Saudi Arabia Visa Essentials: What Canadian Citizens Need to Know

Introduction

Gleaming skyscrapers, picturesque natural landscapes, breathtaking religious sites, and architectural marvels. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offers all these and more, and in recent years, they’ve made it even easier for travelers worldwide to visit their country.

For Canadian citizens, in particular, the process of applying for a Saudi visa is generally easy, as select nationalities can enjoy convenient entry into the country with few requirements.

How easy is the process? What do they need to submit to apply for a Saudi visa? What about for different travel purposes like seeking medical treatment, working in Saudi Arabia, or accompanying a Saudi national? In this article, we answer all these questions and more.

Saudi visa requirements

As we’ve mentioned in the introduction, Canadian citizens have the privilege of being among countries that have few requirements when applying for a Saudi visa. Read on to learn about the different ways they can obtain a visa, as well as the different visa types and their corresponding requirements for Canadian citizens.

Option 1: E-visa

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has identified citizens of Canada to be eligible for a Saudi e-visa or a Saudi visa on arrival.

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).

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.

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

Application

To apply for an e-visa, all you need to do is visit Saudi Arabia’s easy-to-use portal, sign up for an account, provide 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

Note that for certain Saudi visas, you may need to have an invitation letter from a sponsor in Saudi Arabia, such as a Saudi resident or a local company.

Validity

The Saudi e-visa will be valid for one year from the date of issuance and it will be valid for multiple entries. You can stay for a total of 3 months or 90 days in Saudi Arabia, as long as your Schengen visa is still valid during your stay. Note that once you are granted a Saudi e-visa, it cannot be extended.

Visa fees

The cost of the Saudi e-visa will vary depending on the purpose of the travel, but for tourism purposes, the Saudi tourist e-visa costs SAR 535 (USD 142.64). As mentioned, the fee already includes the fee for the medical insurance selected during the e-visa application process. Note that the 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 1 minute to 3 business days. You’ll know if your visa has been approved once you receive an e-mail from KSA Visa, Saudi Arabia’s unified platform for visa applications.

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

We’ve covered the basics when it comes to the Saudi visa requirements for Canadian citizens. But we’re sure you may still have burning questions on your mind. The following are some answers to frequently asked questions.

Can tourists visit Makkah and Al Madinah?

The holy city of Makkah may only be visited by Muslims. Meanwhile, Al Madinah is open to all
tourists. Many locations around Makkah are also open to tourists to learn about Saudi Arabia’s local culture and history.

My visa application status says it is “pending with applicant”. What does this mean?

This means that your application might have missing information or there is a problem with your photo.

When and how can I check the status of my application?

After applying for the e-visa, you can check the status of your application by logging onto your account on KSA Visa. If you are applying for a visa through Saudi missions, you can check the status of your application from the mission you applied through.

Is the process different if you apply for a visa as an individual versus as a group?

You are free to apply either as a group or as an individual. If you would like to apply for a visa as a group, this option is just to facilitate the payment process.

Does the selected guardian have to be with the child when entering Saudi Arabia?

The selected guardian is not required to enter Saudi Arabia with the child, so long as a first-degree relative will be accompanying the child, such as his/her father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, or grandmother.

How can I inquire about the travel insurance company?

To inquire about an insurance company, visit the website of Saudi Arabia’s Council of Health Insurance (CHI) and inquire about the health insurance with your passport number.

What documents do I need to submit when I visit a medical service provider?

You should submit your passport number or your insurance policy number when you visit a medical service provider.

Is there a Saudi embassy in Canada?

Yes, Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Canada. It is located at 201 Sussex Drive K1N 1K6 Ottawa, Ontario Canada. You may reach them at contact number 001-613-2374100 or e-mail them at caemb@mofa.gov.sa.

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 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.

What if your Saudi visa expires while you’re in Saudi Arabia?

In case you extend your stay in Saudi Arabia beyond the validity of your Saudi visa on arrival, you’ll need to pay an overstay fee of SAR 100 for each day.

Is it possible for your Saudi visa on arrival to be rejected?

Although there are clear guidelines on who is eligible for a Saudi visa on arrival, remember that any visa is a conditional document and the final say will have to come from the immigration officer.

Yes, it’s possible for a Saudi visa on arrival to be rejected. Some of the possible reasons may be insufficient documents, previous visa violations, inaccurate or incomplete personal information, falsification of travel history, health issues, or insufficient funds.

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

For Canadian citizens, getting a Saudi visa is generally an easy process, as they are among those in the world with the least Saudi visa application requirements for non-essential travel purposes.

Should they have other travel purposes such as studying in Saudi Arabia, working there, or escorting a Saudi national, they must comply with a standard set of requirements.

To learn more about Saudi visas available to Canadian citizens and the requirements for these, visit KSA Visa.

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