Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa 2023
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Saudi Arabia issues various types of visas to individuals, and one of them is the family visit visa. This visa is issued to the immediate family members of legal residents or citizens of Saudi Arabia who are living outside of KSA and wish to visit their families in the Kingdom.
To be eligible for the family visit visa, the applicant must have a valid passport and be an immediate family member, such as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, of the resident or citizen in KSA. The sponsor, who is the resident or citizen in KSA, must apply for the visa on behalf of their family member and submit the required documents to the MOFA.
The documents required for the family visit visa application include a copy of the sponsor's valid iqama (residency permit), a copy of the visitor's passport, a medical report, and a marriage certificate or birth certificate (if applicable). It is also mandatory for female visitors above 18 years of age to have a male sponsor or Mahram during their visit.
There are two types of family visit visas available, single-entry and multiple-entry. The single-entry visa is valid for 90 days and allows the visitor to stay in KSA for up to 30 days, while the multiple-entry visa is valid for six months and allows multiple entries into the Kingdom for up to 90 days.
The cost of the family visit visa varies depending on the type of visa and the applicant's nationality. The sponsor can check the status of their family visit visa application online through the MOFA website using their application number.
The family visit visa provided by the MOFA in Saudi Arabia is a crucial platform for families to reunite and visit their loved ones in the Kingdom. The process of obtaining this visa requires specific documents and eligibility criteria, but with proper preparation and submission of necessary documents, the application process can be smooth and successful.
Understanding the Family Visit Visa Issued by the MoFA in Saudi Arabia
The family visit visa is a document issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) that allows first-degree relatives of legal residents or citizens of Saudi Arabia to visit them. The visa is primarily issued for the parents, spouse, and children of the sponsor residing in the Kingdom. The family visit visa is a legal document that enables beneficiaries to obtain visitation requests for their immediate family members, allowing them to visit and stay with their loved ones for a specific period. The process of obtaining this visa requires specific documents and eligibility criteria, but with proper preparation and submission of necessary documents, the application process can be smooth and successful. Overall, the family visit visa is an essential platform for families to reunite and spend time together in the Kingdom.
Requirements for Obtaining a Saudi Family Visit Visa
To apply for the MoFA family visit visa in Saudi Arabia, only a legal resident or citizen who holds a valid Iqama for at least 4 months can apply on behalf of the visitor. The dependent of the Iqama holder cannot apply for the visa using their own Iqama. Below are the required documents to initiate the MoFA family visit visa application process:
- A copy of the sponsor Iqama holder's passport
- A valid International Passport (with at least 6 months remaining validity) for the visitor
- A copy of the Iqama or residency permit for the sponsor
- 4 passport-size photos of the visitor
- An apostilled copy of the National ID card of the visitor
- A marriage certificate, which may also need to be apostilled
It is important to note that the marriage certificate is only required if the visitor is the spouse of the sponsor. The apostilled copy of the National ID card is necessary for all visitors, and it must be obtained from the relevant government authority in the visitor's home country.
Once all the necessary documents are collected, the sponsor can initiate the application process by submitting the documents and paying the visa fee through the MoFA website. The processing time for the visa may vary and could take several days to a few weeks.
After approval, the sponsor will receive an electronic visa through email, which must be printed out and presented to the visitor upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. It is crucial to note that the visitor must have a return ticket and a valid passport to enter Saudi Arabia.
The MoFA family visit visa application process in Saudi Arabia requires specific documents and eligibility criteria. With proper preparation and submission of necessary documents, the application process can be smooth and successful, allowing families to reunite and spend time together in the Kingdom.
Eligibility for a Saudi Family Visit Visa: Who Qualifies?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Saudi Arabia only issues family visit visas to the immediate family members of legal residents or citizens of the Kingdom. The following family members are eligible for the family visit visa:
Parents: The biological or adoptive parents of the sponsor residing in Saudi Arabia can apply for the family visit visa to visit their children in the Kingdom.
Children: The biological or adoptive children of the sponsor residing in Saudi Arabia can apply for the family visit visa to visit their parents in the Kingdom.
Father-in-law and Mother-in-law: The parents of the sponsor's spouse can apply for the family visit visa to visit their son or daughter-in-law and their family in the Kingdom.
Husband or Wife: The sponsor's spouse can apply for the family visit visa to visit their partner and their family in the Kingdom.
Brothers or Sisters and their families: The siblings of the sponsor residing in Saudi Arabia can apply for the family visit visa, including their wives/husbands and children, to visit their brothers or sisters and their family in the Kingdom.
