The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been touted as one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Middle East. It is a vacation spot that includes ancient heritage and culture, breathtaking outdoor activities, and delicious local food. KSA has also prioritized the Kingdom’s travel, tourism, and entertainment sectors by launching several initiatives. Among them are the opening of its UNESCO World Heritage sites, the construction of resorts on its Red Sea coast, the launch of a cruise line, and most recently, an e-visa system.
The thought process behind this latest initiative is simple. It is to elevate the visitor experience by harnessing digital innovation and streamlining the traveler’s journey.
What exactly is KSA’s e-visa system?
This is a one-year, multiple-entry visa, allowing tourists to spend up to 90 days in the country. It covers all tourism-related activities and Umrah (excluding Haj season) while excluding other activities, such as studying.
Are you eligible?
According to new regulations, GCC residents can apply for electronic visit visas online. Those possessing a valid tourist or business visa from the UK, US, or one of the Schengen agreement countries will also be eligible for a visa on arrival, on the condition that this tourist or business visa has been used at least once to enter the country. Travelers from 48 countries can also apply for the visa and these include Canada, the USA, Switzerland, the UK, China, Singapore, Australia, and South Korea. But South Asian countries, namely India and Pakistan are not on the list of countries eligible for the e-visa.
Know about the Application process!
The application is simple and you can get your e-visa in four easy steps:
- Step one involves visiting the e-visa page and filling out the required information
- During step 2, upload the required documents
- In step 3, pay your visa fees as stated on the website.
- And finally, await your visa which you will get by e-mail.
Things to keep in mind while applying for the e-visa
It can be stressful waiting for the e-visa, but just ensure that you tick all the boxes so that you are granted the e-visa. Given below are some conditions.
- Applicants must be 18 years or above to apply for an e-visa.
- For children under 18 years, parents must first apply for their e-visa and then reapply for minors.
- Visa applicants cannot choose their visa options as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide it on a case-by-case basis.
- Remember to check out the price of the service on the website and at the time of the payment.
- VAT will be charged and payable by the applicant as part of the fees.
- Valid passport with six months validity from a permitted country is necessary.
- GCC travelers must possess a 3-month valid residence visa issued by a GCC country and a passport valid for over six months, to be eligible for an e-visa.
- Rejected applicants will be intimated via e-mail.
- Once an application is submitted, applicants cannot cancel it or request a refund under any circumstances.
- Rejected applicants are not entitled to a refund of any application fees paid.
- Application mentioning misleading information in the form will be rejected.
- The e-visa will be valid for one year from issuance and also be valid for multiple entries unless stated otherwise on the specific e-visa.
- Maximum duration of stay allowed under e-visa is three months.
- Applicants should be able to support themselves and their dependents during the visit.
- No extensions are permitted.
- If the e-visa expires before entry to KSA, applicants must apply again and another application fee must be paid.
- An e-visa is granted solely for tourist purposes or to perform an Umrah and cannot be used as a visa for work.
- A GCC resident’s profession should be among the eligible occupations listed on the portal.
So, if you have decided to visit the Kingdom of Saudi and meet the eligibility requirements, then look no further. Apply for your visa and visit the cleartrip website to book your flight tickets with AED 100 off.
