What is a Saudi Visa?

A KSA visa is a travel document that allows you to visit (or transit through) the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. You need a visa to legally enter the country, unless there are special agreements that enable you to enter without one.

There are numerous types of visas offered by KSA, all with different purposes and validity periods. For example:

  • Saudi Arabia eVisa an electronic tourist visa for citizens of eligible countries, and residents and visa holders of specific countries, that is valid for 1 year.
  • Tourist Visa a tourist visa for all other countries, offering a single entry valid for 3 months.
  • Family Visit Visa a visa for visiting immediate family members in KSA, valid for 30 days (single entry) or 90 days (multi-entry).
  • Transit Visa a visa for transiting through KSA if your layover exceeds 12 hours, or if you want to explore the country for a period of up to 96 hours.

This guide will take you through everything you need to know about each Saudi visa for GCC residents.

Do GCC Residents Need a ksa Visa?

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a union of various countries in the Persian Gulf that cooperate together for political, economic, and governmental benefits. Countries in the GCC include:

  • Bahrain
  • Kuwait
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)

One of the benefits of the GCC is easier travel between countries. So, whether you need a visa depends on whether you are a resident or a citizen.

GCC residents live in a GCC country but aren’t citizens, so they must apply for a Saudi visa for GCC residents to visit KSA.

GCC citizens have citizenship in a GCC country and can travel to KSA without a visa – just present your national ID or passport at the border.

Types of Saudi Visas for GCC Residents

If you reside in the GCC but aren’t a citizen of a GCC country, there are numerous visas you can apply for. Here are some of the most common.

Saudi Tourist Visa for GCC Residents

There are two types of tourist visas:

  • Electronic visa (known as the KSA eVisa)
  • Traditional tourist visa

GCC residents are eligible to apply for the electronic visa, meaning they can apply online rather than visiting a visa center or embassy. As a GCC resident, you can also apply for your first-degree family members (spouse, parents, and children) using your account after submitting your application.

Both tourist visas let you visit KSA for tourism, visiting family and friends, and attending events.

Hajj & Umrah Visa for GCC Residents

For Umrah, you can apply for either an eVisa for Umrah or the traditional Umrah visa. GCC residents wishing to perform Umrah can make reservations through the Nusuk platform, which provides permits for Umrah or Ziyarah.

Important information about Umrah for GCC residents:

  • You can perform Umrah with a regular tourist visa (except during the Hajj season).
  • All visitors entering the Kingdom on any type of visa can perform Umrah only after making a reservation through the Nusuk app.
  • The holy city of Makkah is reserved for Muslim visitors only.
  • Al Madinah is open to all tourists, with many historical and cultural sites around Madinah available to non-Muslim visitors.

For Hajj, you need to apply for the specific Hajj visa. This is only available during the Hajj season for Muslims wishing to visit KSA to perform the pilgrimage.

Key information about Hajj for GCC residents:

  • The Nusuk Hajj platform serves as a comprehensive gateway for pilgrims from 126 specified countries.
  • Age restrictions apply: pilgrims under the age of 12 are not accepted for Hajj for the 1446 AH – 2025 AD season.
  • Tourist visas cannot be used for Hajj; a specific Hajj visa through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is required.

Saudi Business Visit Visa for GCC Residents

The KSA business visit visa allows GCC residents to travel to KSA for commercial and business-related purposes such as meetings, conferences, partnerships, and business events. The business visit must not be linked to a permanent employment contract within KSA.

The business visit visa is available as a single-entry visa (valid for 90 days with a maximum stay of 90 days) or a multiple-entry visa (valid for 1 year with a maximum stay of 90 days per visit).

Requirements for GCC residents:

  • An invitation letter proving your relationship with the inviting KSA company and explaining the business purpose (if you don’t have an invitation letter, you must provide information about your business in your application)
  • Minimum age requirement of 18 years
  • Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the departure to KSA

As well as attending business meetings, you can move between KSA cities, perform Umrah, and participate in tourism while in Saudi Arabia on this visa.

