Saudi Arabia business visit visa

KSA Visa issues the business visit visa to every nationality for meetings, conferences, trade events, market visits and partnership talks. Investors exploring opportunities can instead use the Ministry of Investment's Visiting Investor e-visa on Invest Saudi: issued digitally by the Foreign Ministry, no biometrics at a mission, valid one year with multiple entries. Installing equipment, delivering contracted services on site or taking up a job needs a work visa obtained by the Saudi company through Qiwa.

Visitors must be 18 or older, hold a passport valid for at least six months and respect Saudi law. The trip must not be tied to a permanent employment contract in the Kingdom. Besides business, you may visit relatives or friends, attend events, travel between cities and perform Umrah; Hajj is excluded.

The Visiting Investor e-visa is issued instantly to, among others, holders of a used US, UK or Schengen visa, permanent residents of the US, UK or EU, GCC residents with at least three months of residence left, and firms licensed by the ministry (three instant visas a year per facility).

Saudi companies issue invitations through the KSA Visa business login. When you enter the invitation number, the platform shows the inviting entity, sponsor ID, length of stay and number of entries. The letter should prove your link with the company and the commercial purpose; it has no fixed expiry but should be recent, and the embassy may ask you to send it with your passport.

Without an invitation you complete a business information step: company name, headquarters, website, licence number, whether it is listed or active in three countries, and your title (owner, CEO, general manager, board member or representative).

KSA Visa lists USD 80 (refundable) plus two non-refundable USD 10.50 digital-service fees and the insurance premium, but fees are not returned if you cancel an issued visa. The compulsory insurance from Saudi-approved companies covers emergencies only. Single entry is valid 90 days, multiple entry one year, with up to 90 days per stay. Processing usually takes one to two working days; errors in the form slow it down.

Umrah needs a Nusuk permit outside the Hajj season. The Ministry of Interior fines visit-visa holders up to SAR 20,000 for entering or staying in Makkah and the holy sites from 1 Dhu al-Qadah to 14 Dhu al-Hijjah.

A refusal is sent by email and you may reapply at any time. The Foreign Ministry asks applicants to avoid unauthorised individuals or companies offering help.