When Do You Need A Saudi E-visa Waiver?

Introduction

It’s a great time for citizens of the United Kingdom as Saudi Arabia is making it easier for them to visit their country. To boost tourism, UK citizens are eligible for a Saudi e-visa or a visa on arrival, as well as a Saudi e-visa waiver (EVW) or e-visa exemption.

With its rewarding career opportunities for expatriates, a wealth of historical sites, and rich culture, it’s no wonder more foreign nationals are being drawn to Saudi Arabia. By 2030, the Saudi government hopes to attract 100 million visitors each year, with big developments in tourism infrastructure.

What is an e-visa waiver and how does it work? How can British citizens avail of it and what is the process like? How long is it valid for? What are the requirements? In this article, we dive into the specifics of obtaining a e-visa waiver and answer frequently asked questions.

Defining the e-visa and e-visa exemption

An e-visa waiver allows eligible visitors to apply for a visa waiver request to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

How the e-visa waiver or e-visa exemption works

Under an e-visa waiver or e-visa exemption, British nationals can enter Saudi Arabia for up to six months for a single entry.

This program, announced in August 2023, allows UK citizens to visit Saudi Arabia and stay for six months for a variety of travel purposes, such as the following:

1. Tourism: Sightseeing activities
2. Business: Participating in business-related activities such as conferences, exhibitions, meetings, trade shows, or looking at investment opportunities
3. Education: For UK citizens who have been accepted into educational institutions in Saudi Arabia
4. Medical treatment: Seeking medical treatment and medical expertise

What’s great about the e-visa waiver is that British nationals can stay for a much longer period in Saudi Arabia, versus the duration allowed by traditional visit visas.

Availing a Saudi e-visa

To apply for a e-visa waiver, UK citizens must log on to KSA Visa, Saudi Arabia’s new unified platform for visa applications.

From there, UK citizens should navigate to “Explore Visa Options”, where they’ll see the website’s different sections, and click “Electronic visa exemption.”

A form will load on the screen, asking the applicant for his or her personal and passport information, as well as details of how he/she plans to travel to Saudi Arabia. Apart from having a passport with at least six months validity, the applicant will also need to submit a digital passport photo with a white background.

Visa waiver fees

After you’ve completed the online e-visa waiver application form and you’ve submitted it, you’ll need to pay a fee. The e-visa waiver costs SAR 150 (about $40). You can pay for it via an international credit card or debit card.

Processing time

After paying for the e-visa waiver application, you’ll know that it has been approved once you receive an e-mail from KSA Visa within 24 hours.

Validity

If your e-visa waiver has been processed and approved, congratulations. It is valid for 90 days from the date of its approval and you can stay for a maximum of 180 days in Saudi Arabia.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re planning to apply for an e-visa waiver, you might have some more concerns or clarifications about the process. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

How can I track the status of my e-visa waiver application?

You should see the application reflected under “TRACK APPLICATION” and the sub-section “Visas.” You should see details such as the Visa ID, your given name, the issuance date, expiry date, visa type, passport number, the days of validity, and its status.

Up to how many times can you visit Saudi Arabia under an e-visa waiver?

As mentioned, the e-visa waiver permits UK citizens to enter Saudi Arabia for just one time, for a maximum of 180 days or six months in the country.

How soon can you apply for an e-visa waiver?

UK citizens can send requests for an e-visa waiver as early as 90 days before their travel date. The latest you can apply for an e-visa waiver would be 48 hours before your travel date.

What are the requirements to apply for an e-visa waiver?

UK citizens should have a valid passport if they plan on applying for an e-visa waiver.

Up to how many times can you enter Saudi Arabia with an e-visa waiver?

As mentioned, you can only enter Saudi Arabia once and stay for up to 6 months under an e-visa waiver. If you want to travel to Saudi Arabia again, you’ll need to apply again for another e-visa waiver.

