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How to Apply for a Saudi e-Visa if you Live in Kuwait

Last week Saudi Arabia announced that any GCC resident can now apply for an tourism eVisa as long as you meet some basic requirements. I got in touch with their eVisa team for more information and here is everything you need to know.

To apply for an E-Visa you need to do it through the following website: ⁦‪visa.mofa.gov.sa/Account/Loginindividuals

Once you visit that link click on the letter “E” on the top left to go to the English page. Then on the right column under “Login Of Individual Visitors To Saudi Arabia” click on Register to create an account.

After creating an account log in and then click on “Add A New Application” on the right side. Click Agree a couple of time and you’ll eventually reach the Visa application form. Make sure for “Visa Type” you select Tourism and then under “Saudi Mission in” you select “Kuwait”.

Other than that it should be fairly simple. There are some requirements which are:

  • Your residency visa has to be valid of at least 3 months
  • Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months
  • Resident’s occupation should be among the eligible occupations listed on the portal (more on that below)
  • For those under the age of 18, one of the parents must apply first and must be present with them
  • First-degree relatives (Parents, husband, wife, and children) can get the visa online, as long as they are coming together with the one holding the residency

‎Regarding the resident’s occupation, it’s too long a list to share but everything I thought of seems to be listed including salesman, waiter or call center operator. So it’s not just managerial positions. The only occupation I couldn’t find was “Driver” but even that might possibly be listed under a different name.

Here are some visa details they also shared with me:

  • Cost is 300SAR along with health insurance fees
  • Multiple or single entry, this is not an option for the applicant, authorities (MOFA) will decide on a case by case basis
  • Validity of 1 year for the multiple entries, and 3 months for the single entry
  • Length of stay is 90 days for the multiple entry, and 30 days for the single entry
  • The new regulation took effect from the 1st of September 2022
  • You will receive the visa within 48 hours at the registered email
  • You can use the tourist visa to perform Umrah, but not during the Hajj season

This visa is also valid for land, port or air entry.

Finally, they also shared the below requirements for entering Saudi as a tourist:

  • The tourist visa includes medical insurance covering infection with the Coronavirus
  • If you are going to drive, you must hold a valid international driving license or a license issued from a GCC country, and the car must have insurance. Insurance can be done at the border on the Saudi side. For more information on traveling by car check out my previous guide here.

And that’s pretty much it. If you have any questions let me know in the comments and I’ll try to answer it.

96 replies on “How to Apply for a Saudi e-Visa if you Live in Kuwait”

Saudi tourism ministry is now pushing so aggressively to attract more visitors. Yesterday while I opened my LinkedIn profile an automated message box popped with text saying, ‘If you are in GCC you can apply for e-visa here”, with a link. That’s when I got into your previous Saudi road trip post and added a comment there. I’m glad that the door is now open to explore the land. Gearing up for a frequent desert drive plan all over GCC now 😀

I have profession DRIVER on my civil ID card. I didn’t see this profession in that list. Please tell me if it has any different name in list

Hey Mark,

I have a question My Cousin’s Profession is Driver can he get an E-Visa ? If any of you got an E-Visa on Driver Profession Please Guide me on this.

I mentioned in my post the only position I tried and couldn’t find listed was the driver position. So my guess is he can’t unless the position is listed under a different occupation name.

I am a Pakistani and I travelled this Thursday to Saudi Arabia to check how things work at the border. I applied for the visa and as soon as the payment was done i received the email with my visa attached. so u can get visa in less than 1minute after successful payment.
Border was a smooth transit, but as you know from all the dealings with ministerial staff, they can be sometimes not helpful and make you find offices for the transit work. but never the less v got the transit done for Kuwait and Saudi border combined in an hour. on our way back we cleared the border in like 15-20 minutes without any hurdle. But to mention the staff at the saudi border side asked us why we came soo early (which in my opinion is not his matter) and the guy accompanying him chatted with him that “why have they started this online visa thing” in a derogatory way. Other than this it was a smooth transit and its like getting a Schengen visa for GCC. just to mention you can get visa with kuwait mobile id and you can travel with that aswell.

That’s strange. I am an Indian and i travelled on Thursday morning at 4 am from nuwaiseeb. And it was such a pleasant experience. I went to jubail and then to Bahrain and returned back on saturday.

Me and my fiance applied for the tourist visa last week but up until now the status is still (send to embassy) I need to attend to a special event not recognized by the KSA embassy though and I have to leVe tomorrow. What do You think I should do?

Hello Sheri,

Thank you for the description. Really helpful!

Do we need to carry our passports or just the mobile ID is enough?

Thanks

HI.
can you please explain how to get visa by Kuwait mobile id or travel by it because I am having issue in my wife visa application as it shows send to embassy and I don’t where to solve the issue as both MOFA Saudi MOFA and Saudi Embassy in Kuwait seems to be helpless

I got the car insured at the border for 3 months period that is 400+15%VAT= 460 SAR
Visa fee = 115$ (if you get the cheapest insurance) roughly around 36Kd
No fee at the Border.

I applied on Tuesday and still no news, they send me the insurance that i bought but no visa and its showing application status : send to embassy.
Look like not all passport can get it. ( Iranian passport ) : {

Ok. i just got a reply from them

Application No.
Your application for the Saudi tourism e-visa has not been approved.

They need to change “any GCC resident / ALL GCC resident ” and make it clear that some passports cant get a visa and dont waste our and their time..

“iIranian passport”

I applied for 5 visas for my family and got 4 visas but one showing same issue. can any1 help how to resolve the issue

Just fill in your recent travels if any within past 5 years. Not every single travel info has to be provided. I think it’s mostly for them to evaluate your application.

