Saudi ArabiaVisits and short stays

Saudi Arabia family and friends visit visa

Visit visa for family and friends

In short

The visit visa for family and friends lets you visit relatives or friends who live in Saudi Arabia. Saudi citizens and residents can initiate the request on KSA Visa, and residents' requests can be ratified by their Saudi employer online. It follows the standard visit-visa format: 90-day single entry or one-year multiple entry, up to 90 days per stay.

Apply on KSA Visa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in Saudi Arabia
Validity
Single entry: valid 90 days. Multiple entry: valid 1 year.
Fee
US$80Visa fee published on KSA Visa (marked refundable). On top of it come a USD 10.50 visa digital-service fee and a USD 10.50 insurance digital-service fee (both non-refundable) and the premium of the health insurer you choose.
Processing time
1 minute to 3 business days according to KSA Visa
Work
No
Family
Each visiting relative needs their own visa; children under 18 travel with a guardian
Path to permanent residence
No – relatives who will live with a resident need a residence visa
Where to apply
Online on KSA Visa (host-initiated or by the visitor); missions where required

Who uses this visa

KSA Visa lists citizens, residents and visitors as the users of this service: a Saudi citizen or a foreign resident (iqama holder) can request a visit for relatives or friends, and visitors whose nationality qualifies can also apply electronically. For residents in the private sector, KSA Visa offers a separate "ratification of individual applications" service through which the employer authenticates the family visit request.

Conditions

The visitor must hold a passport valid for at least six months, be 18 or older unless accompanied by a guardian, and be able to support themselves during the stay. Nationals of eVisa-eligible countries can also simply use the tourist eVisa, which permits visits to family and friends; the family visit route is useful when the host wants to sponsor the visit or when the visitor's nationality is not on the eVisa list.

Fees, validity and processing

KSA Visa applies the standard visit-visa fees: USD 80 visa fee, USD 10.50 visa digital-service fee, USD 10.50 insurance digital-service fee and the insurance premium. A single-entry visa is valid 90 days and a multiple-entry visa one year, with stays of up to 90 days. Processing takes from a minute to three business days.

What you can do in the country

Stay with your hosts, travel between cities, attend events and perform Umrah outside the Hajj season after reserving a Nusuk permit. The visa does not allow employment or Hajj, and visit-visa holders face heavy fines if they enter Makkah during the Hajj season.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Recent personal photo

Travel

  • Passport valid for at least 6 months

Family

  • Details of the host in Saudi Arabia (national ID or iqama number) and your relationship

Insurance

  • Saudi-approved health insurance

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Family

  • Documents proving kinship (birth or marriage certificate) if the mission or platform requests them

How to apply, step by step

  1. The host (citizen or resident) starts the family visit request on KSA Visa, or the visitor applies directly if eligible.
  2. For private-sector residents, the employer ratifies the request through the KSA Visa ratification service.
  3. The visitor completes personal details, uploads the photo and selects insurance.
  4. Pay the visa and service fees.
  5. Track the application with the invitation or application number until the visa is emailed.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

Should I use the family visit visa or the tourist eVisa?

If your nationality is eligible for the eVisa, both allow visiting relatives. The eVisa needs no host action and is usually fastest; the family visit visa is the sponsor-led route used when the host initiates the request.

How long can relatives stay?

Up to 90 days per stay; multiple-entry visas are valid for one year.

Can my parents move in with me permanently on this visa?

No. A visit visa is temporary; dependants who will live with you need a residence visa and an iqama under your sponsorship.

Can visiting relatives perform Umrah?

Yes, outside the Hajj season, after reserving an Umrah permit on Nusuk.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Saudi Arabia

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days per entry
  • Investor visa Validity: Permanent, conditional on keeping SAR 7 million invested and 10 employees for the first two years
  • Entrepreneur and start-up visa Validity: Category 1: fixed-term residency as set by the Center. Category 2: permanent, conditional on the job targets

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: For the duration of the study programme

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: For the length of the employment contract, renewed through the iqama
  • Skilled worker visa Validity: Five years, renewable once if the criteria are still met

Family

  • Family reunification visa Maximum stay: As long as the sponsor's residence remains valid (permanent for families of citizens)

Residence

  • Golden visa and residence by investment Validity: Real Estate Owner: as long as the property is held (off-plan: ownership must transfer within 5 years). Limited Duration: 1–5 years, renewable. Unlimited Duration: permanent
  • Permanent residence Validity: Indefinite, subject to the product's conditions and the Premium Residency Law

Online travel permits

Saudi Arabia visa guide