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Updated February 2025
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What are Saudi Arabia’s 1-year visas?
Whether you’re planning to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to work or study, there are various visa options depending on the purpose and duration of your stay. The following visas have 1-year validity for the convenience of foreigners wishing to enter Saudi Arabia.
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Saudi work visa
A work visa for Saudi Arabia is an essential document for foreign nationals who want to work in the country. The sponsoring employer or company is responsible for obtaining the work visa for their employees. The sponsor may be a Saudi corporation, an individual, or a foreign organization with the necessary permits to conduct business in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi work visa is typically valid for one year from the date of issuance, and it allows foreign nationals to work in the country for up to six months during that one-year period without having to apply for a residence permit.
Requirements
To work in Saudi Arabia, you must be physically fit, adhere to the age limit of between 18 and 60 years old, and have the necessary credentials or fall into a required employment category. The age limit is strictly enforced, so make sure you fall within the specified range. Additionally, meeting the age limit is crucial along with fulfilling other employment requirements.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia has commenced administering a skill verification exam before approving employment visas in India. Referred to as the Skill Verification Program (SVP) test, it is obligatory for specific job categories in the initial phase, with plans for gradual implementation across all other professions. Individuals applying for the professions listed below will be required to take this mandatory test.
A total of 19 professions will have to take the test, which includes electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, black smiths and so on. After obtaining their professional verification certificate, individuals are allowed to continue in their current employment and can either renew their existing visa or apply for a new work visa when they are searching for new job opportunities.
Additionally, employees will require a sponsor in Saudi Arabia in order to secure a visa. The majority of the application procedure is handled by the sponsoring employer. However, the prospective employee is still required to submit all necessary documentation detailed below:
- A passport that will be valid for the duration of employment
- A passport-sized photograph in color
- A completed visa application
- Three copies of a signed medical report
- A letter of employment from the sponsoring company in Saudi Arabia, which must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Chamber of Commerce
- A signed copy of the employment contract
- A certified copy of the applicant’s university diploma, which must be validated by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission
- A police report.
For more information, please visit our dedicated article below:
Saudi tourist visa (e-visa)
The Saudi tourist visa, also known as the Saudi e-visa, is an entry authorization document that permits foreign nationals to enter Saudi Arabia for non-essential and non-religious purposes. It is valid for one year and allows for multiple entries, with a maximum stay of 90 days per visit. The Saudi tourist visa covers various tourism-related activities, but does not permit studying or participation in the Hajj season. Additionally, Umrah pilgrims can perform Umrah with a tourist visa.
Requirements
The following guidelines apply to the Saudi tourist visa:
- The minimum age requirement for applicants is 18 years old
- Underaged applicants must have an individual above 18 years old acting as their guardian
- When applying, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entering Saudi Arabia. For US citizens, an extended validity of 6 months after the passport expiry date is acceptable for the application
Additional information regarding the visa:
- Refunds are not possible in case of rejection, as visa fees are non-refundable
- Overstay fees amount to SAR 100 per day when the visa expires without leaving Saudi Arabia
To obtain a Saudi tourist visa, all applicants must possess a passport with a validity of at least 6 months at the time of entering Saudi Arabia. The following documents are not required for obtaining this visa:
- Return ticket
- Booking accommodation (only the address is required)
- A hard copy of the visa, although it is advisable to have a soft copy available
The e-visa issuance typically takes 5-30 minutes in most cases. Prior to boarding flights to Saudi Arabia, airlines conduct visa eligibility pre-checks for all passengers.
To be eligible to apply for the Saudi eVisa, GCC residents must meet the following conditions:
- The residency document must be valid for three (3) months
- The passport must be valid for at least six (6) months
- A parent application is mandatory for children under the age of 18
For more information, please visit our dedicated article below:
Saudi business visa
You will need a Saudi business visa if you are visiting Saudi Arabia for business purposes, such as attending meetings, conferences, or other events. The business visa can be issued as either a single or multiple-entry visa, with different validity periods and stay duration depending on the visa type.
For a single-entry business visa, the maximum validity period is three months, and the maximum duration of stay is thirty days. On the other hand, a multiple-entry business visa allows for more extended stays and can be issued for 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, or 5 years. The maximum stay per trip with a multiple-entry visa is 90 days.
Requirements
- Original passport valid for no less than six (6) months, with at least two (2) successive empty visa pages. It must be a passport with a chip, also called a biometric
- Letter of Invitation. It must be issued by Saudi MOFA and addressed to the Saudi consulate you planning to apply through
- A letter from your employer confirming your employment and upcoming trip
- Two recent colour photographs were taken against a white background and printed on high-quality photo paper
- A copy of Saudi ID card/copy of Iqama for foreigners
- Copies of degrees/certs
- Curriculum Vitae (CV), i.e. resume.
For more information, please visit our dedicated article below:
Saudi personal visit visa
The Saudi personal visit visa is a visa issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to allow foreign nationals to enter the country via an invitation from their Saudi friends or acquaintances. The Saudi personal visit visa will be valid for 90 or 365 days from issuance, with a stay length of up to 90 days on single or multiple entries.
Saudi Arabia has replaced the one-year multiple-entry visit visa with a single-entry visa for 14 countries, including Pakistan, effective February 2025. The new visa is valid for 30 days and aims to prevent unauthorized Hajj travel. Visitors must apply through designated visa centers, while the multiple-entry visa remains available for other travelers.
Saudi personal visit visa holders can also perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Pilgrims can apply through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website.
Other than that, the Saudi personal visit visa holders may:
- freely visit the country
- travel across the Kingdom
- visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and other religious sites
- perform Umrah
- take part in cultural events
For more information, visit our dedicated article below:
Saudi student visa
A student visa is a requirement for foreign students who wish to study in Saudi Arabia. The visa is an endorsement by the immigration authorities on your passport that allows you to enter the country, reside, and study for a specified period.
To apply for a student visa, you must first confirm your enrollment in a recognized school or university in Saudi Arabia. Once you have obtained a letter of acceptance from the institution, you can apply for the student visa through the Saudi Arabian embassy or consulate in your home country.
Requirements
International students need a student visa to enter the Kingdom and study. Saudi student visa requirements include the following:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months and contains at least two consecutive empty visa pages.
- Visa referral note indicating the number and expiration date of the visa. This must be issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs or one of its branches in Dammam or Jeddah.
- Copy of the applicant’s original birth certificate
- High school diploma, or other academic credentials
- Police report issued within six (6) months of the application date, containing detailed information about the applicant’s criminal record, if any.
- Three passport-sized coloured photographs that have a white background.
- Medical report in three copies and all lab results. A licensed physician must issue a medical report certifying that the applicant does not have any contagious diseases. The physician must have signed all the copies of the medical report, which must include their license number and address.
Medical reports must be at most 3 months old from their issue date. Applicants under 16 years are exempt from submitting a medical report.
You may also require health insurance to travel to Saudi Arabia. Ensure that the insurance you choose meets all the requirements for your visa and that you get the coverage that will carry you through your time in Saudi Arabia.
For more information, please visit our dedicated article below:
