Planning Your Trip? Know the Latest Saudi Visa Processing Times

Introduction

So you’ve finally decided to travel to Saudi Arabia. With its rich heritage and natural wonders, it’s no wonder that many travelers choose to visit the country.

But before you pack your bags, there’s the matter of applying for a Saudi visa. Are you eligible for the particular Saudi visa you’ll be applying for? If yes, how easy is the process? How do you know if your Saudi visa has been approved?

As you prepare for your trip, it’s important that you’re aware of the requirements, procedures, and processing time for a Saudi visa. Knowing this will allow you to prepare accordingly and will guide you as you await the decision of the Saudi embassy.

Read on as we share important information on the processing time for a Saudi visa.

Getting a Saudi visa

Different processes will require different processing times, so it’s vital to learn the different ways you can apply for a Saudi visa. The following is a guide to the different types of visas which require different ways of applying.

Option 1: E-visa

The easiest Saudi visa option to apply for is the Saudi electronic visa or e-visa, however, only those eligible may obtain it. Read on to learn if you qualify for it.

Eligibility

The Saudi e-visa allows foreign nationals entry into Saudi Arabia for various travel purposes such as tourism, visiting family and friends, seeking medical treatment, or performing Umrah. If you meet the following criteria, you are eligible for a Saudi e-visa:

1. Citizens of the following countries:

North America: Canada, Panama, US, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Europe: Andorra, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom,

Asia: Brunei, China (Including Hong Kong And Macau), Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Tajikistan, Turkey, Thailand, Uzbekistan

Africa: South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.

2. Permanent residents in the USA, EU, or the UK

3. Holders of visit visas (Schengen visa, USA visa, UK visa)

4. Residents in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates)

Note that dual citizenships from the mentioned eligible countries also make you eligible for a Saudi e-visa or visa on arrival.

How the e-visa system works

Under the new e-visa system, 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.

The e-visa can be accessed via KSA Visa, a new unified national platform for visa applications, and it will be instantly delivered via email.

Applicants can simply select their preferred visa, accomplish and submit the online application form, pay for the visa fee, and await the decision from KSA Visa.

Processing time

Once you’ve paid for your Saudi e-visa, it’s time to wait as these have varying processing times. Here’s
an overview:

• Tourist visa: 1 minute to 3 business days
• Family & Friends visit visa: About 3 business days
• Medical visa: Approximately 3 business days
• Umrah visa: 5 to 30 minutes
• Business visa: 1 to 2 business days

Option 2: Visa on arrival

The second way you can apply for a Saudi visa is to obtain a visa on arrival.

Eligibility

If you are eligible for a Saudi e-visa, you are also eligible for a Saudi visa on arrival. This includes the eligible nationalities, residents, and visa holders.

How the visa on arrival works

A visa on arrival is a type of visa that is issued upon a foreign national’s entry into a country. This means that they don’t need to apply for the visa beforehand. A visa on arrival is typically issued at the airport after the traveler submits certain documents as indicated by immigration authorities.

Application

Once you arrive at the airport, you can apply for a Saudi visa on arrival via a self-service kiosk.

Alternatively, you can go through an immigration officer at passport control, go through the same process, provide the same information, and pay the corresponding fees to receive a Saudi visa on arrival.

Processing time

The issuance of a Saudi visa on arrival will vary depending on the case of individual applicants. Generally, though, it is processed between 10 to 30 minutes.

Option 3: Transit or stopover visa

The next easiest way you can enter Saudi Arabia is with a transit/stopover visa.

How the transit visa works

A transit visa is a travel document that permits you to pass through another country en route to your destination. For instance, you may be traveling to Europe from Asia and your flight would need to make a stop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi transit visa (sometimes also referred to as a stopover visa), in particular, refers to temporary entry into Saudi Arabia for a few hours to a few days as part of a layover, or when passing through Saudi Arabia via land or sea. It allows travelers to pass through Saudi land borders, airports, or ports for no more than 96 hours.

Eligibility

Now that we know what a transit visa is, let’s find out who can apply for it.

A transit visa is open to all nationalities and is only required if your layover in Saudi Arabia is over 12 hours. That being said, if your stay in the country is between 12 to 96 hours, then you are eligible for a Saudi transit visa.

Application

Let’s learn about the different types of transit visas, as these will dictate the process or fees involved.

