Saudi Arabia Work Visa For Indians
In this guide, we provide you with all the information you must have to apply for the Saudi Arabia Work Visa or Work Visa For Saudi Arabia as an Indian national.
29-May-2023
15 min read
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) a fascinating country with a rich culture and history. And, if you're planning a trip to Saudi Arabia, you'll need to know more about the Saudi Arabia visa for Indians.
So I created this blog to provide in-depth information on the Saudi Arabia visa for Indians. So let's begin without wasting any time.
Type of visa: Saudi Arabia visa for Indians.
Visa Processing Time: 3 - 5 days.
Visa Fee: Consulate visa SAR 440 (approx. INR 9691).
Saudi Visa Validity: 1 year validity for a 90 day stay.
Where To Apply: Atlys.
Yes. Indian passport holders traveling to Saudi Arabia must obtain a visa before their trip. Additionally, India does not belong to a visa-exempt country, meaning a valid visa is mandatory.
A Saudi visa is an official document allowing the holder to enter the country legally. Without a valid visa, you cannot even board your flight.
If you somehow manage to get to KSA, the immigration officers will deny you entry. And you'll be deported back to India to apply for a relevant visa.
Also, remember that deportation can affect your future visa application for Saudi Arabia from India.
Yes. However, not all Indian citizens are eligible to apply for a Saudi visa on arrival for Indians.
Indian citizens that meet the eligibility criteria can apply for a Saudi Arabia visa on arrival for Indians:
Something to know about the Saudi Arabian Embassy is that they are quite strict when granting visas.
Any missing or incorrect documents in your visa application could mean rejection. You can use Atlys to help you gather the required documents.
Firstly, to be able to apply for a Saudi visit visa for Indians 2023, you must be 18 years or older.
And must submit the following documents:
You can use Atlys to help you gather the required documents.
Your original passport should meet the following Saudi Arabia entry requirements when applying for a Saudi visit visa for Indians:
There is no specified amount mentioned by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs related to Saudi tourist visas for Indians.
However, you would need to provide the bank statements received from the bank with a seal or bank stamp. The bank statements should reflect enough finances to cover your or your family's trip (if you sponsor them).
Only Indian citizens above 18 years can apply for a visa. Meaning that parents or guardians must apply on behalf of the minor.
They would need to provide the following required documents:
The passport-sized photographs must meet the following requirements when applying for a Saudi visit visa for Indians:
Use the Atlys visa photo tool to get a perfect passport-sized photograph generated for you for free!
If you're looking for a hassle-free way to get your Saudi tourist visa for Indians, Atlys is the app for you! With Atlys, you can easily apply for a visa and get real-time updates on the status of your application.
It’s really quite simple to apply:
- First, download the Atlys app from the app store
- Select your destination.
- Next scan your travel documents.
- Lastly, submit your application.
Review about Atlys:
You can also find out all the requirements for getting a visa for your desired country. So download the Atlys app for a Saudi visa today and make your travel dreams a reality!
So if you are going to apply for a Saudi visa yourself, you only have two points. Directly on Atlys or through a registered travel agent. Unless you have a friend or family member in KSA who can apply for you online.
If you have decided to apply for your visa through a registered travel agent, you must:
STEP 1: Have The Required Documents
Get the most tedious task out of your way. Which is gathering all the required documents for the visa application.
Remember, incorrect or incomplete documents can lead to the visa application being denied. And the Embassy of Saudi Arabia is quite strict regarding granting visas.
STEP 2: Fill Out The Visa Application Form
Once your documents are ready, complete the KSA visa application form.
The form must be filled out with a pen or on an application such as adobe, and then it must be printed out.
Here’s what the visa form looks like:
STEP 3: Find A Registered Travel Agent
Now everything should be ready on your side.
So it is time to find a registered travel agent in India that can apply for a visa for you.
STEP 4: Submit And Pay For Visa Application
It is crucial that the visa application comes through a visa agent and that you do not submit it directly at the embassy.
And finally, you must pay the visa agent the relevant Saudi Arabia visa fees for Indians.
The visa fees are generally included in the service fees charged by the visa agent. Hence it is best to use Atlys to avoid too many steps and see where you are spending your money.
STEP 5: Wait For The Visa Process
The travel agent would then send the visa application to the Embassy in New Delhi or the consulate in Mumbai.
The visa process could take anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks, depending on the merit of your visa application and travel agent.
STEP 6: Receive Saudi Arabia Visa For Indians
And you did it!
Once the visa is approved, your visa agent will give you your passport with a valid visa.
If you have a family member who is a resident or citizen in Saudi Arabia, then they can apply on the online MOFA portal. However, this visa application must go through the Chamber of Commerce in KSA to be approved before the visa is granted.
No. Indian citizens cannot apply for a Saudi Arabia visa directly at the Embassy. Instead, they must go through the visa agents to apply for one.
Since Indian citizens cannot apply for a Saudi eVisa, there is no way to do a Saudi visa check online. But, if you have applied for your visa on Atlys, you can follow your visa application on your phone.
However, if a citizen or resident has applied for a visa for you on the MOFA platform, they can check the visa status online. To check the visa status, they must:
Alternatively, you can also do the following:
Before jumping straight into the nitty-gritty of the Saudi tourist visa application, let us first take a quick glance at some other things, such as:
The types of visas Indians can apply for depend on the purpose of their visit to the country. And the validity of a particular Saudi visa will vary accordingly.
