From the EU to Saudi Arabia: How to Secure Your Visa

Introduction

Big things are in store for Saudi Arabia. Apart from aiming to attract 100 million annual visitors, the country is investing $200 billion in airports, amusement parks, resorts, and other attractions to increase tourism revenue.

European tourists, in particular, can look forward to the Red Sea Project, the next big luxury tourism destination. By 2030, the development aims to have 8,000 hotel rooms. On top of this, Saudi Arabia is also home to fantastic career opportunities as well as a vibrant lifestyle for expatriates.

With all these developments, how can people apply for a Saudi visa from the EU (European Union)? What is the process like? What are the requirements and where do they need to submit these? What Saudi visas are they eligible for? Read on as we shed more light on these questions.

Eligibility

EU citizens are privileged to have minimal requirements when it comes to applying for a Saudi visit visa. The good news is that this also applies to permanent residents in the EU, as well.

EU citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for a Saudi e-visa, as well as a Saudi visa on arrival, to perform tourism activities in Saudi Arabia. What is an e-visa and how easy is it for travelers to apply for it? What are the requirements? Let’s explore them in the next sections.

Applying for a Saudi visa

As mentioned, EU citizens and permanent residents are among those eligible to apply for a Saudi visa, and they can either apply for an e-visa or a visa on arrival. What is this process like and what are the steps involved? Read on to learn more.

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).

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.

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.

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

Although we’ve covered the important information if you are applying for a Saudi visa from the EU, we know you still have more questions in mind. Here are some answers to some relevant frequently asked questions.

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.

How can you check the validity of your Saudi e-visa?

A visa’s validity will be displayed on the visa on your passport. This is the easiest way for you to check if your visa is still valid. Look for the expiration date to check if you can still use your visa. You may also try the following:

You can check your Saudi visa’s validity is 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.

How can you extend your Saudi visit visa?

If you are a tourist visa holder, unfortunately, it is not possible to extend your tourist visa. You will need to leave Saudi Arabia within your visa’s validity and if you wish to visit the kingdom once more, you must apply for a new Saudi visa.

Those under a single-entry visit visa, meanwhile, are eligible for a visa extension through their host or sponsor. Their sponsor must apply for the visa extension via his account on Absher, the electronic platform of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior.

The visa can be extended six days before the visitor visa expires up to three days after it expires, after which visa extension is no longer possible. The visa extension period must not be more than 180 days. The visitor must meet certain conditions.

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.

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.

Is it possible to refund the visa fees after issuance?

No, it is not possible to refund the visa fees once the visa has been issued, as these are non-refundable and cannot be canceled.

Is it possible to amend my data after submitting the visa application?

You cannot make changes to a Saudi e-visa if there is a mistake in the visa holder’s declared information apart from his/her nationality or passport number. As you cannot modify an e-visa, it will need to be canceled and you will need to re-apply for a new e-visa.

If, however, the embassy issued the visa with an incorrect nationality or passport number, then a new visa with the correct nationality or passport number can be issued for a fee. It won’t be necessary to cancel or revoke the old visa.

How can you extend your Saudi visit visa?

If you are a tourist visa holder, unfortunately, it is not possible to extend your tourist visa. You will need to leave Saudi Arabia within your visa’s validity and if you wish to visit the kingdom once more, you must apply for a new Saudi visa.

Those under a single-entry visit visa, meanwhile, are eligible for a visa extension through their host or sponsor. Their sponsor must apply for the visa extension via his account on Absher, the electronic platform of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior.

The visa can be extended six days before the visitor visa expires up to three days after it expires, after which visa extension is no longer possible. The visa extension period must not be more than 180 days. The visitor must meet certain conditions.

Can I apply for a Saudi e-Visa if I am traveling for religious purposes?

Yes, under a Saudi tourist e-visa, you may perform Umrah, while there is also a dedicated Umrah e-visa.

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

Big things are in store for Saudi Arabia with its tourism developments such as the Red Sea project. The country aims to attract 150 million annual visitors by 2030.

Travelers from the EU, in particular, can look forward to these projects as well as a wealth of career opportunities for expatriates in Saudi Arabia.

EU nationals and residents are among those eligible to apply for a Saudi e-visa, as well as a Saudi visa on arrival. They may visit Saudi Arabia anytime they wish as the application process takes only a few minutes.

For more information on applying for a Saudi visa from the EU, visit KSA Visa.

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