Saudi Family & Friends Visa For Pakistani Citizens

Introduction

For Pakistani citizens, visiting family members and friends in Saudi Arabia is a cherished opportunity to reunite, create lasting memories, and strengthen bonds. However, navigating the Saudi family & friends visa process can seem daunting without proper guidance. Understanding the requirements and procedures can streamline the application process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience.

With Saudi Arabia home to the world’s largest population of Pakistanis (outside Pakistan)—over 2.7 million, to be specific—it’s no wonder Pakistanis yearn for the presence of family and friends from abroad.

This article serves as a comprehensive guide for Pakistani citizens seeking to obtain a family & friends visit visa, offering valuable insights and step-by-step instructions.

Understanding the family & friends visa

The Saudi family & friends visit visa is designed to facilitate temporary visits by immediate family members and friends of residents or citizens of Saudi Arabia. This includes spouses, children, parents, siblings, and friends. The visa allows individuals to stay in the Kingdom for a specified period to reunite with their loved ones, attend family events, or simply spend quality time together.

A Saudi citizen or resident must initiate the visa process and provide an invitation request on behalf of the applicant/s. This means that the inviter/sponsor will be responsible for the visitors while they are in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that they abide by local laws and regulations.

Option 1: E-visa

Since 2019, Saudi Arabia has made it easier for travelers to visit family and friends in the kingdom, thanks to the introduction of the Saudi electronic visa or e-visa. Apart from visiting family and friends, it also allows holders to engage in business activities, go sightseeing, seek medical treatment, or perform Umrah.

While Pakistan is not among the eligible countries for an e-visa, other conditions will allow a Pakistani citizen or resident to apply for a Saudi e-visa. Let’s learn more about them in the following section.

Eligibility Criteria

The following can apply for an e-visa, provided they are:

1. Citizens of the following countries:

North America: Canada, Panama, USA, 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, US, UK)

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

Note that dual citizenships from the mentioned countries also make you eligible for a Saudi e-visa or visa on arrival. This means that Pakistani citizens and residents who have eligible dual citizenship or have an active US, UK, or Schengen visit visa that has been used at least once may apply for a Saudi e-visa or visa on arrival.

Application

If you are an eligible dual citizen or a US, UK, or Schengen visa holder, all you need to do is visit KSA Visa, Saudi Arabia’s easy-to-use portal, sign up for an account, provide your visa information as well as your personal and passport information, pay for the insurance and visa application fees, and just wait for the e-visa to be e-mailed.

Requirements

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

• Passport with at least 6 months validity
• Digital passport photo with a white background (in JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or BMP file formats; not bigger than 100 KB; and 200×200 pixels in dimension)
• Accomplished application form
• Health insurance
• Invitation letter from a Saudi citizen or resident

Validity

The Saudi family visit visa has a total stay duration of 90 days. You may either apply for a single-entry visa (valid for 3 months to 1 year) or a multiple-entry visa (valid for 1 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.

Visa fees

The fees for a Saudi e-visa include the following:

• $ 80 visa fee (refundable)
• $10.50 Visa Digital Service Fee (non-refundable)
• $10.50 Insurance Digital Service Fee (non-refundable)
• Insurance fees (depending on the insurance company chosen)

Payment must be made in Saudi Riyals with an international debit or credit card. Note that the visa fees are non-refundable in case the e-visa is rejected.

Processing time

Now that you’ve completed your online visa application form, it’s time to wait. The processing time can take anywhere between two to five 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, a type of visa that is 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 instead ahead of time to avoid any surprises at the airport.
With the visa on arrival, travelers 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.

Eligibility

The same conditions as for the Saudi e-visa apply to the eligibility for a Saudi visa on arrival: citizens of the identified eligible countries; permanent US, UK, and EU residents; holders of active US, UK, or Schengen visit visas with at least one entry stamp; and GCC nationals and residents.

Application

You can apply for a Saudi visa on arrival in two ways: using a self-service kiosk or heading to a passport control desk.

For the self-service option, you should go to the passport control area once you arrive at one of Saudi Arabia’s international airports. There, approach any of the available self-service kiosks, where you’ll scan your passport, enter your personal and passport information, and indicate details of your accommodation while in Saudi Arabia, before scanning your fingerprints for biometrics and taking your photo.

