Checking Your Saudi Visa Application Status Made Simple

Introduction

So you’ve packed your bags and you’re all set to travel to Saudi Arabia. With its wealth of historical sites, rich heritage, and natural wonders, it’s no wonder many travelers are applying to become a tourist in Saudi Arabia.

You may also be a professional seeking to become an expatriate in the country, undergoing treatment at a Saudi healthcare facility, engaging in business activities, or performing Umrah. Whatever your purpose is for wanting to visit Saudi Arabia, you will need to apply for a Saudi visa to enter the country.

How can you check your Saudi visa application status? Where do you go? What do you need to do? In this article, we look at the different ways you can apply for a Saudi visa, as well as how you can track the status of your visa application.

Ways to apply for a Saudi visa

Different processes will have different ways for you to check the status of your visa application, 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

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 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.

Validity

Different Saudi visit e-visas will have different validity periods. The single-entry tourist e-visa, for instance, is valid for 90 days, while the multiple-entry tourist e-visa is valid for 365 days. Both have a total stay duration of 90 days.

Processing time

Once you’ve paid for your Saudi e-visa, it’s time to wait as these have varying processing times. Having an idea of the processing times will help manage your expectations as to when you should check your Saudi visa application status. Here’s an overview:

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

Checking your application status

To check the status of your e-visa application, log in to your KSA Visa account and check out the “Order Tracking” tool at the top. Just enter your application or visa number and your passport number so the system can generate the status of your e-visa application.

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.

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.

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.

Validity

A multiple-entry tourist visa on arrival is valid for one year from the date of issuance, while a single-entry tourist visa is valid for three months. The total stay duration for both visas is 90 days.

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. You won’t need to check its status as you will just wait for it to be issued.

Option 3: Transit or stopover visa

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

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.

Application

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.

Checking the visa application status

If you applied via a VFS Tasheer, you can check the Saudi visa application status by accessing the VFS portal and using the “Track Status” tool. Just input your appointment reference number or your visa platform number and date of birth to generate the status online.

Applying via a Saudi embassy/consulate

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.

How can you check the Saudi visa application status if you applied at a Saudi embassy/consulate?

If you applied for a visa via a Saudi embassy/consulate, you check the Saudi visa application status by checking online. Typically, embassies will have their website where you also schedule a visa appointment. You will just need to access the same platform and enter information such as your application number and passport number to retrieve the status of your visa application.

Statuses of a visa application

Once you access the portal to check your Saudi visa application status, you may wonder what certain statuses may mean. Here’s a guide:

• Pending: Your visa application is currently being reviewed by Saudi immigration authorities and there has been no decision yet whether to grant it or not.
• Approved/Issued: Your visa application has been successfully processed and approved. With your visa, you can enter Saudi Arabia as planned.
• Rejected: Your visa application has been denied. Factors such as inconsistencies in your application information as well as incomplete supporting documents may have influenced Saudi travel authorities to reject your visa application.

Conclusion

The way to check your Saudi visa application status will depend on the route you took to apply for a visa.

These days, online platforms are available to track the status of your visa application, from KSA Visa, as well as the websites of VFS Tasheer centers or Saudi embassies/consulates.

To check your Saudi visa application status, simply access these portals and enter details such as your visa application number and passport number.

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