Saudi Work Visa for GCC Residents

If you are a GCC resident and want to work in KSA, you have three visa options:

  • Seasonal Work Visa Provided to workers hired for temporary positions that correspond to specific seasons or events in Saudi Arabia, such as agricultural harvests or tourism seasons. These visas are limited to the relevant seasonal periods.
  • Temporary Work Visa Granted to workers who have short-term employment contracts in Saudi Arabia, enabling them to work in the country for a specified duration.
  • Permanent Work Visa Granted to workers who have secured long-term employment contracts in Saudi Arabia.

Remember that a tourist visa cannot be used for employment purposes in Saudi Arabia. If you are traveling to KSA for paid work, you need one of these work visas.

Of all these visas, the electronic KSA tourist visa for GCC residents is the most popular. Let’s take a closer look at what it entails.

Saudi Transit Visa for GCC Residents

If you are traveling through Saudi Arabia, and you’ll be in the country for more than 12 hours or pass through border control, you will need a transit visa. There are three types:

  • Land Transit Visa For travelers crossing Saudi land borders to reach a neighboring country.
  • Air Transit Visa For travelers passing through Saudi airports during a layover, allowing a brief stay in the country.
  • Sea Transit Visa For travelers arriving by sea, permitting temporary disembarkation at Saudi ports.

Important information about the KSA transit visas:

  • Transit visas are single-entry only.
  • Valid for three months from issue date, allowing stays of up to 96 hours (4 days).
  • Applications can be submitted up to 90 days before travel.
  • GCC residents can obtain transit visas in advance through the Saudi embassy or electronically when booking flights through SAUDIA or Flynas.

When a transit visa is required:

  • If you plan to exit the transit area and pass through immigration.
  • If you have two separate bookings requiring you to pass through immigration to check in for your next flight.

A transit visa is NOT required if you have one booking that doesn’t require passing through immigration.

While in Saudi Arabia for transit, this visa allows you to perform Umrah (if you schedule appointments via the Nusuk platform for visiting Makkah or Madinah), visit the Prophet’s Mosque, explore UNESCO heritage sites, and attend sports and entertainment events. You can even drive in Saudi Arabia while you transit if you have an approved international driver’s license!

Saudi Tourist eVisa for GCC Residents

The KSA eVisa for GCC residents is an electronic visa – you apply for it online for permission to travel to Saudi Arabia. You can use the visa for tourism, leisure, visiting family and friends, or performing Umrah.

This electronic visa was launched in September 2019 to make applying for a visa simpler for travelers. It has been gradually expanded to include citizens of different countries around the world. GCC residents have been eligible to apply since September 2022.

Compared to the traditional tourist visa, applying for the KSA visa online has several benefits:

  • Less Paperwork The eVisa is a digital document, so you don’t need to fill in any forms or send your passport in the mail.
  • No Meetings You don’t need to visit an embassy or visa center to complete the application.
  • Fast Processing applying via an embassy can take weeks, while most eVisa applications are processed within 3 days.

Are GCC Residents Eligible for the KSA eVisa?

To get the Saudi eVisa for GCC residents, you must meet the eligibility requirements. Everyone traveling to KSA must meet these requirements. For travelers under 18 years old, a parent or guardian should apply on their behalf.

The eligibility requirements include:

  • GCC Residency You need a valid residence permit for at least three months in a GCC country.
  • Eligible NationalityEven if you are a resident of the GCC, some nationalities must apply through a visa center or embassy. This currently applies to citizens of Chad, Ethiopia, Iran, Libya, Palestine, and Syria.
  • PassportYou need a passport that’s valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure to Saudi Arabia and has 2 blank pages.
  • DocumentsComplete the form online with the required details, include a picture of your passport, and provide details of where you’ll be staying.

Remember that GCC citizens won’t need the eVisa to visit KSA as they can enter visa-free.

Saudi eVisa Validity

The Saudi eVisa for GCC residents is either a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa.

Single entry is valid for 90 days, and you can stay in the country for the full 90 days it is valid for.

Multiple entry is valid for 1 year, but you can only stay in the country for 90 days per stay. You can enter the country multiple times while the eVisa is valid.

Both eVisas are valid for tourism, visiting friends and family, attending events, and performing Umrah.

What Documents Are Required for the KSA eVisa?

Getting the Saudi visa online for GCC residents requires submitting certain documents.

Passport

You need a passport that’s valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of your arrival, ideally with 2 blank pages available.

