How to Secure Your Saudi Visit Visa from Kuwait

Introduction

2024 and 2025 are going to be big years for GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. A unified tourist visa will be launched between these years to allow tourists to travel across all six GCC member countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

With Kuwait just a whisper away from Saudi Arabia, many Kuwaitis and Saudi Arabians travel to each other’s countries to enjoy the wealth of cultural sites, architectural marvels, and picturesque natural landscapes.

Do Kuwaitis need to apply for a Saudi visa? If yes, how can citizens and residents apply for a Saudi visa from Kuwait? What’s the process like and what are the requirements? Read on to learn more.

Eligibility

If you’re a Kuwaiti citizen and are traveling to Saudi Arabia, you don’t need to apply for a Saudi visa. As a GCC national, you’re exempted from all types of Saudi visas and you can travel to Saudi Arabia anytime you wish. When you arrive in Saudi Arabia, simply present your national ID card or any other valid document proving your citizenship in Kuwait.

Being a Kuwaiti citizen also exempts you from needing to go through the different ways of obtaining a Saudi visa: 1) the e-visa, 2) visa on arrival, 3) part of a transit/stopover visa, 4) through a Saudi embassy or consulate, 5) VFS Tasheer, or 6) an authorized service provider such as a travel agency.

While Kuwaiti citizens are exempt from the Saudi visa application process, Kuwaiti residents, on the other hand, must secure a Saudi visa. What are the steps and requirements involved? How much does it cost? Read on to learn more.

Applying for a Saudi visa

While Kuwaiti citizens are exempt from the Saudi visa application process, Kuwaiti residents, on the other hand, must secure a Saudi visa. Kuwaiti residents are defined as those who can legally live and work in Kuwait for an extended period. They also have a residence visa.

What are the steps and requirements involved? How much does it cost? How does the e-visa work and how can Kuwaiti residents apply for it?

Option 1: Saudi e-visa

The Saudi e-visa is the easiest and simplest visa you can apply for.

The Saudi e-visa program, launched in September 2019, makes it easier for citizens from eligible countries to secure a Saudi visa. It allows foreign nationals entry into Saudi Arabia for various purposes such as tourism, business, and even Umrah.

Under Saudi Arabia’s new e-visa system, eligible 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.

Apart from eligible nationalities (including dual citizens from eligible countries), permanent residents in the US, EU, or the UK; holders of visit visas (Schengen, US, UK); and residents in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates), as long as they have been a resident for at least three months.

What’s great about the e-visa is that it already covers tourism-related activities and Umrah (excluding Hajj season).

How the Saudi e-visa works

Now that we know who is eligible for a Saudi e-visa, let’s understand how it works.

Under the new e-visa system, eligible travelers arriving in Saudi Arabia don’t need 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. Under an e-visa, you can typically stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days.

Requirements

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

• Passport with at least 6 months validity
• A completed visa application form
• Passport-sized photos (in JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or BMP file formats; not bigger than 100 KB; and 200×200 pixels in dimension)
• Travel Insurance

Application

To apply for a Saudi e-visa, visit KSA Visa select the e-visa of your choice, and fill out the online application form.

Apart from indicating whether you would like to apply for a single or multiple-entry visa, you’ll also need to provide your personal information and passport details, as well as upload a digital passport-size photo with a white background.

Based on your submitted application, the form will generate the corresponding visa validity: 365 days or 1 year for a multiple-entry visa and 90 days for a single-entry visa. Both single and multiple-entry visas are valid for a total of 90 days.

Visa fees

The visa application fee 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.

Processing time

Now that you’ve completed your online visa application form, it’s time to wait. The processing time can take anywhere between 1 minute to 3 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 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 ahead of time to avoid any surprises at the airport.

Similar to the e-visa, those who hold eligible citizenship (including dual citizens); have active US, UK, or Schengen visit visas; are permanent residents of the US, UK, or the EU; as well as GCC nationals or residents can avail of a Saudi visa on arrival.

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.

Option 3: Transit/Stopover Visa

There’s another way you can easily enter Saudi Arabia: the Saudi transit or stopover visa, which is open to all nationalities. It allows travelers to pass through Saudi land borders, airports, or ports. This is probably not the most ideal option for all, but it’s a good option if you are staying for less than four days in Saudi Arabia.

Travelers may opt to apply for a transit/stopover visa via Saudi Arabia’s Saudia or Flynas Airlines by booking two flights with a suitable layover of between 12 to 96 hours. While the transit/stopover visa is free, it is still subject to administrative and medical insurance fees. Alternatively, travelers may apply for a standard transit/stopover visa via KSA Visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

You now know your eligibility and options if you are applying for a Saudi visa from Kuwait. However, we’re sure you still have some questions and clarifications about it. The following are some helpful answers to frequently asked questions:

Can I track the status of my Saudi visa application from Kuwait?

Yes, you can track the status of your Saudi visa application from Kuwait online. If you applied through KSA Visa, you may log in to your account and visit the Order Tracking section where you can view your visa’s current status.

If you applied via VFS Tasheer, meanwhile, you can track its progress under the VFS website’s online tracking service. Simply input your appointment reference number or the visa platform number (available on your claim stub, invoice, or receipt) and your date of birth to see the status. It will be updated once your passport is ready for pick-up or delivery.

If you applied via a Saudi embassy/consulate, you may contact them via telephone, e-mail, or through their official website.

Is it possible to expedite the processing of a Saudi visa application from Kuwait?

Some VFS Tasheer centers or Saudi embassies may offer to fast-track the processing of your visa for an additional fee. It is best to contact them to inquire if the service is available and for how much.

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.

Can I extend my stay in Saudi Arabia with an e-visa?

Note that if you are granted a Saudi e-visa, it cannot be extended.

How can you cancel your Saudi visit visa?

Note that you cannot cancel a Saudi e-visa application once it has been submitted and paid for. The Saudi e-visa application is also non-refundable.

How can you check the status of your Saudi e-visa application?
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.

What should I wear while I’m in Saudi Arabia?

Both men and women should dress modestly while in Saudi Arabia, otherwise they potentially face penalties. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes or clothes displaying profane language or images. Women should cover their shoulders and knees when in public.

Generally, wearing long, loose tops, long pants or trousers, or long skirts up to the ankle is safe. The only time you should not abide by this rule is when the situation calls for different attire, such as when swimming. Similarly, choose to wear modest swimming attire.

Conclusion

The GCC unified tourism visa is set to be launched between 2024 and 2025, marking greater access for GCC nationals between member countries.

With attractive destinations in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Kuwaitis and Saudi Arabians can look forward to touring neighboring GCC nations even more.

While Kuwaiti citizens don’t need to apply for a Saudi visa, Kuwaiti residents and non-residents do. With Saudi Arabia’s KSA Visa, it’s easier for them to apply for an e-visa, visa on arrival, and other types of Saudi visas.

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