It is essential to note that the family visit visa is only issued to immediate family members and not to extended family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and so on. The eligibility of the visitor will be verified before the visa issuance, and any misrepresentation of the relationship could result in visa denial.
The family visit visa is an essential platform for immediate family members to reunite and spend time together in Saudi Arabia. Eligibility for the visa is limited to parents, children, father-in-law and mother-in-law, husband or wife, and brothers or sisters and their families.
Step-by-Step Procedure for Applying for a Saudi Family Visit Visa
To apply for a family visit visa in Saudi Arabia, you need to follow the steps given below:
Fill up the application:
- Go to the Family Visit Visa Application for Residents portal on the MOFA website
- Click on ‘Apply’ under the ‘Family Visit Visa Application for Citizens’ option
- Click on the ‘Login’ option to log into the MOFA website
- Enter your Absher account’s Username (Iqama Number) and Password and select ‘Sign In’
- Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number for your Absher account
- Click on ‘Tracking’ and you will now be successfully logged into the MOFA website
- Again, click on ‘Apply’ under the ‘Family Visit Visa Application for Residents’ option
- Fill in all the required information in the application form correctly, including personal information, passport information, and visa information
- Click on ‘Add’ after filling up all the required information correctly
- Double-check all the details correctly, and click on ‘Edit’ in case of any wrong information being provided
- Click on ‘Agreement Approval’ and select the ‘Save’ button to proceed
- The MOFA website will now generate the Applicant’s ‘Order Number’ and the ‘Request a Family Visa’ application form of the applicant will now be displayed on the screen
- Scroll down and make sure to re-check all the information provided
- Once completed, click on ‘Print’ to download and save the application form, or directly print the application for further processing.
Get approval from the sponsor or the Chamber of Commerce:
- Take the printed MOFA family visit visa application form to the sponsor to sign and stamp the document
- The Saudi Chamber of Commerce can attest to the MOFA application form if required for Private Company workers
- Government employees are required to submit the application form to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Employers of domestic workers can approve their visas through their Absher accounts. They are not required to submit the application form anywhere.
Send the completed form or visa number to the visitor:
- Once the application form is signed and stamped by the sponsor, it usually takes a week or less for the approval status to be reflected in the MOFA portal
- Check the status of the MOFA visa application by using the order number and the record number (Iqama number) of the applicant, from the MOFA website, under their ‘Enquiry’ column
- If the visa application has been granted, the MOFA website will display ‘Visa Document’ in place of the ‘Request a Family Visa’ application form, and the applicant’s ‘Order Number’ will now be changed to the applicant’s ‘Visa Document Number’
- Save the visa document and send the scanned copy of the completed, signed, and stamped application form to your family member applying for the MOFA Family Visit Visa outside Saudi Arabia
- Make sure to get the stamping done within 90 days from the date of approval.
Submit the documents to the Saudi Embassy or the visa agency:
- Your family members can contact an agent or personally submit the documents to their country’s Saudi Embassy or the Saudi Consulate
- Depending on where they are, they might be able to get the visa along with their passport by mail or in person
- Saudi Arabia has a list of approved agencies all over the world to apply for a visa. If you cannot find an approved agency, write to the Saudi consulate in your country and ask them about it.
Processing Time for a Saudi Family Visit Visa
The processing time for a Saudi Arabia family visit visa is typically around 4 to 5 days. However, it is possible for the processing time to be delayed due to factors such as a large volume of applications or the need for invitation approval. It's always a good idea to plan ahead and allow sufficient time for visa processing to avoid any potential delays.
Extending a Saudi Family Visit Visa: What You Need to Know
Saudi Arabia has recently updated its visa policies to allow for longer stays for both single and multiple-entry visit visas. Visitors can now stay for up to 90 days in the Kingdom, and this duration can be extended twice, for a total stay of up to 270 days. Family visit visas may also be extended multiple times through the Absher platform, but the total period of extensions cannot exceed six months, or 180 days, for all nationalities except Syrians.
It is important to note that extending a multiple-entry family visit visa requires compliance with Saudi Arabia's departure regulations. This means that after three months, visa holders must depart the country before the extension process can proceed. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in fines.
If you want to extend your Saudi visit visa, the first step is to obtain medical insurance from licensed insurance companies in the Kingdom, such as Tawuniya, Bupa, Medgulf, GulfUnion, etc. This insurance should cover the entire duration of your visa extension.
The extension fee for any Saudi Arabia visit visa is SAR 100, which is equivalent to USD 26.59. However, if you apply for an extension after three days of the visa's expiry date, you will be required to pay an additional fee of SAR 500, or USD 133, as a fine. It is important to note that this fine must be paid before the visa extension process can proceed.
