Planning on travelling to Saudi Arabia? You may need a visa!
The type of visa you will need will depend on the purpose of your visit.
Two common reasons why you may visit Saudi Arabia are for tourism or business purposes.
It’s important that when you apply for a visa, you apply for the right one for your circumstances.
In this article, we’re going to help you:
Distinguish between the Saudi Arabia Tourist Visa and the Saudi Business Visa
Highlight why it’s important that you apply for the right visa for your circumstances
How you can apply for these visas
Do I need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Whether or not you need a visa for Saudi Arabia largely depends on where you are from.
There are visa-exempt countries and if you’re from one of these, you may not need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia.
For example, if you’re from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, you do not need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia for tourist or business purposes.
However, if you’re not from one of these countries, you’ll likely be required to obtain a visa before your travels.
What is the difference between the Saudi Arabia Business Visa & Saudi Arabia eVisa?
The Saudi Arabian Business Visa and eVisa have different purposes.
The business visa is used for business trips like meetings and conferences.
Whereas, the Saudi Arabian eVisa is an electronic visa that you can apply for online and is used for tourism purposes like exploring the country or visiting family and friends.
Apply for Saudi Arabia Business Visa
Another main difference between the two is the application process.
The Saudi Arabian Business Visa typically involves a more traditional application process where you have to submit paper documents to the Saudi Arabian Embassy in your country of residence.
On the other hand, the Saudi eVisa is generally faster and more convenient than the traditional visa application process.
How do I know which type of visa to apply for?
To know which visa type you should apply for, you’ll need to consider whether or not you are eligible depending on the country you are from and also why you want to travel to Saudi Arabia.
If you’re planning to travel for business-related activities such as meetings, conferences, or negotiations, a Business Visa for Saudi Arabia might be more appropriate.
However, if you simply want to visit or see friends or family, the eVisa might be a suitable Tourist Visa for Saudi Arabia.
Make sure that before you apply for either of these visas, you check whether or not you are eligible
Read:
New Saudi Arabia Holiday Visa is a Game-Changer for Local Tourism
Why is it important to travel with the appropriate visa?
When you apply for a visa, it’s always important that you apply for the appropriate type of visa, even more so for a country like Saudi Arabia, where regulations around visas are strict.
One of the main reasons you should make sure you apply for the correct visa type is for legal compliance.
Otherwise, you may face legal consequences like fines, deportation, or even being barred from entering the country in the future.
What are the requirements for the Saudi Arabia eVisa and Business Visa?
The application requirements slightly differ depending on whether you are applying for the Saudi Arabia eVisa or Business Visa.
The Saudi eVisa requirements are as follows:
Passport from an eligible country with two blank pages, valid for at least six months from the date you arrive
A photo in colour
An up-to-date email address
Filled out application form
The requirements for the Saudi Arabia Business visa are:
Passport valid for a minimum of six months from the entry date with two blank pages
Digital invitation letter issued by a Saudi company
Employment verification letter from your employer
Completed application form
2 photos in colour
Who is eligible?
Anyone can be eligible for the paper Saudi Arabia Business Visa as long as you meet the business visa criteria.
Apply for a Business Visa Saudi Arabia with Visa First!
To be eligible for the Saudi Arabian eVisa, you must be from one of the following countries:
To be eligible for the Saudi Arabian eVisa, you must be from one of the following countries:
Albania
France
Malta
Singapore
Algeria
Georgia
Maurice
Slovakia
Andorra
Germany
Monaco
Slovenia
Australia
Greece
Montenegro
South Africa
Austria
Hungary
Morocco
South Korea
Azerbaijan
Iceland
Netherlands
Spain
Belgium
Ireland
New Zealand
Sweden
Brunei
Italy
Norway
Switzerland
Bulgaria
Japan
Panama
Tajikistan
Canada
Kazakhstan
Poland
Thailand
China
Kyrgyzstan
Portugal
Turkey
Croatia
Latvia
Romania
Ukraine
Cyprus
Liechtenstein
Russia
United Kingdom
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Saint Kitts and Nevis
USA
Denmark
Luxembourg
San Marino
Uzbekistan
Estonia
Malaysia
Seychelles
Singapore
Finland
Maldives
Apply for a Saudi Arabia Visa online with Visa First today!
How long is the processing time for these visas?
The processing time may vary depending on whether you are applying for the business or eVisa.
After completing your application and providing the necessary documents, the Saudi Arabia Business Visa processing time can take around a week, once documents are submitted to the Embassy, to be processed.
Whereas, the Saudi Arabia eVisa processing time can take 24-48 hours.
It’s always advisable that you apply for your visa well in advance of your trip in case any delays arise.
Read also:
Here Is What You Should Know About Your Saudi Arabia Business Visa
What are the Saudi Arabia Visa prices?
When applying with Visa First, the Saudi Arabia eVisa cost starts from €255.
Then the Saudi Arabian Business Visa cost starts from €550.
How to apply for a Saudi Arabia visa with Visa First
If you’re looking for Saudi Arabia Visa services, Visa First is here to support you!
To apply with Visa First, you will first need to create your online account.
Once you’re logged in, the process is as follows:
Add your details to our eligibility checker
You will then see the visa you are eligible for, click on that and start the application process
Fill out the application
Pay the required fees
Upload any requested documents
You will then hear from us on what the next steps are to check the status of your application, simply click on ‘Applications in Progress.’
Why apply with Visa First?
We’ve been applying for visas for customers worldwide for over 20 years
Our service is fast and reliable
A dedicated agent will guide you through the process
Apply for your visa with Visa First today!
The post Understanding Saudi Arabia Business Vs. Tourist Visa appeared first on Welcome to the official Visa First blog!.
