Family Visit Visa Saudi Arabia: Steps & Fees Guide

Bringing your parents, spouse, or children to Saudi Arabia for a short stay is one of the most common requests from expatriate families. The family visit visa makes this possible, but the process involves specific eligibility rules, document attestation, government fees, and mandatory medical insurance. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through who qualifies, what you need, how much to budget, and the step-by-step path from application to stamping.

Who can sponsor a family visit visa?

The family visit visa is limited to first-degree relatives — parents, spouse, and children — of Saudi citizens and residents. If you are an expatriate resident, a few conditions apply before you can sponsor anyone:

• You must hold a valid work iqama. A dependent or relative iqama does not qualify you to sponsor a visit visa.
• The visitor's passport must be valid.
• The family relationship must be proven with attested marriage or birth certificates, so make sure these documents are officially authenticated in advance.

Documents you'll need

Preparing your paperwork correctly is the single best way to avoid delays. Have the following ready:

• A copy of your valid work iqama.
• The visitor's valid passport.
• Attested proof of relationship (marriage certificate for a spouse, birth certificate for children or parents).
• When completing the electronic form, ensure that non-Arabic names match the passport exactly, as mismatches are a frequent cause of rejection.

How to apply: step by step

The application runs through the visa services platform of وزارة الاستثمار's counterpart ministry handling foreign affairs. The core steps are:

• Submit the request on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa services platform. The electronic form is in Arabic, and names must match the passport.
• Authenticate the request — it is electronically stamped and authenticated by the Chamber of Commerce or your employer.
• Pay the fees inside Saudi Arabia via SADAD using your application number.
• Complete stamping abroad — after approval, the visitor finalizes the visa at the designated visa center or consulate in their country using the MOFA application number.

Many sponsors in cities like الرياض use typing centers such as Tasheel offices in the Olaya district to complete the online steps, which typically adds a service fee of around SAR 100–250

Fees and insurance: what to budget

Costs come in several layers. Here is what to expect:

• MOFA issuance fee: SAR 300 for a single-entry family visit visa, and SAR 500 for a multiple-entry visa.
• Electronic services fee: around SAR 40
• Insurance services fee: around SAR 40 charged together with the MOFA fee.
• Mandatory visitor medical insurance: must be purchased through an approved insurer integrated with the MOFA system. Typical premiums range from roughly SAR 90–300+ for most adults, and can reach around SAR 180–500+ for older parents depending on age and coverage.

Some compiled fee tables show a single-entry government fee of around SAR 300 for 30–90 days of validity, and multiple-entry options around SAR 376–500 for up to 180 days total validity. For many families, the total out-of-pocket cost per visitor — MOFA fee plus electronic and insurance services plus the insurance premium — typically falls in the SAR 375–560+ range, before any typing-center or courier charges.

Processing time and what happens next

Processing on the MOFA platform usually takes about 3 business days, though in practice it can range from roughly 1 to 7 business days for standard family visit requests. Once approved, the visitor completes stamping at the visa center or consulate abroad, where some centers add their own service and insurance-handling fees on top of the core amounts.

Important limitations to remember

The family visit visa is strictly for short-term family visits. Keep these points in mind:

• It does not grant permission to work.
• It does not automatically convert into residency (iqama) — that requires a separate process.
• Single-entry and multiple-entry options differ in validity and permitted length of stay, so choose the one that matches your family's plans.

Because fees, insurance premiums, and validity periods can change, always confirm the latest figures and requirements on the relevant official Saudi government portal before you apply and pay.

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