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.