Photo

Take a photo of your face with a neutral expression on a white background to verify your identity.

Proof of Residency

As a GCC resident, you must provide proof of a 3+ month residency permit.

Address in KSA

Provide the address of where you’ll be staying in KSA (e.g., hotel address or family home address).

Additional: Bank Statement and Return Tickets

You may be asked to show your return tickets when you arrive in KSA or provide bank statements proving you can afford your stay in the country.

How to Apply for a KSA Visa as a GCC Resident

Applying for the Saudi Arabia visa for GCC residents is now straightforward thanks to the eVisa service. If one of the applicants is under 18 years old, an adult will need to apply for them. You can apply for just yourself or for an entire group.

01

Get Ready

Make sure you have all the documents listed above and have taken a recent photograph.

02

Fill in the Form

Complete the form online, double-checking that you’ve completed it correctly.

03

Upload Documents

Upload a photo of your passport and a recent passport-style photo of yourself that follows the guidelines on the application page.

04

Submit the Application and Pay the Fees

Double-check everything to make sure everything is correct, and submit your application to be prompted to pay. Use a valid payment method, such as a debit or credit card, to pay the visa fee.

05

Wait for a Response

You can monitor the application progress online and will receive confirmation of your eVisa approval via email.

KSA eVisa Processing Time

Getting the electronic Saudi visit visa for GCC residents is a quick process. While most applicants receive a response within 24 to 48 hours,  some applicants may receive a response within just a few minutes.

In some cases, it can take up to 3 business days when the service is in high demand or delayed by a public holiday.

KSA eVisa Extension

If you want to visit KSA repeatedly for short visits, it’s best to apply for the Saudi multiple-entry visa if it’s available for your nationality.

Unfortunately, you cannot extend either the single-entry or multiple-entry visa. If you hit the 90-day limit of the multiple-entry visa, you must leave the country and reenter. If iou hit the 90-day limit of the single-entry visa, you must also leave the country. However, you cannot reenter after leaving. You can then reapply for a new eVisa or another type of visa, depending on the purpose of your visit.

Saudi Arabia Entry Requirements and Rules for GCC Residents

To enter Saudi Arabia using the KSA visa, you need to meet these requirements and follow these rules:

  • Have a valid eVisa.
  • Have a valid 3+ month residency permit for a GCC country.
  • Have a passport valid for 6+ months.
  • Be traveling for tourism, leisure, visiting friends and family, or Umrah.
  • Stay for no longer than 90 days for a single-entry visa.
  • Stay for no longer than 90 days per stay over 1 year for a multiple-entry visa.

There are currently no rules or restrictions on certain professions, but this could change. Check the latest requirements and rules before your trip to KSA.

Traveling to KSA

KSA is a vivid country to visit, blending amazing historical sites with urban developments and dramatic natural landscapes. From the Red Sea coastline to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, there is much to see and do.

When you are in KSA, keep these rules in mind:

  • Keep your documents with you at all times, including your passport and travel health insurance, if you have it.
  • Follow the dress code, which may be more modest than you are accustomed to.
  • Avoid public displays of affection as these are frowned upon.
  • Respect local laws and customs, especially around religious sites.
  • Get an International Driving Permit if you intend to drive in KSA.

Happy travels!

FAQs

The eVisa fee is typically around 195 USD when you use our service to make applying for the visa easy and stress-free. As for other visa types, the price depends on the visa type and your nationality. Visa fees are nonrefundable, regardless of whether your application is approved or denied.

Yes, Qatar residents need a visa for KSA, unless they are a GCC country citizen. You can apply for the eVisa online or the KSA visit visa at an embassy, depending on your country of citizenship.

For residents, the cost of an electronic Saudi visa from GCC countries is 195 USD through our service. However, if you are a citizen of a GCC country, you do not need to apply for a visa.

Most GCC residents need to apply for a visa before they travel. Only nationals from the US, UK, EU/Schengen states, and a few other countries can apply for a visa upon arrival. Also, most visa holders and residents in the US, the UK, and any Schengen country can get a visa on arrival.

To travel to KSA for Umrah, you can use the KSA eVisa. This costs 195 USD through our service or 395 Saudi riyals if applying directly.

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