Are you thinking of traveling to Saudi Arabia in the future? But you are not sure what type of visa you may need or better yet how to apply for a Saudi visa. This article will examine the different types of Saudi visas and the complexities associated with applying for each. Hopefully, by completing the article, the Saudi visa process will be demystified.
First of all, there is no tourist visa for Saudi Arabia. Let me say this again, there are no tourist visas for any visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Many people would like to visit the Kingdom as a tourist, but currently this cannot happen.
The most common visa obtained from Saudi Arabia is a business visa. This entitles the person to travel to Saudi Arabia to consult and conduct business on behalf of his company. Generally, the client in Saudi Arabia, also known as the host, will meet with the client to discuss joint business ventures. This is a relatively simple and straightforward visa to apply for. The host in Saudi Arabia will ask the client for a scan of her passport and then proceed to request a letter of invitation. This is accomplished by submitting the scan to the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once the Ministry has approved the invitation, it will revert to the host company. They, in turn, will stamp the invitation with their company stamp. Once all these steps have been completed, the invitation letter will be made available to the client. The client will then need to contact a registered agent to facilitate the visa stamping at the Embassy.
Instead of a business visa, your host company in Saudi Arabia may offer you a visiting work visa. Basically, this is the same as a business visa, but instead of simply meeting with your host contact in Saudi Arabia, you will perform special tasks while in the country. Your direct employer will still pay you and you will not receive any compensation directly from the Saudi host.
A government visa will be issued to those who meet directly with Saudi Arabian government employees. This is a free visa and the invitation letter will state that you are authorized for a government visa. This visa is arranged in the same way as a business visa.
A family visit visa is a visa that allows a person to travel to Saudi Arabia to see as you can imagine a family member! It can be a wife, husband, brother, sister, cousin, aunt, uncle, or anyone related to you, as long as you can prove the relationship. This can be established through a marriage decree, birth certificate, family tree or any other official document. Once the family chain is established, a family visit will be granted. The family member in Saudi Arabia will need to appear in person at the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They will provide a copy of the guest’s passport and request a family invitation. The family member who requested the invitation letter will now become the sponsor of the intended guest. A family invitation will be provided and this in turn will be sent to the guest. They will have to show this at the Embassy in order to apply for the visa. Generally, a family visa will be a single entry visa, valid for 30 days. If you intend to stay longer than 30 days, it is imperative that you inform your host of the length of stay you require.
A residence visa will be needed if you intend to live or move to Saudi Arabia. This is probably one of the less common visas as not many people are invited to live in Saudi Arabia for an extended period. This is a special invitation that will come from the Ministry of the Interior and is usually associated with work or those moving to be with those who work in Saudi Arabia. Many call the invitation the long yellow shape, as it will always be yellow and is twice as long as a regular sheet of paper. This invitation will allow the person to travel to Saudi Arabia and once they enter immigration gate E, they will be issued an Iqama card. This card serves as your identification in Saudi Arabia and shows that you are a valid resident. It is recommended that you carry this card with you at all times.
By far the most difficult and complicated visa for Saudi Arabia is a work visa. This visa is presented to those who have been offered an employment contract with a Saudi company. This is completely different to a business visa, as a work visa means you will be paid directly by a Saudi company. Obtaining a work visa is a very long process and will start when a person has an interview with a Saudi recruitment company, which will then forward their resume to a Saudi company. If the company considers that the candidate is suitable for its needs, it will provide an employment contract. Once the employment contract has been accepted, the company in Saudi Arabia will provide the candidate with a visa block invitation letter, which will have the job title, the type of passport held and the corresponding visa number. Once the invitation letter has been received, the candidate will need to complete the rest of the steps to apply for a Saudi visa. This will include a full medical exam, a police report, gathering any necessary certifications/degrees, and many other relevant documents.
You may be offered a temporary work visa instead of a real work visa. This is very similar to a work visa, but your contract is limited and will usually expire in 3-6 months. A temporary work visa will require a letter of invitation from Saudi Arabia authorizing you for this visa. Once the contract has expired, you will return to your host country.
Saudi Arabia offers two types of religious visas. Hajj and Umrah visas are available at their respective times throughout the year. There is no invitation associated with this type of visa, but only those who adhere to the Muslim faith can apply. In certain cases, the Consulate may request to see a copy of your Islamic decree from your local mosque. These visas can be obtained alone or with an all-inclusive package, which will have hotels, plane tickets, and transportation.
There are many types of visa categories for Saudi Arabia and it is important to check with your host to ensure all your demands are met. Likewise, it is important to work with a registered Embassy visa agent and ensure that the agent understands the visa process.