To apply for a Saudi visit visa extension, you must submit your application through the Absher platform. The application must include your personal information, your current visa details, your medical insurance policy number, and the duration of your desired extension. After submitting your application, it will be reviewed by the Jawazat, the agency responsible for processing visas in Saudi Arabia.
The processing time for a Saudi visit visa extension varies, but it usually takes between 3 to 5 business days. Once your extension is approved, you will receive an electronic copy of your extended visa via email. It is important to note that your passport will not be stamped with the extension, but you will need to carry a copy of the extension with you when traveling within Saudi Arabia.
The new visa policies in Saudi Arabia allow for longer stays for visitors, with the option to extend the duration of their visa up to 270 days. However, it is important to comply with departure regulations and obtain medical insurance before applying for an extension. Additionally, there is a fee for extending a visa, and failure to pay the fine for late application may result in rejection of the visa extension.
Fees Associated with a Saudi Family Visit Visa
This content explains that the cost of a Saudi family visit visa, both single and multiple-entry, is a fixed rate of SR 200. This rate applies to all applicants, regardless of their nationality, including those from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Checking the Status of a Saudi Family Visit Visa Application
To check the status of a Saudi family visit visa application, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia:
- Click on the "Visa Application Status" button.
- Enter your visa application number and your passport number in the appropriate fields.
- Click on the "Inquire" button.
- The status of your Saudi family visit visa application will be displayed on the screen.
If your application is still under review, you may need to wait for further updates from the embassy or consulate. If your application has been approved, you will need to collect your visa from the relevant embassy or consulate.
Validity of a Saudi Family Visit Visa: How Long You Can Stay
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia offers two types of family visit visas: the Single Entry Visit Visa and the Multiple Entry Visit Visa. The validity period and duration of stay of these visas depend on the type of visa issued.
The Single Entry Visit Visa is issued for a period of 30 days. This means that the visa holder can stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 30 days from the date of entry. However, this type of visa can receive 5 possible extensions of 30 days each, giving a total of 180 days of possible stay in Saudi Arabia. The extensions can be obtained by applying for them before the expiration date of the visa through the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, the Multiple Entry Visit Visa is issued for a period of 90 days. This type of visa allows the visa holder to enter Saudi Arabia multiple times during its validity period, with up to 4 allowed re-entries. However, the duration of each stay cannot exceed 90 days. For example, if the visa holder enters Saudi Arabia for the first time and stays for 30 days, he/she can leave and re-enter again for another stay of up to 90 days, and so on, until the visa expires.
It's important to note that overstaying the allowed duration of stay can result in penalties, fines, or even a ban on future travel to Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it's always recommended to carefully check the validity and duration of your visa and plan your travel accordingly. It's also important to comply with the visa regulations and follow the guidelines provided by the relevant authorities to avoid any complications.
Renewing a Saudi Family Visit Visa: What You Need to Do
- The single-entry family visit visa can be renewed up to 5 times, while the multiple-entry family visit visa cannot be renewed.
- To renew or extend your family visit visa, you can visit the nearest Jawazat office by making an appointment through the Absher platform.
- To apply for a visit visa extension through the Absher platform, you need to login, select "Passport Services" under e-services, choose "Visit Visa Extension," provide the required information and attachments, pay the fees, and submit your application.
- The fee for a family visit visa extension is SAR 100.
- It's important to adhere to the visa control system and depart from the Kingdom before the visa expires to avoid any complications.
- Overstaying on behalf of the family visit visa in Saudi Arabia will result in a hefty fine of 25,000 Riyals per visitor.
It's crucial to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions of your family visit visa to avoid any misunderstandings and penalties. If you have any questions or concerns about your visa, you can seek advice from the relevant authorities or consult with a professional visa service provider.
Understanding the Status of Your Saudi Family Visit Visa Stamping
Checking the status of your Saudi visa stamping is a simple and straightforward process that can be done online. To check the status of your visa stamping, you can follow these steps:
- Go to website
- Change the inquiry type to 'issued invitation request'.
- Provide your visa number and ID number (Iqama number).
- Enter the Captcha code correctly.
- Click on 'Search'.
Once you have completed these steps, the website will display the current status of your visa stamping application. If your visa has been stamped and is ready for collection, the website will indicate the date and location of collection.
It's important to regularly check the status of your visa stamping application to ensure that there are no delays or issues that may impact your travel plans. If you encounter any problems or have any questions regarding the status of your visa stamping, you can contact the relevant authorities or consult with a professional visa service provider for guidance.
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