Saudi visa types

There are several different Saudi visa types you can apply for, depending on your purpose for visiting Saudi Arabia. The different Saudi visa types vary, according to whether you are traveling to Saudi Arabia for tourism, business, education, work, family visit, official visit, pilgrimage, or other temporary purposes. Saudi entry requirements may vary according to which Saudi visa type is being applied for.

Visa types

Saudi Arabia Tourist visa

Saudi Arabia Business visit visa

Saudi Arabia Employment visa

Saudi Arabia Student visa

Saudi Arabia Residence visa

Saudi Arabia Premium residency visa

Saudi Arabia Family visit visa

Saudi Arabia Companion visa

Saudi Arabia Personal visit visa

Saudi Arabia Newborn visa

Saudi Arabia Government visa

Saudi Arabia Diplomatic & official visas

Saudi Arabia Diplomatic missions and organizations

Saudi extension of exit/re-entry visa

Saudi Arabia Hajj visa

Saudi Arabia Umrah visa

Saudi Arabia Transit visa

Saudi Arabia Tourist visa

If you wish to visit Saudi Arabia for short-term tourism activities and are not eligible to enter Saudi Arabia visa-free, then you should apply for a Saudi tourist visa. Saudi tourist visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and applicants are not given a choice as to stay duration or number of entries into Saudi Arabia. Normally, Saudi tourist visas are issued as a multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year, allowing a 90-day stay each visit. But, in some cases, Saudi tourist visas may be issued as a single-entry visa valid for 90 days, allowing a shorter 30-day stay.

Please note that the Saudi tourist visa applies to Umrah, except during Hajj season. It is also important to note that the Saudi tourist visa is not extendable. Saudi tourist visa holders should check their visa information and plan their trip accordingly, in order to avoid possible overstays in Saudi Arabia.

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Saudi Arabia Employment visa

If you wish to visit Saudi Arabia for employment opportunities, then you should apply for a Saudi work visa. Eligible applicants should meet a set of requirements, including sponsorship, invitation letter, employment contract, medical screening, educational certification, security check, among other criteria. The application process involves the Saudi employer applying for a Saudi work permit, or Iqama, on the foreign employee’s behalf. The foreign employee should then apply for a Saudi work visa, which will allow the foreign employee to visit Saudi Arabia for 90 days, during which time the foreign employee should apply for a Saudi residence visa, in order to work and live in Saudi Arabia long-term.

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Saudi Arabia Student visa

A Saudi student visa is for foreign nationals who will enter Saudi Arabia for educational enrollment activities. In an effort to attract exceptional skill and foreign talent, Saudi Arabia offers a “Study in Saudi Arabia” program and a self-sponsored Saudi student visa type, available to citizens of over 160 countries, which provides short and long-term student schemes, based on the degree, course, or training the foreign student will be enrolled in.

Saudi Arabia Residence visa

The Saudi residence visa allows foreign nationals, already in Saudi Arabia on a short-term visa, to stay in Saudi Arabia for longer periods of time. For example, a foreign employee in Saudi Arabia on a Saudi job visa is only permitted a 90-day stay in Saudi Arabia. Within those 90 days, foreign worker should apply for a Saudi residence visa, in order to legally work and live in Saudi Arabia for 1 year, or as long as the visa and occupation persist.

Saudi Arabia Premium residency visa

In an effort to attract talented and wealthy foreign nationals, Saudi Arabia developed the “Premium Residency Program” for foreign nationals wishing to live in Saudi Arabia and invest in Saudi business, without the need for a Saudi sponsor. The 2 types of Saudi residency visas offered are the renewable temporary Saudi residency and the permanent Saudi residency. Under this program, foreign nationals will have the right to reside in Saudi Arabia, own property in Saudi Arabia, invest in Saudi businesses, work in Saudi companies, change jobs, hire foreign workers, sponsor Saudi residency and visit visas to their family members, and enter and exit Saudi Arabia without sponsor permission.

Saudi Arabia Family visit visa

Saudi nationals and legal residents wishing to host a first-degree relative for a short-term visit, should apply for a Saudi family visit visa. First degree relatives include parents, direct in-laws, spouses, and children. The Saudi family visit visa can be issued as a single-entry visit visa valid for 90 days, allowing a 30-day stay (extendable), or as a multiple-entry visit visa valid for 6 months or 1 year, allowing a 90-days stay each visit (non-extendable).

