As more and more foreigners are considering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as their travel destination, most especially those with a family member in the country, the urge to obtain a Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa keeps rising.
Saudi Arabia is a Western Asian country well known for its source of Islam, as well as for its oil reserves, Arabian horses, sand desert, and oasis, which are the largest in the world. Even though the Saudi Family Visit Visa application process is relatively straightforward, there are still several things to consider before applying. You can apply for this visa to enter KSA to visit your spouse, parent(s), or child/ren. Holders of Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa can also attend the Umrah pilgrimage.
In this blog post, you will get to know everything involved in getting a family visit visa for KSA, including its exemptions, requirements, cost, turnaround time, and duration.
In this article
- Exemptions for Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa
- Who Needs to Apply for Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa?
- Applying for Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa Online
- Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa Requirements
- Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa Fee
- Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa Processing Time
- How to Get Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa
- Step 1: Assemble all the required documents and pay your visa fee
- Step 2: Fill in each blank field on Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa application form
- Step 3: Visit a Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate to submit the required documents
- Step 4: Await notification from the Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate
- Validity Period of Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Conclusion
Exemptions for Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa
The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allows visa-free entry of foreigners from a few countries, provided that each eligible traveler holds a valid identification card.
These countries include:-
- The United Arab Emirates
- Oman
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
Who Needs to Apply for Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa?
A family visit visa for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a visa that authorizes its holder to enter KSA to visit their family member. To qualify for Saudi Family Visit Visa, at least one of your family members must be a legal resident of KSA.
Without a doubt, citizens of certain countries can obtain Saudi Arabia eVisa for family visits.
Applying for Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa Online
With a valid travel document and an accessible email address, you may apply for a visa online to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for family visits.
To be eligible for Saudi Arabia eVisa, you must be at least 18 years old or should have an adult as your companion throughout the trip. You also have to be one of the two categories noted below.
#1. You must possess a valid UK visa, United States visa, or Schengen visa.
#2. In place of the above statement, you must hold a valid passport of any of the following countries.
- China, together with Macau and Hong Kong
- Iceland
- The United States of America
- San Marino
- Norway
- Hungary
- Denmark
- Malta
- Australia
- Luxembourg
- Ireland
- Switzerland
- Finland
- Canada
- Sweden
- France
- Germany
- Slovenia
- Japan
- Brunei
- Kazakhstan
- Croatia
- Malaysia
- Belgium
- Monaco
- Lithuania
- Cyprus
- South Korea
- The Netherlands
- Greece
- Andorra
- Portugal
- Russia
- Italy
- Montenegro
- Ukraine
- Singapore
- New Zealand
- Poland
- The United Kingdom
- Austria
- Liechtenstein
- Estonia
- The Czech Republic
- Spain
- Romania
- Latvia
- Bulgaria
- Slovakia
Suppose you do not fall under any of the two categories above. In that case, you can only apply for a family visit visa to KSA through the nearest Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate.
Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa Requirements
Below is a list of all documents needed during the application process for a family visit visa to Saudi.
- Your original travel document (passport), which should possess at least two leftover pages and is valid for the next six months at a minimum
- A filled-out Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa application form
- Proof of family ties between you and your host (a Saudi Arabian resident)
- Recently obtained proof of financial subsistence, such as your account statements
- Evidence of accommodation in KSA
- A round-trip ticket to KSA
- Your travel itinerary
- Proof of legal residence in your current country
- A notarized letter of consent in either English or Arabic language (required by minor applicants who seeks entry into KSA with one parent or by themselves)
Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa Fee
The cost of obtaining a family visit visa for KSA is 200 Saudi Riyals, equivalent to 53 United States Dollars. Of course, the same fee applies to foreigners of all nationalities regardless of applying for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.
Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa Processing Time
Most Saudi embassies and consulates overseas can process a family visit visa application between four to five working days. Undoubtedly, this denotes that applicants for Saudi Family Visit Visa can expect the diplomatic mission’s decision within one week of applying.
How to Get Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa
The following are four (4) steps to get a family visit visa for KSA.
- Assemble all the required documents and pay your visa fee
- Fill in each blank field on the application form
- Visit a Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate to submit the required documents
- Await notification from the Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate
Step 1: Assemble all the required documents and pay your visa fee
As the first step in getting a family visit visa for KSA, you must first gather all the required documents without exception. Then, ensure they are ready for submission to a Saudi Arabian diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate).
You also need to pay Saudi Family Visit Visa fee in full through the embassy or consulate’s preferred payment method.
Step 2: Fill in each blank field on Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa application form
Next, you are required to get the visa application form from the nearest Saudi Arabian diplomatic mission. You also must provide all the required information on the form without mistakes.
Step 3: Visit a Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate to submit the required documents
To submit the required documents, you must visit the embassy or consulate of KSA in your home country. Therefore, it is equally important to submit them only to a consular officer at the diplomatic mission.
Step 4: Await notification from the Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate
Finally, you can anticipate a notification from the Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate in your home country. This usually takes not more than five working days.
Once received, you can book a flight and depart for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Validity Period of Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa
A single-entry family visit visa for KSA has a validity period of 30 days, while a multiple-entry visa for a family visit to the Kingdom allows its holder to stay up to 90 days.
Besides, the multiple entries visa option creates possibilities for a maximum of four reentries into KSA using the same visa.
READ ALSO: Different Pathways to Immigrate to Canada from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Saudi Family Visit Visa open?
Of course, the KSA family visit visa is currently open to foreigners who want to visit any family members within the country. However, you will have to apply online (for an electronic visa) or through the Saudi embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
How can I get a family visit visa for Saudi Arabia?
You can get it electronically or in person when stamped on your original passport. However, this depends on how you applied for the KSA visa.
Is it easy to get Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa?
Yes, getting a family visit visa for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very easy. You can apply via the internet or at a Saudi Arabia embassy or consulate.
What are the documents required for Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa?
No matter how you intend to apply for a family visit visa to KSA, you must possess all of the documents listed below.
- A filled-out Visa application form for Family Visit to KSA
- Your original travel document or passport
- Proof of relationship between you and a legal resident of Saudi Arabia
- Evidence of accommodation in KSA
- A round-trip ticket to Saudi Arabia
- A travel itinerary
- Your recent account statements
- Evidence of legal residence in the country where you presently live
- A notarized consent letter (applicable to applicants below 18 years old)
How long is Saudi Family Visit Visa valid?
The validity period of a Saudi Family Visit Visa varies on whether you hold a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa. For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, A single-entry family visit visa is valid for up to 30 days, while a multiple-entry visa’s duration is 90 days.
How do I check my Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa application status?
To check your application status for Saudi Family Visit Visa, you can visit the KSA embassy or consulate in your home country, log on to its official website, or reach out to any consular officers.
How much does Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa cost?
To get a family visit visa for KSA through an embassy or consulate, you must pay an application fee of SAR 200, which is proportional to US$53.
Conclusion
Summarily, choosing a Saudi Family Visit Visa is the best option for foreigners who wish to visit and spend time with their families in KSA. This type of KSA visa allows for multiple entries and exits, which offers an opportunity for you to see your family member as you please without applying for a new visa.
Thanks for reading!