While applying I entered the port of entry as Medina by Air. Will, there any be restrictions on me that I shall only travel by Air and enter only the City I entered during the application(like Europe)? Thanks

Because I bet he is still not eligible to get the visa or doesn’t have a car or drivers license to do a road trip.

I’ve applied and got rejected even though my application ticks all the boxes. I asked some booking offices and they said they’re rejecting Syrian passports. Is that true? They also stated other nationalities are not being accepted like Iranians.

If anything Kuwait is looking to make it harder than before. Heck, they’ve literally closed visit visas without an end in sight for no reason whatsoever. I can’t think of any other reason than simply wanting to be the world’s biggest a**holes

This is offensive to a**holes. They are creating a whole new identity. People who have been here for decades are rethinking their future in Kuwait.

God bless Kuwait and keep it safe.

Thanks Mark
I got my individual visa. Do I need to go through the same process for each of my 3 children and wife or is there a short cut?

Thanks for this. So what do I put as my wife’s profession when applying for her visa (she currently isn’t working and is on my sponsorship)?

I hold a US visa so I am eligible for a visa-on-arrival into the Kingdom, but turns out, visa-on-arrivals are only issued at the airports. So, if you’re planning to get on a road trip to the KSA and are planning to avail the VoA, then no, you’ll have to get the Saudi e-visa like the others.

If I am wrong, please let me know lol.

Your wrong. I met a guy with the exact situation.
U need a us visa along with atleast 1 entry into the us. You need to go to immigrations office before the passport control gate and you’ll get the visa on arrival there.

I hold US B1/B2 visa and also travelled to states once this year but effect 2022 US CBP don’t stamp passport with entry instead the records stored digitally through I-94. So million dollar question, will I be able to enter Saudi with this record

I have applied last week and within 3 hours i have received an email stating that my application is rejected which i don`t know why as i have met all the requirements.
I called the embassy and the guy said it`s not his business and they never reply on email.
again all the requirements are checked and those several payment were done yet i have received this mail however in the website itself the status shows “Send To Embassy”
Is there a way to follow up and know the reason and get it fixed?

You mention first-degree relative parent. Is it possible for me to apply for my mum? I would like to take her to Saudi Arabia before she leaves Kuwait for good.

Just to update for every drive enthusiasts, I applied and received visa within 2 minutes in my mail box.
Well, anyone planning a drive this month or next? drive to north west – Jordan, or south Bahrain or down south Oman.

I just drove to Bahrain last Thursday. It was a pleasant experience. Planning on doing a trip to Bahrain next month for a concert and then to dubai after

How to apply visa for under 18 children ? What is the exact method of filling the form ? I have already got my visa and now I want to apply for my daughter.

Hello Madhur and Waleed,
I applied for my daughter (12 yrs). I was concerned about the occupation, which I selected mine. after payments done I got the visa on my mail in a few minutes just like how I got.

I believe this should be okay.

Have you applied and received?

Hey Mark,

I got my visa as (a tourism visa)

Im trying to get my wife’s as well, the same way, but the process is failing..

Any idea, how can I apply for my wife and daughter?

Thanks

I received Multiple entry visit visa to Saudi from Kuwait. Can I enter Saudi from India using This Visa? Or should I go from Kuwait only? Also Can I exit Saudi to India directly? please explain. Thanks in advance

Hey Mark, about the 3 months residency, when is the 3 months counted? Is it while applying for the visa or during the intended travel date?

Quick Question.

My vehicle is not in my name. It is registered in my company’s name. If I want to drive into Saudi, if there any extra procedure I need to do ?

hi, is this insurance we are paying in the border can only for one time or can we use the same insurance next trip also?

We have a valid Saudi eVisa and traveled multiple times and still has a validity of 10 months. The passport got renewed due to some change and now we have a new passport and the old passport is canceled.
Can we travel on the eVisa with the new passport carrying the old passport as a reference? or do we need to apply for a new Saudi eVisa?
No information is available online and no option to change the passport number, we contacted customer service and they just replied that they only help with technical problems.
If anybody is in the same boat or has gone through this dilemma, please share your experience. Thanks.

I contacted visitsaudi call center by email and phone and I got a response that I need to carry the old passport with me whenever I wish to travel and the visa is still valid and no need to apply for a new visa. That’s some good news.

I GOT MY VISA , BUT HOW CAN I ADD VISA FOR MY WIFE AND KIDS, WHAT SHOULD BE THE OCCUPATION TO BE SELECTED FOR WIFE

Hi, whilst entering Saudi by road from Kuwait, what port of entry to be mentioned in evisa for Saudi ?

Hello,

Can anyone confirm that it is possible to drive through the Nuwaiseeb border to Saudi with an e-Visa? Previously, eVisas were only allowed to enter through airports from Kuwait.

Would like a confirmation from someone that has done a recent trip. (Non-Kuwaitis only)

Hi
i apply for vist visa online for my family and visa application rejected now whom i can approach and what can be done. I’m GCC residence holder..

my 1 year saudi visit visa was expiring on 10th of this month. so, i applied for new visit visa on 8th of this month and my new visa was approved and i immediately receieved my new visa in my email. with my new visa, i drove my car to saudi border (al-khafji). to my surprise, saudi immigration informed me that my new visa is still not updated in the system. they told me that i should have applied for new visa after the expiry of my old visa. since, i applied for new visa before the expiry of the old visa, saudi immigration informed that my new visa is still not updated in the system. they informed me that i should visit saudi embassy in kuwait in person to update my new visa. hence, i have to come back to kuwait. can anyone suggest me how to get my new visa updated in the system. should i visit saudi embassy, kuwait in person or can i call the embassy to update. anyone who has had such experience, please advise me

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