of 18) to get visas. They have to get a notarized letter of authorization, it can be in Arabic or English, but it needs to be signed by both the parents or legal guardians. They also have to follow the same procedure for the visa as the other citizens but with some extra documents.
Documents for visa application
This is a list of documents you might need to apply for a Saudi eVisa through your consulate. You want to check with your consulate or at the MOFA portal for a precise list when you are applying.
- A completed application form with requested personal information like your residence address.
- A passport that is valid for at least six months
- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must provide health insurance. When you submit your form, the portal will show you options for your local health insurance.
- Proof of lodging, hotel, or house, or else, for your stay in Saudi Arabia.
- Itinerary and a round-trip ticket.
- Some proof of employment.
- Proof of financial stability, for example, bank statements.
- Fees for visas (SAR 300) and insurance (SAR 140). The amount is equivalent to $123 USD in SAR. The visa is valid for a full year (365 days), with a maximum stay of 90 days at one time and multiple entries.
How to apply for a Saudi eVisa
People from the countries mentioned above can apply for a Saudi eVisa at this portal.
They claim that in half an hour, a decision will be issued. The visa fee is 440 Saudi riyals, around 117 US Dollars, and a health insurance fee is included. Applicants under the age of 18 must bring an application from an adult guardian.
How long is the Saudi eVisa valid?
Once released, this eVisa is valid for one year. Normally the eVisa is a multiple-entry visa for a one-year term, enabling visitors to spend up to 90 days in the country.
How to get a visa on arrival
Tourists may get a visa on arrival at one of the entry points in Saudi Arabia if any of the following conditions apply:
The traveler is from one of the countries on the list of qualifying countries mentioned above.
The visitor is the holder of a US, UK, or Schengen area tourist or business visa. The visa must be used at least once and carry a stamp of entry from the issuing country. Travel must be with Saudia or any other national air carrier of Saudi Arabia.
Sources: Saudi Embassy in the United States, Wikipedia – visa policy of Saudi Arabia, KSAexpats.com
The cover is somewhere in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo by abdullah ali on Unsplash
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