The Saudi visa types for Indians are:
For the sake of this blog, we'll be focusing on the Saudi visit visa for Indians for tourism or short visits.
No. India is not on the eligible countries list for a Saudi eVisa. Meaning Indians must apply for an embassy-issued visa.
But you can get around this by using Atlys to apply for a Saudi tourist visa for Indians directly from your phone.
The Saudi Arabia visa fees for Indians are different for each visa type. They must be paid to authorized/registered visa agents in India. You do not pay any visa fees to the Embassy.
The different Saudi Arabia visa price for Indians are as follows:
The Saudi Arabia visa price for Indians are included in the visa application fees paid to the visa agents. Lastly, the visa fees are non-refundable.
The Saudi tourist visa for Indians can take 3 to 5 days to process. However, remember that each visa application is different, and sometimes the visa processing can take up to 3 weeks.
Additionally, the visa application goes through authorized travel agents and could take a few extra days. So I suggest you plan accordingly and start your visa application at least a month before your trip.
The Saudi tourist visa validity is related to the type of visit permits you have applied for.
Generally, the Saudi tourist visa validity of a single entry Saudi visit visa for Indians is 90 days, allowing you to stay in the country for 30 days.
Whereas a multiple entry visa is valid for 365 days. It allows you to stay in the country for 90 days.
Not all visa applications are simple, and some hiccups along the way are common.
However, some issues can delay the visa application or even get rejected. So let us look at some of the common issues:
Now you have your visa and are ready to travel to Saudi. But what happens then?
Here are some of the things you should have and expect:
If you want to stay out of trouble in a foreign country, I suggest you follow all the rules.
Hence, I laid out some rules for you to remember:
If you find yourself in any trouble, you must contact the Indian Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate General of Indians in Jeddah.
Obtaining a Saudi Arabia visa for Indian citizens is crucial before embarking on your journey. By understanding the requirements, application process, fees, and validity, you can ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.
And that is everything! So, if you're planning a trip to Saudi Arabia, now you have all the information you need to start planning your trip!
Good luck, and enjoy your trip!
All information was gathered from reputable sources such as:
Yes, Indian citizens need a visa to travel to Saudi Arabia. A visa is a mandatory requirement for Indian citizens to enter Saudi Arabia for various purposes such as tourism, business, work, or religious visits.
Yes, Saudi Arabia is open for travel from India.
No, Indian citizens do not need a sponsor when applying for a Saudi Arabia tourist visa in India.
Yes, for a family/personal visit visa you need a sponsor in Saudi. If you have friends or family members who wish to invite you; then they can sponsor you and apply for your visit visa online on the MOFA platform.
Yes, Indian citizens can extend their Saudi visit visa on the Online Platform. However, remember that this is only possible for a family visit visa.
The duration of stay of Saudi Arabian visa holders depends on the visa type, purpose of visit, and validity of their visa. In case you overstay your visa, you will need to pay overstay fees of SAR 100 for each day you overstayed. In extreme cases, you could be penalized, jailed, deported, and never allowed into the country.
Suppose your Saudi visa application is denied in India. In that case, you can go through the process and pay the visa fees again. However, this does not guarantee visa approval.
There are several reasons why a visa can be denied, such as:
You must check out the blog to find out the reasons for rejection.
You will need a return flight ticket if you are applying for a Saudi tourist visa for Indians.
Indian citizens can only stay in Saudi Arabia for the validity of their visa. A Saudi visa for Indians is generally valid for a single entry or multiple entries allowing them to stay for 30 or 90 days, respectively.
Indian citizens that meet the eligibility criteria can apply for a visa on arrival Saudi Arabia at the port of entry.
Suppose you are visiting a friend in Saudi Arabia. In that case, they can provide you with an invitation letter along with a copy of their ID or visa. If they cover any costs, they must also provide you with bank statements with proof of sufficient funds.
You can use your Saudi visa for tourism purposes or to visit friends on family residing in the country. You can also use the visa for Umrah; however, it cannot be used for Hajj, and you must apply for a relevant visa.
The visa process can take up to 3 weeks in certain cases; hence you should apply for your visa 30 days in advance.
No. Only 49 countries are eligible to apply for a Saudi eVisa. And India is NOT on this list, meaning you'd have to apply in India at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia.
Yes. There is a Saudi VoA available for Indians.
You can apply for a Saudi visa on arrival upon reaching the international airport in Saudi Arabia. Indians must meet the requirements for Saudi visa on arrival to apply for it.
You must head to the designated VoA immigration counter upon arrival in Saudi Arabia to apply for the visa.
Remember that you cannot pay the visa fees in cash. Instead, you must have an international credit card or MADA card.
Finally, Saudi Arabia has also lifted all of the covid19-related rules in the country.
This means the following has changed if you are visiting for tourism purposes:
If you are visiting the country for religious pilgrims such as Umrah, you must follow the below-mentioned regulations:
Remember that the covid19 rules can be unpredictable and can be changed at any time. Hence, you must stay up to date with covid19 requirements. Also, always check with the airlines to check if there are any regulations you must follow to board your flight.
Yes, the Saudi transit visa allows individuals to pass through the Kingdom and is applicable for short stays of over 12 hours, providing transit visas.
Yes, you can transit through Saudi Arabia without a visa if you meet certain conditions. Saudi Arabia offers a visa-free transit facility for passengers who have a valid onward ticket, a layover of less than 12 hours, and remain within the designated transit area of the airport.