Saudi Arabia has continued its ambitious transformation under Vision 2030, with significant updates and refinements to its visa rules and procedures in 2025. These changes aim to attract more tourists, skilled workers, and pilgrims while maintaining strict control over immigration and labor market dynamics.
Here's a detailed breakdown of
Saudi Arabia's visa landscape for 2025:
I. Tourist Visas & E-Visa
System
The e-Visa remains the
cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's tourism strategy, offering convenience and
broader access.
1. Eligibility &
Application:
- Eligible Nationalities:
Citizens from 68 countries are eligible to apply for an e-Visa
online. This includes countries in the Schengen area, the US, UK, Canada,
Australia, Japan, and many others.
- GCC Residents: Residents
of GCC countries (UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait) can also apply for a
Saudi e-Visa online, provided they have a residency visa valid for at
least three months. Notably, the previous requirement for holding an
"eligible occupation" has been removed, making it easier for a
wider range of GCC residents to apply.
- Visa-on-Arrival:
Nationals from the 68 eligible countries can also obtain a visa-on-arrival
at Saudi ports of entry, though applying for an e-Visa online beforehand
is highly recommended to avoid queues and potential delays.
- Application Process:
- Visit the official Visit Saudi website
(visa.visitsaudi.com) or the Unified National Visa Platform
(ksavisa.sa).
- Complete the online application form with
personal data, passport details, and other requested information.
- Upload a recent passport-sized color
photo (2x2 inches, against a white background, natural facial expression,
80% face, no eyeglasses, no headwear except for religious reasons).
- Pay the visa fees online using a
credit/debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
- Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a
parent or legal guardian to apply without a parent or legal guardian.
- Processing Time:
Typically very fast, often within 24-72 hours. Urgent processing may be
available.
2. Visa Validity & Stay
Duration:
- Standard Tourist e-Visa:
Generally issued as a multiple-entry visa valid for one year,
allowing a maximum stay of 90 days per visit.
- Single-Entry Options:
In some cases, e-Visa applications are processed on an individual basis
and may be issued as a single-entry visa valid for 3 months, allowing a
1-month stay. The final decision on visa validity and entries rests with
Saudi authorities.
- Maximum Stay:
No traveler can stay in Saudi Arabia for more than 90 days within any
given period on a tourist visa.
- No Extension for Tourist e-Visas:
Approved Saudi electronic visas cannot be extended from within
Saudi Arabia. If you wish to extend your stay, you must leave the Kingdom
and reapply for a new e-Visa.
3. Tourist Visa and Umrah:
- Tourist e-Visas allow for performing
Umrah, making it convenient for visitors to combine tourism with
religious pilgrimage.
- Exclusion during Hajj Season:
Tourist visas are strictly NOT valid for Hajj pilgrimage. During
the Hajj season (which concluded in June 2025), entry to Makkah is
restricted solely to those with valid Hajj permits, Makkah-issued
residency, or official work authorization for the holy sites.
II. Work Permits &
Skill-Based Visa System (Major Changes)
Saudi Arabia has implemented a
significant reform to its expatriate work permit system in 2025, effective from
July 1, 2025, for new entrants and with classification for existing
expatriates implemented by July 6, 2025. This is a key part of the
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development's (MHRSD) strategy under
Vision 2030.
1. Skill-Based Classification:
- Foreign workers are now classified into three
main skill levels:
- High-Skill:
Occupational Groups 1-3. Requires Professional Accreditation and a
points-based eligibility.
- Skilled:
Occupational Groups 4-8. Requires Professional Accreditation and meeting
a wage minimum.
- Basic: Occupational
Group 9. Requires Professional Accreditation and an age cap (typically
under 60 years).
- Criteria for Classification:
The classification is based on:
- Educational Qualifications:
Relevant degrees and certifications.
- Work Experience:
Years of professional experience in the field.
- Professional Skills:
Verified competencies relevant to the job role.
- Wage Level:
Salary benchmarks set for different job categories.
- Age: Worker's age at
the time of permit issuance.
- Purpose: This system aims
to:
- Improve worker performance and match
individuals with required competencies.
- Enhance compliance and verification in
the labor market.
- Attract global talent and high-quality
expertise.
- Support long-term workforce planning and
economic diversification.
- Streamline HR management for employers.
2. Application and Employer
Responsibilities:
- Online Platforms:
The application process is largely facilitated through electronic
platforms such as Qiwa and Etimad. All employment contracts
must be uploaded to Qiwa to be legally valid.
- Employer Obligations:
Employers must:
- Review employment contracts and HR
policies to align with new regulations.
- Implement formal resignation and
termination procedures.
- Digitize contracts via Qiwa.
- Document remote work policies (if
applicable).
- Offer itemized pay slips for wage
transparency.
- Launch Saudization-compliant training
programs for Saudi employees.
- Ensure educational credentials match job
roles and salaries align with the worker's skill tier.
3. Work Visa Without Sponsor
(Premium Residency-Related):
- Saudi Arabia has also introduced a system
for foreign nationals to obtain employment visas without the need for a
traditional local sponsor for certain categories. This is part of the
"Premium Residency System" and is geared towards attracting top
talent and investors.
- Eligibility (for sponsor-free work visa):
Applicants must typically be between 21 and 55 years old, possess a
university degree or professional certification, maintain a clean criminal
record, and pass a medical examination.
- Application:
Processed through the Etimad electronic platform.
III. Family Visit Visas
Family visit visas remain a
crucial category for residents and citizens wishing to invite their relatives.
1. Eligibility &
Sponsorship:
- Sponsor: A Saudi Arabian
resident (expatriate with a valid Iqama, typically under a work visa) or a
Saudi citizen can initiate the invitation request. The sponsor must be at
least 18 years old.