Transit/stopover visa with Flynas or Saudia

If you’d like to avail of a free Saudi transit/stopover visa, then you should book your long-haul flight via Saudi Arabia’s Saudia or Flynas airlines.

When you book with these two airlines, your transit/stopover visa will be automatically generated and e-mailed to you once approved.

Processing time

There are two ways you can apply for a Saudi transit/stopover visa: online through KSA Visa, or through a Saudi embassy /consulate.

If you applied for a Saudi transit/stopover visa online after booking and paying for your flights via Saudia or Flynas, it should be issued almost instantaneously.

If you applied through a Saudi embassy or consulate, on the other hand, it should take you anywhere between 3 to 7 business days.

Option 4: Via VFS Tasheer or Saudi embassy/consulate

The fourth and fifth ways you can apply for a Saudi visa is via a VFS Tasheer center or through the Saudi embassy or consulate in your location.

VFS, which stands for “visa facilitation services”, helps governments and diplomatic missions. It’s the largest visa outsourcing and technology specialist in the world. Specifically, they assist in the administrative tasks related to visa, passport, and consular services. They help in the collection of visa applicants’ documents and requirements so that embassies and consulates can focus solely on the task of assessing applications and approving or rejecting them.

To apply at a VFS Tasheer, you’ll need to visit the designated branch indicated in your online appointment to personally submit your documents, get your biometrics taken, and pay for your visa fee.

Processing time

Depending on your location and the volume of VFS customers, it may take a few business days to a few weeks for your visa application to be processed. Note that the processing time may be longer if the VFS Tasheer asks you for additional supporting documents or information.

Application

Similar to applying for a Saudi visa via a VFS Tasheer, you’ll need to also make a physical appearance at the Saudi embassy/consulate on the date you selected in your online appointment booking. The embassy/consulate may or may not interview you to ask you about details of your trip.

Just like the VFS Tasheer, you will leave your passport, accomplished visa application form, and supporting documents with them until you are notified that your passport is ready for pick-up or delivery.

Processing time

Just like the other visa application options, the processing time will depend on the type of visa you are applying for, so it can range from a few days to a few weeks.

As mentioned, factors such as the type of visa can impact the processing time for a Saudi visa, as each visa will have different requirements.

Other factors you should take into consideration include the completeness of your information and documentation. If your application form has erroneous data or you did not fill out fields correctly and completely, then the VFS Tasheer or the Saudi embassy/consulate has all the reasons to put the processing of your visa application on hold. Delays can affect the timeliness of the visa processing and may also hinder your readiness for your trip.

Another factor that may affect the processing time is the current workload of the Saudi embassy/consulate. If there is a significant volume of applications that they are dealing with, then it may take some more time for your visa application to be processed. For example, applying during peak season for tourists may take longer than usual.

Frequently Asked Questions

While we’ve covered the different processing times for various Saudi visa types, you may stil have other questions about the visa application process. The following are answers to relevant frequently asked questions.

What should I do if my tourist visa application is rejected?

If your tourist visa application is rejected, you must visit the nearest Saudi embassy/consulate to apply for a new visa.

My visa application status says it is “pending with applicant”. What does this mean?

This means that your application might have missing information or there is a problem with your photo.

Can the e-visa be modified if there was a mistake in the tourist’s information?

No, it is not possible to modify an issued e-visa in case there were mistakes in the application information. If the mistake was other than nationality or passport number, then the issued tourist visa can be canceled.

What can I do if my tourist visa was issued with a mistake in my nationality or passport number?

A new visa can be issued with the corrected nationality or passport number, subject to new fees, without needing to cancel the old one or wait for the visa to expire. Note that the visa fees are non-refundable.

How do you know if the Saudi visa has been approved?

You’ll know if your visa has been approved once your passport has been delivered or once you pick it up at the visa application center, and a visa stamp has been affixed.

How do you know if the Saudi visa has been denied?

On the flip side, you’ll know if your Saudi has been denied once your passport has been delivered or if you have picked it up and it does not include a visa stamp.

Conclusion

Different Saudi visas will require different processing times. The fastest way to apply for a Saudi visa—if you are eligible—is to obtain an e-visa, followed by a visa on arrival, transit, or stopover visa, via a VFS Tasheer, or through a Saudi embassy or consulate.

Factors such as the type of visa you are applying for, the completeness and correctness of information on your visa application form, as well as the current workload of the Saudi embassy/consulate can impact the processing timeliness of your visa application.

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