How to Apply for a Saudi Visit Visa from Qatar

Introduction

Big things are in store for Saudi Arabia and its fellow GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. Based on the 8th meeting of GCC tourism ministers in February 2024, it looks like a unified tourist visa may be in the works as part of the Gulf’s tourism strategy.

As major tourist attractions are being constructed in Saudi Arabia and with the ease in its issuance of tourist visas, it’s no surprise that Qatari citizens are flocking to Saudi Arabia.

With all these exciting developments, what’s the process now like to apply for a Saudi visa from Qatar? How easy and convenient is it? What are the requirements and where do Qatari citizens and residents need to submit these? We’ll explore these and more in this article.

Eligibility

If you’re a Qatari citizen and are traveling to Saudi Arabia for the first time, you may be wondering if you need to get a Saudi visa.

The good news is no, you don’t need to get a Saudi visa. As a GCC national, you’re exempted from all types of Saudi visas and you can travel to Saudi Arabia anytime you wish. GCC member countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Being a Qatari citizen also exempts you from needing to go through the different ways of obtaining a Saudi visa: 1) the e-visa, 2) visa on arrival, 3) part of a transit/stopover visa, 4) through a Saudi embassy or consulate, 5) VFS Tasheer, or 6) an authorized service provider such as a travel agency.

What do you need to prepare ahead of your trip to Saudi Arabia? When you arrive in Saudi Arabia, simply present your national ID card or any other valid document proving your citizenship in Qatar.

Applying for a Saudi visa

While Qatari citizens are exempt from the Saudi visa application process, Qatari residents, on the other hand, must secure a Saudi visa. Qatari residents are defined as those who can legally live and work in Qatar for an extended period and who also have a residence visa.

What are the steps and requirements involved? How much does it cost? How does the e-visa work and how can Qatar’s residents apply for it?

In this article, we go through the available options for applying for a Saudi visa from Qatar.

Option 1: Saudi e-visa

The Saudi e-visa is the easiest and simplest visa you can apply for.

The Saudi e-visa program, launched in September 2019, makes it easier for citizens from eligible countries to secure a Saudi visa. It allows foreign nationals entry into Saudi Arabia for various purposes such as tourism, business, and even Umrah.

Under Saudi Arabia’s new e-visa system, eligible travelers arriving in Saudi Arabia no longer need to get a visa sticker stamped on their passports. Instead, these are replaced by a printed e-visa featuring a QR code. This QR code will contain all the essential data and information about the passenger, effectively functioning as a digital visa.

Apart from eligible nationalities (including dual citizens from eligible countries), permanent residents in the US, EU, or the UK; holders of visit visas (Schengen, US, UK); and residents in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates), as long as they have been a resident for at least three months.

What’s great about the e-visa is that it already covers tourism-related activities and Umrah (excluding Hajj season).

How the Saudi e-visa works

Now that we know who is eligible for a Saudi e-visa, let’s understand how it works.

Under the new e-visa system, eligible travelers arriving in Saudi Arabia don’t need a visa sticker stamped on their passports. Instead, these are replaced by a printed e-visa featuring a QR code. This QR code will contain all the essential data and information about the passenger, effectively functioning as a digital visa. The e-visa can be accessed online and will be instantly delivered via email. Under an e-visa, you can typically stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days.

Validity

The Saudi e-visa is valid for a total stay duration of 90 days. You may apply for either a single-entry visa (valid for 90 days) or a multiple-entry visa (valid for one year).

Once you have a Saudi e-visa, you may check it through Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website. Just visit MOFA’s Visa services platform and look for the Enquiry field, select “Visa document number, indicate your visa number, and your passport number, followed by your nationality and the image code for the Captcha. Once verified, you’ll see the status of your Saudi visa.

In case you overstay in Saudi Arabia, you will need to pay a fine of SAR 100 ($26.66) at the airport for each day you’ve extended your permitted stay in the country beyond your visa validity.

Requirements

To apply for a Saudi e-visa, you will typically need to prepare the following:

• Passport with at least 6 months validity
• A completed visa application form
• Passport-sized photos (in JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or BMP file formats; not bigger than 100 KB; and 200×200 pixels in dimension)
• Travel Insurance

Application

To apply for a Saudi e-visa, visit KSA Visa and select the e-visa of your choice and fill out the online application form.