The final steps include selecting your medical insurance provider in Saudi Arabia and paying for the visa-on-arrival fees.

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.

Requirements

If you’re eligible for a Saudi visa on arrival, you’ll just need the following:

• If you are a holder of an active US, UK, or Schengen visa, you should have at least one entry stamp in your passport using the visa).
• A passport has a validity period of at least 6 months at the time of the trip

Visa fees

The total visa application fee amounts to SAR 480 ($127.98), which already includes the cost of health insurance and taxes. Note that visa fees are non-refundable.

Validity

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. The single-entry visa on arrival, meanwhile, is valid for 3 months from its date of issuance, and travelers can stay for up to 30 days.

Processing time

Once you’ve gone through the application process, and assuming there are no issues with your information, it only takes between 5 to 30 minutes for your Saudi on-arrival visa to be issued.

Option 3: Transit/Stopover Visa

The e-visa and the visa on arrival are both great options whenever you’re planning a trip to Saudi Arabia. But there’s another way you can easily enter Saudi Arabia: the Saudi transit or stopover visa, which is open to all nationalities. This means that even if you don’t have an active US, UK, or Schengen visa, you may apply for a Saudi transit/stopover visa.

Transit and stopover are two terms used interchangeably to refer to temporary entry in 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. While in the country, they can also perform Umrah.

In case you are traveling somewhere while you have a valid UK visa, and you have a layover or stopover in Saudi Arabia that is over 12 hours, you can use the Saudi transit/stopover visa for a brief stay in the country.

Note that a transit visa is only required if your layover or stopover in Saudi Arabia is over 12 hours.

Transit/stopover visa with Flynas or Saudia

If your stopover in Saudi Arabia allows you to stay for more than 12 hours and you are flying via Flynas or Saudia, you’re in luck. You are eligible for a free Saudi transit or stopover visa which allows you a brief stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 96 hours.

When you book with these two airlines, your transit/stopover visa will be automatically generated and e-mailed to you once approved. It takes about just three minutes to apply for the transit/stopover visa. You may apply for the visa up to 90 days before your trip.

Note that while the transit/stopover visa is free, it is still subject to administrative and medical insurance fees. You may also perform Umrah under this visa, but not for Hajj.

Travelers who avail of a transit/stopover visa via Saudia also have the option to avail of a free one-night accommodation, subject to room availability.

Standard transit visa

If you are passing through Saudi Arabia on an airline other than Saudi Arabia’s Flynas or Saudia and your layover/stopover is more than 12 hours, you can avail of a standard transit visa.

To apply for this visa, visit KSA Visa and select the applicable transit visa (Land Transit Visa, Air Transit Visa, or Sea Transit Visa).

Similar to the e-visa application, you’ll be asked to provide information such as your personal information, passport information, etc. before being asked to pay the medical insurance fee, visa fee, and application fees.

Requirements

To apply for a Saudi transit/stopover visa, you will need the following:

• Passport with at least six months validity remaining
• Passport-size photo with a white background. The file must not exceed 20kb in size and should be in either JPEG or PNG file formats. The image dimensions allowed are 200×200 pixels.
• Health insurance

Visa fees

While you can avail of a free transit/stopover visa via Saudia or Flynas, it is still subject to administrative and medical insurance fees. It costs SAR 93.73 ($24.99) via Saudia or Flynas and around SAR 100 ($26.66) for a standard/transit visa (inclusive of tax and insurance fees). Note that these fees are non-refundable.

Processing time

Once you’ve paid for your visa on arrival, it’s time to wait. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes for the visa on arrival to be issued.

Option 4: Family and Friends Visa through VFS or Saudi embassy

If you are not eligible for a Saudi e-visa or visa on arrival and you do not have a flight passing through Saudi Arabia, you may apply for a Saudi family & friends visit visa via a VFS Tasheer or a Saudi embassy/consulate.

Eligibility

Only legal Saudi residents or citizens with an Iqama (residence permit) can apply for a Saudi family & friends visit visa for their relatives. Note that the eligible relatives for the visa must be the resident or citizen’s first-degree relatives such as their parent, spouse, child, or sibling.

