Visas for Saudi Arabia

Obtaining a visa is mandatory to be able to travel to Saudi Arabia except for nationals of the following countries: Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar.

Be careful, however, to keep you regularly informed about this exemption which can be questioned at all times by the Saudi authorities.

NB: as of 1/2/2025, the necessary vaccine is tetravalent meningococcal (ACYW135) and it must be administered at least 10 days before departure for Saudi Arabia if you are traveling for Hajj or UMRAH and you are pilgrim aged 1 year and more. The test results must be written in English.

With regards to other type or travels (Business, Family visit,…), the Saudi Arabian Health ministry does not mention any specific requirement.

NB: for a work/employment Visa, certification of your diploma being necessary, your school/university must be registered with the Consulate of Saudi Arabia. If this is not the case and your school does not do these steps quickly enough, then the time to obtain your Visa will be extended accordingly. Your shcool/university must be registered using the following link https://qvp.pacc.sa

It should be noted that Saudi Arabia offers a tourist visa which could be obtained on arrival at Riyadh and Jeddah airports. We cannot strongly enough advise you to get your visa before your departure, knowing that obtaining this type of visa is not guaranteed.

In order to enter Saudi Arabia, the traveler must bring his passport with visa,  the meningitis vaccination certificate (as of 1/Feb/2025 – the test results must be written in English) as well as a return flight ticket. 

If you are traveling for Hajj or UMRAH, you will also need to show when arriving n Saudi Arabia your meningitis vaccination certificate (as of 1/Feb/2025 – the test results must be written in English).

It should be noted that, even if the traveler is in possession of all the documents requested to validate his entry into Saudi Arabia, the Saudi authorities reserve the right to refuse access to their territory without having to justify it.

The visa for Saudi Arabia is made according to the invitation letter proposed in the visa application. It takes note from its emission.

• 1 original passport valid for at least 6 months after the planned return date to France, and containing at least 2 blank pages, 2 of which face to face.

Please note: the passport cannot contain an Israeli visa or stamp.

• 1 copy of passport identity page

• 2 identical original identity photos: in color, to identity standards (recent less than 6 months)

• 1 embassy visa application form, available as a downloadable document attached: with all fields completed. For the reason for the stay, check “Work”.

Please note: The profession indicated must correspond to that on the invitation letter.

Please note: the “Religion” section must be filled in with the following field: Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Other. If it is marked “No religion” or “Atheist”, the visa may be refused.

• 1 copy of the official invitation letter ratified by the Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia: Printed from the official website visa.mofa.gov.sa, with invitation for work.

• 1 work authorization: from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• 1 copy of the original Employment Contract: stamped and signed by both parties.

• 1 certified copy (by the town hall) and apostilled by the court of appeal (from where your school/university belongs to) of the highest granted original diploma

NB: certification of your highest granted diploma being necessary, your school/university must be registered with the Consulate of Saudi Arabia. If this is not the case and your school does not do these steps quickly enough, then the time to obtain your Visa will be extended accordingly. Your school/university must be registered using the following link https://qvp.pacc.sa and you will have to (yourself) request accreditation of this diploma on the same website

Once the accreditation obtained –> add this accreditation to your documents to provide us with

• Medical examinations to be carried out (preferably in France):

– 1 Medical certificate of non-contamination by hepatitis A, B and C

– 1 HIV test accompanied by a negative laboratory result

– 1 PCR test for the monkeypox

 

• 1 Criminal record extract less than 3 months old, Bulletin No. 3 type: you may be refused delivery by the embassy if your criminal record is not clean. The extract can be requested online from the Ministry of Justice at the following address: casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr

• The original passport valid for 6 months after the date of your return. AT LEAST TWO FREE PAGES face to face or Recto/Verso.

• Color copy/scan of passport data page

• An original visa application form fully completed and signed by the visa applicant (it is essential to specify the religion: Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or other. If he is registered as an Atheist, the visa will be refused by the consulate). The visa applicant’s mobile phone number must be included.

• Two original “identity” photos of the front (not scanned) in 3.5 x 4.5 format, color, identical and on a white background.

• Specify (reply email to contact@visatravel.fr with your documents):

   * Marital status

   * Departure date France –> Saudi Arabia

   * Return date Saudi Arabia –> France

 

• Sworn statement certifying that you have not travelled in the previous 14 days to one of these countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Somalia, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam or Yemen..

• Copy/scan of the Hotel reservation in Saudi Arabia mentioning the address of the stay

• Copy/scan of the return flight ticket

• Certificate from the employer mentioning the position held and seniority. This certificate must stipulate that the person is on leave on the dates of his trip.

• Last bank statement justifying sufficient resources (minimum 3000€ available on the account) for the duration of the stay.

• As of 1/Feb/2025, if you are traveling for Hajj or UMRAH, copy/scan of meningitis vaccination certificate (must also be presented upon arrival in Saudi Arabia). The test results must be written in English.

• For foreign nationals (non-European): copy of the original double-sided residence permit as well as proof of address (EDF bill or rent receipt)

• For Europeans: proof of residence (electricity bill or rent receipt for example)

● Your original passport is valid 6 months after the date of your return and with AT LEAST TWO FREE PAGES.

● Two “identity”-sized photos from the front on a white background.

● A form duly completed and signed.

● Invitation letter from person inviting you in KSA.

● Copy of the iqama of the person who invites.

● Justifiing the link between the applicant and the person who invites you, in two copies.

● Copy of the original family booklet as well as a copy.

● Prefill a request for agreement on the following site: MOFA (please note that VTI can handle this request for you).

● An original residence card (for non-european people) as well as a proof of residence (electricity bill or rent release) for non-French people.