14 March 2023
Immigration
Medium
Summary
In an announcement by Ahmed al-Khateeb, the Tourism Minister for the Kingdom, residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) can now apply for a Saudi tourist visa regardless of their occupation.
The Detail
The eVisa permits its holders to travel to the Kingdom for tourism purposes as well as conduct Umrah (an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca). The Minister released details to confirm that both multiple and single entry visas are possible. The process has been simplified – GCC residents who want to visit the Kingdom can go to the eVisa portal, complete the necessary information and upload all required documents.
Together with the price of the health insurance, the visa fee is $80 (300 SAR). After submitting their application, applicants will receive an email with an eVisa.
To be eligible for a visa, the applicant’s residency permit must be valid for at least three months, and their passport must be valid for at least six months.
This latest visa reform in Saudi Arabia is one of many. A new free transit visa that allows stopover travellers to stay in the Kingdom for up to four days was announced in January this year.
How we can help
We are closely monitoring Immigration changes in Saudi Arabia, and can advise you and your employees with respect to the impact of those changes as well as conduct any assessments with respect to activities, duration and purpose of travel.
Contact us
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Anir Chatterji, EMEA Immigration Partner | anir.chatterji@vialto.com
Ali Ibrahim, Director, KSA and Bahrain Lead | ali.a.ibrahim@vialto.com
Ahmed Amer, Manager | ahmed.amer@vialto.com
Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
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