Types of Visas In Saudi Arabia

Millions of expatriates live in KSA, and many visit the country for various purposes. Depending on your purpose of visit and your contacts there, you must apply for the correct visa type since Saudi Arabia issues many.

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However, nationals of very few countries do not require visas to enter Saudi Arabia. Consequently, the people of these countries can enter Saudi Arabia only with their identity cards.

These countries are from The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and include Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, and Oman.

Here, we will detail the different types of Visas Saudi Arabia issues to its visitors so you can easily apply for the one you need.

Visa Types in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia issues the following types of Visas.

1. Tourist Visa
2. Business Visit Visa
3. Employment/Work Visa
4. Family Visit Visa
5. Permanent Family Visa
6. Hajj Visa
7. Umrah Visa 
8. Student Visa
9. Saudi Transit visa

Tourist Visa

 This e-visa is a one-year, multiple-entry visa, allowing tourists to spend up to 90 days in the country. It covers all tourism-related activities, including Umrah but not Hajj.

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However, on arrival or online, this visa is issued as an E-visa for tourism purposes only to the residents of about 49 countries.

Countries of Tourist/E-visa

The only genuine source for the tourist e-visa is the link provided on the Saudi Arabian visa website. The requirements for the tourist visa are also available on the website.

Business Visit Visa

Foreign nationals who visit Saudi Arabia for business purposes, such as meetings, training sessions, and business deals, can apply for a Saudi business visit visa.

Requirements for business visit visa:

• The original passport with a validity of no less than six (6) months (with blank pages)
• Passport photographs
• Completed application form with paid visa fee from the Enjazit portal.
• An electronic letter of invitation from the sponsor company in KSA. (The company should be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KSA.)
• A letter from your employer that confirms your employment and the upcoming trip to KSA with “business” is mentioned as the purpose of the visit.
• Additional documents may be requested by the embassy if needed.

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Employment/ Work visa:

This visa is for anyone wanting to work in KSA and thus stay there long-term. To get this type of visa, the person must have a sponsor in Saudi Arabia.

Requirements for the Work visa:

Submit the following documents to obtain an employment visa:

• The original passport that is valid for no less than six (6) months (with blank pages)
• A colored passport-sized photograph.
• A completed visa application form at the Enjazit portal.
• The Proof of online payment of the visa fee through the Enjazit website.
• The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs generated a digital power of attorney for the Saudi employer.

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• An Original letter from the Saudi company sponsoring the applicant, certified by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
• A copy of your employment contract, signed by the sponsoring company and the applicant and certified by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• A certified copy of your university diploma, which the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission must validate
• A police report of any criminal record
• An addressed prepaid envelope.
• Three copies of a signed medical report

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Family Visit visa

Only Saudi nationals and iqama holders can apply for this type of visa in Saudi Arabia. This visa allows the applicant’s family to come and visit them in KSA.

The people the national or iqama holder can apply for the family visit visa for include the following:

• Spouse
• Children
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Siblings and their families
• Parent in Law
• Siblings in Law and their families

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This visa can be a single entry (validity of 30 days with eight possible extensions of 30 days each) or a multiple entry visa (validity of 90 days with only two possible extensions of 90 days each).

You can apply for this visa via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of KSA online portal.

Permanent Family Visa

Expatriates with an Iqama profession eligible to call one’s family to KSA for permanent stay can apply for this type of visa.

However, the permanent family can only be applied to the spouse and children. Thus, this excludes the applicant’s parents and sons above the age of 18.

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Requirement for Permanent family visa

• Original Marriage certificate with Arabic Translation.
• Original birth certificates of children with Arabic Translation.
• Your Iqama copy and a copy of the visa stamp on your passport.
• The Passport copy of all visa applicants and the copy of the family visa request letter stamped by the chamber of commerce.

Hajj Visa

This visa is for applicants willing to perform the sacred Hajj pilgrimage. However, the application form for a Hajj visa is available from your nearest Saudi Consulate.

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Arranging for a Hajj visa via a trusted travel agent is always advisable. The hajj visa has no application fees and is issued from Mid-Shawwal until the 25th Dhual-Qa’dah of each year.

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Requirements for Hajj visa

• The Original Passport is valid for at least six more months,
• A recent passport-sized color photograph with a white background.
• A filled application form (filled in with a black ink pen or printed.)
• The applicant must have a non-refundable roundtrip ticket with confirmed reservations.
• Proof of vaccination for meningitis and ACYW135.
• Saudi visa rules require all women below the age of 45 to be accompanied by a “mahram” (a male member of their immediate family) for Hajj or Umrah. 
• Women over 45 can travel without a mahram within a tour group. However, they need to submit a letter of no objection from their mahram authorizing travel for Hajj or Umrah with the named group.

Umrah Visa

This is also a religious pilgrimage, and thus, there are no visa fees. Umrah can be performed and applied at any time of the year.

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Requirements for Umrah visa

• A completed Umrah application form. (Someone with a non-muslim name must submit a certificate from a mosque or an Islamic center stating that the applicant is a Muslim)
• One recent passport-sized photograph.
• The applicant’s original passport has at least six months of validity.
• They purchased non-refundable flight tickets. 
• Evidence of a relationship between female pilgrims and their ‘mahram’ (partner/brother/father).* (Saudi visa rules require all women below the age of 45 to be accompanied by a “mahram” (a male member of their immediate family) for Hajj or Umrah.)
• Women over 45 can travel without a mahram within a tour group. However, they must submit a letter of no objection from their mahram authorizing travel for Hajj or Umrah with the named group.
• Health insurance covering COVID-19 infections and Proof of registered COVID-19 vaccine administration. 
• Proof of meningitis vaccination not older than three years. 

Student Visa

To get a Saudi Student Visa, you must first get accepted into an educational institution in Saudi Arabia. The school must then apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to authorize your Student Visa.

Requirement of Student Visa

• Completed student visa application form.
• The original passport has at least six months of validity.
• The applicant’s original birth certificate and its copy. 
• Applicant’s high school diploma or other previous academic qualifications and copies.
• The applicant’s medical report was issued by a certified medical practitioner issued in the last 3 months.
• If the applicant is aged 16 or under, they don’t have to submit a medical report.
• A Police clearance certificate is issued within the last six months of visa application.

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Saudi Transit Visa

This visa is for travelers staying in KSA for less than 72 hours. This visa is generally for those with a layover in Saudi Arabia during their travels.

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