Validity

Once you have a Saudi family & friends visit visa, you can enter the country for a total stay duration of 90 days, whether you applied for a single-entry visa (valid for 90 days) or a multiple-entry visa (valid for one year).

Application

Now that we know what VFS Tasheer centers do, you can go through the process when you plan your trip to Saudi Arabia. Here are the steps to take:

1. Wait for your sponsor to submit documents.

For a family visit visa, your sponsor must first submit documents to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) such as their passport, Iqama, passport-size photos, apostilled national ID card, marriage certificate if they are inviting a spouse, and a notarized letter in Arabic signed by the parent or legal guardian if they are inviting a minor.

They must also fill out an e-form available on the page e-visas services of the MOFA website. Once approved by the Chamber of Commerce, the sponsor can send the scanned signed, and stamped application form to you. That’s the time when you can submit your documents to a VFS Tasheer or Saudi embassy/consulate.

2. Book an appointment

Book an appointment at https://vc.tasheer.com/.

3. Submit requirements

Before your appointment, make sure you compile all the necessary documents needed for your Saudi tourist visa application. These typically include:

• A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining by the time of your trip,A completed visa application form,
• Passport-sized photos,
• Proof of your travel arrangements, such as flight tickets and hotel reservations,
• Proof you have sufficient funds to cover your travel expenses (ex: bank statement),
• Travel Insurance

4. Payment and biometrics

After submitting your requirements, pay for the visa fee and get your biometrics and photo taken. You’ll be given a claim stub or invoice for when you pick up or receive your passport and visa. To know the status of your application, check its progress under the VFS tracking service.

For a list of VFS Tasheer centers in Pakistan, click here. The Saudi Arabia embassy in Pakistan, meanwhile, is located at No. 14, North Service Road, Diplomatic Enclave,G-4, Islamabad, with contact number 0092512600900 and e-mail address: pkemb@mofa.gov.sa.

Visa fees

The cost for both a single or multiple-entry Saudi family visit visa is SAR 200 ($53.33).

Processing time

Once you have paid for your visa application, it’s time to wait. It takes around three days for a Saudi family & friends visit visa to be processed.

Frequently Asked Questions

You now know the different visa options available to you if you are a Pakistani citizen trying to obtain a Saudi family visit visa. We’re sure there may still be some topics we weren’t able to cover. The following are answers to related frequently asked questions.

How can I cancel my family & friends visa?

If there is a mistake in your visa information other than your nationality or passport number, then the issued visa can be canceled.

First, the issued visa will be canceled by the embassy. Once you are notified about the confirmed cancelation, you may contact KSA Visa so they can cancel the visa from the platform. It should take up to 72 hours.

When applying for a Saudi family & friends visit visa, do I need to submit separate applications for my family members?

Yes, each adult family member must submit their own application form. Visas for minors must be taken care of by the guardian obtaining the visa.

How can I apply for a family & friends e-visa on behalf of children?

If applying for a Saudi e-visa on behalf of children, the guardian should apply for the children’s e-visa using his/her account. Simply tick the box “apply on behalf of someone else” and indicate your name as their guardian. Note that the child’s nationality must match that of the guardian and the guardian must have first secured his/her own e-visa before he can apply for the child’s e-visa.

Do I need to keep a hard copy of my family & friends visa?

It won’t be necessary to present a hard copy of your visa because it will show up in the Saudi travel authorities’ system. But it is best to save a digital copy on your mobile phone.

If you did not receive a copy of your visa and would like to print it, visit https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/visaservices/searchvisa to print it from the platform.

Conclusion

Obtaining a Saudi family & friends visit visa as a Pakistani citizen is a significant milestone that allows for cherished moments of togetherness with loved ones in the Kingdom.

By understanding the requirements, procedures, and essential tips outlined in this guide, Pakistani citizens can navigate the visa application process with confidence and ease. Remember to plan meticulously, prepare your documents diligently, and maintain clear communication with the sponsor to maximize your chances of a successful visa approval.

For more information on how to secure a family & friends visit visa for Pakistani citizens, visit KSA Visa.

Image by Muzaffar somro from Pixabay