Saudi Family & Friends Visa Requirements: What to Prepare

Introduction

For those seeking to explore the fascinating country of Saudi Arabia, obtaining a Saudi family & friends visit visa is the first step towards an unforgettable journey, allowing them to reconnect with friends in the country. However, understanding the visa requirements is crucial to ensure a smooth and hassle-free application process.

Saudi Arabia, with its rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes, attracts visitors from around the globe. By 2030, the kingdom hopes to receive over 150 million annual visitors, investing billions of dollars in its tourism sector.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of Saudi family & friends visit visa requirements, empowering travelers to navigate their journey with confidence and ease.

Understanding the Saudi family & friends visa

The Saudi family & friends visit visa is designed for individuals who wish to visit friends, relatives, or simply explore the Kingdom for tourism purposes. Whether you’re planning a family reunion, a leisurely vacation, or an immersive cultural experience, the personal visit visa opens doors to a world of possibilities in Saudi Arabia.

There are different Saudi visas allowing travelers to visit family or friends in the kingdom, however, only certain nationalities, residents, and visa holders are eligible for these. Let’s go through these different Saudi visas and their requirements to find which one suits you.

Option 1: E-visa

The easiest way to visit family and friends in Saudi Arabia is to apply for a Saudi personal visit e-visa. With an e-visa, you can visit family and friends, attend tourism events and activities, and perform Umrah.

Under the new e-visa system, travelers arriving in Saudi Arabia don’t 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 online and will be instantly delivered via email.

Eligibility

As part of its aim to open its gates to more people in the world, Saudi Arabia has expanded its list of visitors who are eligible for a Saudi electronic visa or e-visa. Individuals who meet the following criteria may apply for an 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 US, 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.

Requirements

The following are the requirements to apply for a Saudi personal visit e-visa:

1. Valid Passport
   Ensure that your passport has a minimum validity of six months beyond your intended duration of stay in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it should have blank visa pages for stamping.
2. Completed Visa Application Form
   Applicants must complete the Saudi visa application form accurately and truthfully. The application typically requires personal information, details of your planned itinerary, and your intended place of stay in Saudi Arabia.
3. Passport-Sized Photographs
   Attach recent passport-sized photographs in JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or BMP file formats; not bigger than 100 KB; and 200×200 pixels in dimension). The photos should have a white background and should clearly depict your facial features.
4. Medical Insurance
   Note that the e-visa fee already includes medical insurance, which the Saudi Arabia Council of Health Insurance (CHI) has deemed mandatory for all travelers.
5. Validity
   The Saudi visit e-visa is valid for a total stay duration of 90 days. You may apply for either a single-entry visa (valid for 3 months to 1 year) 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.

Application

To apply for a Saudi e-visa, travelers must visit KSA Visa–Saudi Arabia’s new unified platform for visa applications.

Find “Family and Friends” among the visa types and indicate your nationality, before you provide details of your visa and if you would like a single or multiple-entry visa.

Provide your personal information and upload a digital passport-size photo with a white background. Indicate details of your accommodation. Once done, pay the visa application fee. Wait for the e-mail from KSA Visa with details about your visa application.

Visa fees

The fee for the tourist e-visa 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.

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. 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.
A visa on arrival is typically issued at the airport after the traveler submits certain documents as indicated by immigration authorities.

Under a Saudi visa on arrival, you can participate in tourist activities such as sightseeing and attending events; visiting family, friends, and relatives; and Umrah.

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.

Requirements

You will only need a valid passport to obtain a Saudi visa on arrival. Note that you will need to secure travel health insurance during the application process.

Application

There are two ways that you can apply for a Saudi visa on arrival: 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, scan your passport, enter your personal information and passport details, as well as information on your accommodation in the country, before scanning your fingerprints for biometrics and getting your photo taken. Review the application information and pay for the visa-on-arrival fee. You can pay via international debit or credit card.

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.

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.

Option 3: Transit or stopover visa

If you are ineligible for a Saudi e-visa or a Saudi visa on arrival, an option for you is to avail of a transit or stopover visa. A transit visa is a travel document that permits you to pass through another country en route to your destination.

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. If your stay in the country is between 12 to 96 hours, then you are eligible for a Saudi transit visa.

Requirements

The following are the requirements for a Saudi transit visa:

• Valid passport
• Medical health insurance
• Passport-sized photo with a white background
• Confirmed accommodation and connecting flight tickets

Application

Before we dive into the specifics of applying for a Saudi transit visa, 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.

Visa fees

Note that while the transit/stopover visa is free, 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).

Standard transit visa

While the transit visa through Saudia or Flynas is free of charge, you may prefer a different airline or have already booked a flight that will pass through Saudi Arabia beyond 12 hours and no more than 96 hours. In this case, you may apply for 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.

Option 4: Family & Friends Visa through VFS or a Saudi embassy/consulate

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 Visit Visa via a VFS Tasheer or a Saudi embassy or consulate.

Eligibility

Note that only legal Saudi residents or citizens with an Iqama (residence permit) can apply for a Saudi personal visit visa for their friends.

Validity

Once you have a Saudi family visit visa, you can enter the country. A single-entry visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended up to 5 times of up to 30 days each, while a multiple-entry is valid for 90 days and can allow up to 4 re-entries into Saudi Arabia.

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. Book an appointment

Book an appointment on https://vc.tasheer.com/. The website will generate the earliest available appointment date, along with the VFS Tasheer branch location.

Note that 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 Saudi authorities, 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. Submitting 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

3. 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. Contact the nearest Saudi embassy or consulate if a VFS Tasheer is not available in your location.

Visa fees

The cost for both a single or multiple-entry Saudi personal 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 visit visa to be processed.

Frequently Asked Questions

While we’ve dived into the different visa options that allow travelers to visit friends in Saudi Arabia, you may still have clarifications about related topics. The following are answers to some relevant frequently asked questions.

If I cancel my family & friends visit visa or my application is rejected, what’s the turnaround time for the refund?

If your online visa application was canceled or rejected, an automatic fund request should be placed in the system within 45 to 60 business days.

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

You can make a follow-up on your e-visa application through the main page of KSA Visa. Check the “Track your application” option by entering the requested data and choosing the “Inquiry” option. The status of your request will then be displayed to you.

Can I extend my Saudi family & friends visit visa?

In certain cases, it may be possible to extend the validity of your Saudi visa, subject to the type of visa and the visa holder’s circumstances. Make sure to check with a Saudi embassy/consulate or your sponsor to ask about how to request a visa extension and if you are eligible for it.

Can I work or engage in business activities with a Saudi family & friends visit visa?

No, a Saudi personal visit visa does not permit the holder to work or engage in business activities in the Kingdom. Individuals who wish to work or conduct business in Saudi Arabia must obtain the appropriate visa or residency permit.

Conclusion

Obtaining a Saudi family & friends visit visa is the gateway to an enriching and memorable experience in the Kingdom.

By understanding and fulfilling the visa requirements outlined in this guide, travelers can embark on their journey with confidence, knowing that they have met all necessary criteria for a successful application.
Whether you’re planning to reconnect with loved ones, explore historical sites, or immerse yourself in Saudi culture, the family & friends visit visa paves the way for an unforgettable adventure in this captivating destination.

For more information on how to apply for a Saudi family & friends visit visa, visit KSA Visa.

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