- Relationship:
The invitee must have a demonstrable family relationship with the inviter.
For expatriate residents, this usually refers to first-degree relatives
(spouse, children, parents). Proof of relationship (e.g., attested
marriage/birth certificates) is mandatory.
- Validity:
Family visit visas are typically multiple-entry visas valid for one
year, allowing a 90-day stay per visit.
- Temporary Restrictions (Recently Lifted):
A temporary suspension on the issuance of new family visit visas for
nationals of Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq,
Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen has ended
as of June 30, 2025. Visas for these nationalities are now being
issued, but currently, they are generally single-entry visas allowing a
maximum stay of up to 90 days.
2. Application Procedure:
- Sponsor's Role:
The sponsor logs into the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website
or visa services platform to fill out an online invitation form. For
expatriate sponsors, an attestation from the Chamber of Commerce or their
employer may be required.
- MOFA Approval:
MOFA reviews the invitation and issues an approval or reference number.
- Applicant's Role:
The visitor then uses this MOFA reference number to complete an online
visa application form (often on the same MOFA portal or Enjaz system).
- Required Documents (for applicant):
- Valid passport (at least 6 months
validity from entry date).
- Recent passport-sized photographs (white
background).
- Printed copy of the MOFA invitation
approval letter/reference slip.
- Copy of the Saudi host's identification
(National ID for citizens, Iqama for residents).
- Attested proof of familial relationship
(e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificate).
- Completed visa application form (printed
and signed).
- Visa fee receipt and mandatory health
insurance policy.
- Consent letter for minors traveling with
one parent or without parents (if applicable).
- Submission:
Documents are typically submitted to the Saudi Embassy or an authorized
visa center in the applicant's home country.
3. Activity & Compliance:
- Family visit visa holders can visit
family/friends, attend events, and participate in touristic activities.
- Not for Hajj:
This visa type does not authorize Hajj pilgrimage.
- Sponsor Responsibility:
The inviter is responsible for ensuring the guest complies with the
specified duration of stay. Failure to comply can result in legal
penalties and financial fines for both the visitor and the sponsor.
- Extension:
Some family visit visas may be extended from within the country via
platforms like Absher, though requirements can vary.
IV. Hajj and Umrah Visas
Hajj and Umrah visas have
specific, often stricter, rules, particularly during the Hajj season.
1. Hajj Visas (2025 Hajj
Season: June 2025):
- Purpose: Mandatory
pilgrimage during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.
- Issuance:
Only issued during the Hajj season through licensed Hajj operators and
the Nusuk portal.
- Quota System:
Strict country-specific quotas apply, limiting the number of pilgrims.
- Age Limit:
For Hajj 2025, only pilgrims aged 12 and above were eligible.
Children under 12 are not permitted.
- Single-Entry Visas:
Citizens from 14 countries (including India, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia,
etc.) received single-entry visas valid for 30 days for Hajj.
- Mecca Entry Restrictions (Hajj Season):
From April 29 to June 10, 2025, entry to Makkah was strictly limited to
those with official Hajj visas, valid Makkah residency, or authorized work
permits for the holy sites. Tourist and other visa holders were prohibited
from entering Makkah during this period.
- Health Requirements:
Stringent health checks and proof of specific vaccinations are mandatory.
- Validity:
Valid only for the Hajj period; single entry.
2. Umrah Visas:
- Purpose: Optional
pilgrimage, can be performed year-round except during the Hajj season.
- Issuance:
Available through approved travel agencies, apps, or as part of the
Tourist e-Visa.
- Year-Round Access for GCC
Citizens/Residents: As of July 2025, GCC citizens
and residents have year-round, nonstop access to perform Umrah. They can
apply for permits via the official Nusuk application.
- New Requirement for 2025:
Effective June 12, 2025, pilgrims applying for an Umrah visa (for
the 1447H/2025 Umrah season) must provide confirmed hotel bookings via
the Nusuk Masar platform. This aims to improve service standards and
pilgrim experience. Bookings must be licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
and electronically approved via Nusuk.
- Umrah with Tourist Visa:
As mentioned, the general tourist e-Visa allows for Umrah outside the Hajj
season.
- Validity:
Can be valid for up to 90 days (for e-Visa).
- Departure Deadline (Pre-Hajj):
For Umrah pilgrims, a strict departure deadline was enforced prior to Hajj
2025 (April 29, 2025). Overstaying resulted in penalties.
V. Other Important
Considerations
- Passport Validity:
For all visa types, your passport must be valid for at least six months
from your date of entry into Saudi Arabia.
- Medical Insurance:
Mandatory for all visitors. This is usually integrated into the visa
application process.
- GCC Nationals:
Can travel to Saudi Arabia visa-free, needing only to show their national
ID or passport upon arrival.
- Overstay Penalties:
Strict fines, detention, and potential future entry bans apply for
overstaying any visa type.
- Compliance:
Visitors and residents are expected to adhere strictly to Saudi laws and
regulations, including those related to public conduct and decency.
- Official Sources:
Always refer to the official portals:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA):
mofa.gov.sa
- Visit Saudi (e-Visa):
visa.visitsaudi.com
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social
Development (MHRSD): hrdsd.gov.sa (for labor laws and
work permits)
- Nusuk Platform:
For Hajj and Umrah-related services.
Saudi Arabia's visa regime in
2025 reflects a dynamic approach to balancing opening up to the world with
strategic workforce management and controlled religious tourism. Staying
updated with the latest regulations from official channels is paramount for any
traveler or aspiring resident.
#SaudiArabia, #SaudiVisa, #TravelSaudi,#VisitSaudi, #KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), #SaudiTravel
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