Saudi Arabia Business visit visa

If you are a Saudi company needing to hold corporate meetings or negotiate commercial agreements with a foreign national, or you are requesting a manager of a foreign company to visit Saudi Arabia, then you should apply for a Saudi business visit visa on behalf of the foreign citizen. The Saudi business visit visa can be issued as a single-entry visit visa valid for 90 days, allowing a 30-day stay (extendable), or as a multiple-entry visit visa valid 6 months or 1 year, allowing a 90-days stay each visit (non-extendable).

Saudi Arabia Personal visit visa

Saudi citizens wishing to host friends in Saudi Arabia for a short-term visit that is non-family and non-business related should apply for a Saudi personal visit visa. This Saudi visit visa can be issued as single or multiple entry. The Saudi personal visit visa can be issued as a single-entry visit visa valid for 90 days, allowing a 30-day stay (extendable), or as a multiple-entry visit visa valid for 6 months or 1 year, allowing a 90-days stay each visit (non-extendable).

Saudi Arabia Companion visa

If you wish to accompany someone on their trip to Saudi Arabia, then you should apply for the Saudi companion visit visa. Only spouses and children under the age of 18 years are eligible for the Saudi companion visit visa. Among the requirements for this Saudi companion visa is proof of kinship and a letter from the principal traveler.

Saudi Arabia Newborn visa

To bring a newborn baby into Saudi Arabia, certain requirements should be met, including that the child is less than 12 months old, both parents have a valid Saudi work permit, or Iqama, and the mother of the child has a valid re-entry visa into Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Government visa

Visitors invited by a Saudi Arabian government institution, ministry, or department shall apply for the Saudi government visit visa. One of the requirements is an invitation letter from Saudi MOFA.

Saudi Arabia Diplomatic & official visas

Official and diplomatic visitors to Saudi Arabia should apply for the Saudi diplomatic & official visa through the Saudi Arabia embassy or representation office in their country.

Saudi Arabia Diplomatic missions and organizations

To visit a Saudi Arabia mission or organization, visitors should apply for the Saudi diplomatic missions & organizations visa through the Saudi Arabia embassy or representation office in their country. Among the requirements is an invitation letter by the Saudi host, authorized by the Saudi MOFA.

Saudi extension of exit/re-entry visa

Foreign employees and their dependents wishing to travel to and from Saudi Arabia for a specific time period should apply for a Saudi extension of exit/re-entry visa. Certain requirements should be met, including passport and Saudi work permit (Iqama) validity status.

Saudi Arabia Hajj visa

All Muslims wishing to visit Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage purposes are required to apply for the Saudi Hajj visa, except GCC nationals, who can enter Saudi Arabia visa-free during Hajj, but are still required to apply for the Hajj permit.

Saudi Arabia Umrah visa

Muslims wishing to visit Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage purposes should apply for the Saudi Umrah visa, except during the Hajj season, which requires pilgrims to apply for the Saudi Hajj visa. Please note that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah allows holders of all types of visas and those coming for the purpose of tourism and visits to perform Umrah during their stay in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Transit visa

All foreign nationals are eligible to apply for the Saudi Transit Visa, allowing travelers to pass through Saudi Arabia for short stays of over 12 hours. Travelers in Saudi Arabia for less than 12 hours do not need a Saudi transit visa.

Saudi visa FAQ

The most popular Saudi visa is the Saudi tourist e-visa for short-term tourism purposes, including Umrah, except during Hajj. GCC residents and foreign nationals from 49 countries are eligible to apply online for the Saudi tourist e-Visa, which is issued electronically in just a matter of hours. The Saudi tourist visa is usually issued as a multiple entry visa valid for 1 year, allowing a maximum of 90 days each visit, non-extendable, although the Saudi tourist visa may be issued as a single-entry visa valid for 90 days, permitting a shorter 30-day stay.
Saudi visit visas are normally issued as a multiple entry visa valid for 1 year, allowing a maximum of 90 days each visit. Since all Saudi visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, your Saudi tourist visa may be issued as a single-entry visa valid for 90 days, permitting a shorter 30-day stay.

In order to become a Saudi resident, you must meet a set of Saudi Arabia entry requirements, as well as be sponsored through a local Saudi host for long-term activities in Saudi Arabia, such as employment and education. In an effort to attract talented and wealthy foreign nationals, Saudi Arabia now offers self-sponsored long-term and permanent residence visas for professionals wishing to live and invest in Saudi Arabia.