Family Visit Visa for Saudi Arabia: Steps & Fees

If you live in Saudi Arabia and want your close relatives to visit, the family visit visa is the standard route. It lets eligible Saudi citizens and residents invite first-degree relatives, and the request is filed electronically through the government e-services platform. Processing is usually quick — the service is listed at around five workdays — but success depends on getting the sponsor's status and the visitor's documents right the first time. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through eligibility, documents, fees, the step-by-step application, validity, and how to extend the stay if needed.

Who can apply and who can be invited

The family visit visa is available to both Saudi citizens and residents (iqama holders) who wish to bring first-degree relatives — such as a spouse, parents, or children — for a temporary visit. As the sponsor, you must have a clean status before you apply.

• A valid iqama (for residents) or Saudi national ID (for citizens).
• An active أبشر account registered in your name.
• No blocking violations on your record.
• For residents, the iqama must have enough remaining validity to cover the process.

Documents the visitor will need

Prepare the visitor's paperwork before you start, because incomplete details are the most common reason for delays. Requirements typically include:

• A passport valid for at least six months.
• A recent passport-style photo.
• Proof of relationship — for example, an attested marriage certificate or birth certificate linking you to the visitor.

Make sure names on the passport exactly match the relationship documents to avoid rejection.

Step-by-step: how to apply

The whole request begins on أبشر and, where needed, is completed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa services (Enjaz) and the relevant embassy or consular channel.

• Log in to your أبشر account.
• Open Visa Services / Family Visit Visa.
• Enter the visitor's details accurately, including passport and relationship information.
• Submit the request and wait for processing (about five workdays).
• Complete any required verification and issuance steps through the visa platform, and the embassy or consular channel if requested.

Fees and validity

The current fee for the family visit visa is SAR 300 for single-entry issuance. Some current summaries mention a higher fee of around SAR 500 for multiple-entry visas, but public guidance is inconsistent on whether multiple-entry is still generally issued in all cases — so treat single-entry as the standard and confirm the latest options on the official portal.

• Single-entry validity is commonly 90 days from issue.
• The permitted stay can reach up to 90 days.
• Extensions, when eligible, are handled inside the Kingdom through أبشر.

Because fee amounts and entry types can change, always verify the current figure on the official Saudi government portal before paying.

Extending the visit inside the Kingdom

If the visitor needs more time, an extension may be possible — but only under specific conditions and while the visitor is physically inside Saudi Arabia. Current rules require:

• The visitor to be inside the Kingdom.
• The visa to have 7 days or less remaining, or be within 3 days after expiry.
• The passport to still be valid.
• No unpaid traffic violations.

The extension fee is shown as SAR 100 in current أبشر guidance. In addition, mandatory visitor medical insurance is required for the extension and is paid separately; the premium varies by the visitor's age and the coverage chosen.

What changed recently

Recent guidance reflects tighter extension eligibility checks. Before approving an extension, the system now validates iqama status, outstanding violations, and insurance coverage. In practice this means it pays to clear any fines and keep your own residency documents in order well before the visa nears its end date.

Quick tips before you apply

• Fix any violations on your record first — they can block the request.
• Double-check passport spelling against relationship documents.
• Plan the extension early; the eligible window is short.
• Budget for insurance separately if an extension is likely.

For the most accurate fees, timelines, and entry options, always confirm details on أبشر and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa services before you submit.

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