Apart from indicating whether you would like to apply for a single or multiple-entry visa, you’ll also need to provide your personal information and passport details, as well as upload a digital passport-size photo with a white background.

Based on your submitted application, the form will generate the corresponding visa validity: 365 days or 1 year for a multiple-entry visa and 90 days for a single-entry visa. Both single and multiple-entry visas are valid for a total of 90 days.

Visa fees

The visa application fee includes $80 for the visa fee (refundable), $10.50 for the visa digital service fee (non-refundable), $10.50 for the insurance digital service fee (non-refundable), and the insurance fees.
Note that the insurance fee will vary depending on your chosen medical insurance provider). You can pay via international debit or credit card.

Processing time

Now that you’ve completed your online visa application form, it’s time to wait. The processing time can take anywhere between 1 minute to 3 business days. You’ll know if your visa has been approved once you receive an e-mail from KSA Visa.

Option 2: Visa on arrival

The next easy and convenient option is the visa on arrival issued upon a foreign national’s entry into a country. Note that although it is a quick and easy way to get a Saudi visa, it might be more practical to apply for a Saudi e-visa ahead of time to avoid any surprises at the airport.

Similar to the e-visa, those who hold eligible citizenship (including dual citizens); have active US, UK, or Schengen visit visas; are permanent residents of the US, UK, or the EU; as well as GCC nationals or residents can avail of a Saudi visa on arrival.

The Saudi visa on arrival is valid for 1 year from its issuance date. The multiple-entry visa on arrival is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. It allows the traveler to stay for a maximum of 90 days.

Option 3: Transit/Stopover Visa

There’s another way you can easily enter Saudi Arabia: the Saudi transit or stopover visa, which is open to all nationalities. It allows travelers to pass through Saudi land borders, airports, or ports. This is probably not the most ideal option for all, but it’s a good option if you are staying for less than four days in Saudi Arabia.

Travelers may opt to apply for a transit/stopover visa via Saudi Arabia’s Saudia or Flynas Airlines by booking two flights with a suitable layover of between 12 to 96 hours. While the transit/stopover visa is free, it is still subject to administrative and medical insurance fees. Alternatively, travelers may apply for a standard transit/stopover visa via KSA Visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Although we’ve covered important information on how you can apply for a Saudi visa from Qatar, you may still have some burning questions in mind. The following are some helpful answers to some frequently asked questions.

How can I get an Umrah visa from Qatar?

To get an Umrah visa from Qatar, you may apply for a Saudi tourist e-visa if you are eligible for it. The tourist e-visa allows holders to not just perform tourism activities but visit family and friends, attend business engagements, seek medical treatment, or perform Umrah.

How can I get an appointment at the Saudi embassy in Qatar?

To book an appointment at a Saudi embassy, you may schedule one on the embassy’s official website or place a call to their customer service hotline.

Can I apply for another tourist visa?

You may not apply for another tourist visa if you are currently under a valid Saudi tourist visa. You may re-apply for a new tourist visa once the current one expires.

Can I extend my stay in Saudi Arabia with an e-visa?

Note that if you are granted a Saudi e-visa, it cannot be extended.

What should I wear while I’m in Saudi Arabia?

Both men and women should dress modestly while in Saudi Arabia, otherwise they potentially face penalties. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes or clothes displaying profane language or images. Women should cover their shoulders and knees when in public.

Generally, wearing long, loose tops, long pants or trousers, or long skirts up to the ankle is safe. The only time you should not abide by this rule is when the situation calls for different attire, such as when swimming. Similarly, choose to wear modest swimming attire.

Conclusion

Big things are in store for Saudi Arabia with plans for a unified GCC visa and massive tourist developments underway in the country.

As GCC nationals, Qatari citizens have the privilege of not needing to apply for any Saudi visas. Qatari residents, meanwhile, need to apply for a Saudi visa, just like expatriates in GCC countries.

To learn more about how to apply for a Saudi visa from Qatar, consult the nearest Saudi embassy or consulate.

Image by pch.vector on Freepik