Do I need to print out a copy of my e-visa waiver when traveling to Saudi Arabia?

Yes. You’ll need to print a copy of your e-visa waiver so you can present it to passport control staff and the immigration officer upon your arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Does the fee already include medical insurance coverage?

While the Saudi e-visa requires you to select a medical insurance provider during the application process, the cost of the e-visa waiver application does not include insurance yet. This means that you will need to get your own travel and health insurance before you travel to Saudi Arabia.

What if I’d also like to bring my family to Saudi Arabia?

You will need to complete an e-visa waiver online application form for each member of your family. This applies even to infants or children.

If your child is below 18 years old, you will see in the form a section that asks for the “Dependent App. Number” and the “Dependent Passport number”, as well as details such as his/her nationality, their relationship to you, their home address and e-mail address, and from which country they are applying from.

When you receive your visa, look for the indicated visa application number at the bottom, which will be below a bar code. Use that same application number as the dependent application number.
Currently, there is no way to request an e-visa waiver for families.

Is there another way I can apply for an e-visa waiver?

Alternatively, you may want to apply for a e-visa waiver through the website of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or MOFA.

Sign up for an account and once you’re signed in, a page will load showing your list of visa applications. Click “electronic visa exemption”, review and accept the terms and conditions, and fill up the same form as in KSA Visa.

Don’t forget to enter the numbers in the captcha field so the application can be processed. Same as with the KSA Visa form, indicate your visa application number for your dependent’s application number once available.

What’s the difference between an e-visa and an e-visa waiver?

A Saudi e-visa allows citizens of eligible countries; permanent residents of the US, UK, and EU member countries; UK, US, and Schengen visit visa holders; as well as GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nationals to apply for various travel purposes such as tourism, business, and medical treatment, among others.

The e-visa waiver, on the other hand, as already mentioned, waives British citizens from having to apply for a typical e-visa, with allowed entry into Saudi Arabia for six months for a single entry.

Both visas can be obtained online through KSA Visa, removing the need for visiting an application center such as a VFS Tasheer or a Saudi embassy or consulate.

The VFS Tasheer in the United Kingdom is located at 12 Boston Pl, London NW1 6QH, United Kingdom. You may e-mail them at info.London@tasheer.com.

The Saudi Arabia embassy in the United Kingdom is located at 30 Charles Street, London W1J 5DZ. You may call them at 00442079173000 or e-mail them at ukemb@mofa.gov.sa.

If I have a Saudi tourist visa, can I visit Makkah and Al Madinah?

Note that you may only visit Makkah if you are a Muslim visitor, while Al Madinah is open to all tourists. As an alternative, you may want to check out the many sites around Makkah to learn more about Saudi Arabia’s rich culture and heritage.

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.

Are there other Saudi visas that a British national is eligible for?

UK citizens are also eligible for a Saudi e-visa or a Saudi visa on arrival. A Saudi e-visa covers various travel purposes such as personal visits, business, tourism, medical treatment, education, employment, and performing the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages.

A Saudi visa on arrival, on the other hand, allows British nationals to obtain a Saudi visa upon arrival at a Saudi Arabian port of entry. Although it is a quick, easy, and convenient way to enter Saudi Arabia, it may be better to secure a visa beforehand through the e-visa application route.

Conclusion

It’s a great time for British nationals to travel to Saudi Arabia as they are the only nationality that the country has made the EVW program available. Under the EVW, they can enter Saudi Arabia without applying for a traditional visit visa. They can stay for up to 180 days or six months for a variety of travel purposes without additional requirements.

The EVW for UK citizens is only the beginning for Saudi Arabia as it opens its gates further, making it easier for people from all over the world to pass through its borders. Its e-visa and visa-on-arrival options are convenient ways for travelers to gain access to Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and culture.

It may only be a matter of time before Saudi Arabia includes more nationalities in its EVW program. The country aims to attract 100 million annual visitors by 2030.

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