When we talk of places of opportunities, one name emerges high in terms of professionalism, international trade and quality of life is Saudi Arabia. It is world’s 3rd largest oil producer, leading oil exporter, controlling world’s second largest oil reserves and sixth largest gas reserves. Categorized as World Bank High Income Economy, Saudi Arabia is the only Arab country among G20 major economies. With world’s third largest immigrant population, Saudi Arabia offers free universal healthcare, no personal income tax and tuition-free university education. Obviously a large number of business professionals visit the country from all over the world. It therefore becomes essential for obtaining a business visa for Saudi Arabia.
Let’s Explore the process of getting a business visa for Saudi Arabia
Step 1: Complete the visa application form online at the Saudi MOFA portal.
Step 2: Pay the visa fees online using a valid credit or debit card.
Step 3: Print and sign the application form, and attach your passport-sized photos.
Step 4: Gather the required documents
- A) Valid passport with at least six months of validity
- B) Proof of travel arrangements, such as flight tickets
- C) Hotel reservation confirmation
- D) Financial documents to cover expenses during your stay
- E) Travel insurance
F) Health insurance recognized by the country or purchased from Saudi Arabia - G) Letter of invitation from the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry
- H) Chamber of Commerce recommendation letter for a business visa
- I) Copy of Iqama of the sponsor
- J) Passport copy of the sponsor
Step 5: Submit the application and required documents to the nearest Saudi Arabia embassy or representation office abroad.
Step 6: Receive your approved visa.
Duration:
It could take two to seven working days on average. To account for any possible delays or extra requirements, the visitors are advised that they apply at least a few weeks before the date they plan to travel. Yes, those who are interested can apply online for a Saudi Arabian visa.
Visa Fees:
Depending on the visitor’s country of citizenship, the Saudi Arabia e-visa charge can range from 340 Saudi Riyal (about 90.50 USD) to 494 Saudi Riyal (about 131 USD). It usually takes less than two business days to submit an online Saudi Arabia visa application.
Visitors only need to complete the Saudi e-Visa application, enter their passport information, and pay the Saudi visa application fees to complete the easy online process. The Saudi eVisa will be sent straight to the visitor’s email address supplied upon approval.
Saudi e-Visas are typically processed and issued in a day. Depending on the circumstances, Saudi “sticker” visas often take one to two business days to process.
Visa on arrival: If any of the following circumstances hold true, travellers can apply for a visa on arrival* at one of Saudi Arabia’s entrance points: The travellers hailing from one of the nations listed as suitable. The traveller has a Schengen, United States, or United Kingdom visa.
The electronic visa, often known as an e-visa, allows for double entry into India and has a shorter validity period (60 days from the date of admission). Only tourism (e-Tourist Visa), business (e-Business Visa), and medical treatment (e-Medical Visa) may be granted using an electronic visa. With the exception of Hajj, the most often used Saudi visa is the Saudi tourist e-visa for short-term travel, including Umrah. The Saudi tourist e-Visa is granted electronically in a matter of hours and is available to GCC residents and foreign nationals from 65 countries.
Checking the status of Saudi Arabia Visa
Saudi Arabia has simplified the visa application procedure by creating a cutting-edge website specifically for it. This quick, easy, and effective procedure allows visitors to verify the status of their Saudi Arabia visa online. For a seamless Saudi Arabia visa status check, travellers should have the following documents on hand before checking.
1) Visa Application number: This unique number is assigned to the visitor when the visa application form is submitted.
2) Visa document number: Utilise the document number provided during the visa processing.
3) Passport information: The visitor may be required to fill in the passport details and application reference number for tracking Saudi Arabia visa application status.
After gathering all the required details, the visitors can proceed with the following steps to check their Saudi Arabia visa application status.
Stage 1: The visitors need to visit the website of Saudi Arabia visa department and select ‘Check Visa Status’ tab.
Stage 2: The visitors can fill the form with their information including visa application number and passport number.
Stage 3: On completing the Captcha verification, the visitors can submit their visa enquiry and proceed to track the Saudi Arabia visa application status.
Stage 4: On processing the request, the website will display the visa status.
Visa Approval: Those visitors whose visa is approved by the Saudi Arabia authorities, visitors can also access the details including visa type, validity, etc.
The Saudi Arabia Visa Advantages
Foreign nationals can enter and remain in Saudi Arabia for a number of purposes, such as travel, commerce, employment, or education, with a Saudi Arabia visa.Obtaining a Saudi Arabian visa has several benefits, including
- A) Smooth entry: A Saudi Arabian visa makes it simple to enter the nation.
- B) Open Movement: For a predetermined amount of days, a visa permits unrestricted travel and free movement.
- C) Adaptability: A work visa allows for speed and flexibility, which is advantageous to both companies and employees.
- D) Identifying the Environment: Before agreeing to a longer-term contract, workers can test the waters of working in the nation with a work visa.
- E) Saudi Premium Residency: This program, which is often referred to as the “Saudi Green Card” or the “Saudi Golden Visa,” provides numerous advantages for investors, business owners, bright people, and professionals.
