Business travelers and investors looking to enter Saudi Arabia have two main pathways: the business visit visa for short-term trips and investor residency for those establishing a licensed presence in the Kingdom. Here is a factual breakdown of fees, requirements, and the application process.
Business visit visa
The single-entry business visit visa is valid for 90 days and permits a stay of up to 90 days. The base fee is SAR 300, plus a SAR 39.38 digital visa service fee and a SAR 39.38 digital insurance service fee, in addition to mandatory medical insurance priced by the insurer. A multiple-entry version is valid for one year with a permitted stay of up to 90 days carrying a fee of SAR 300 to SAR 376 depending on the official issuance schedule, plus service fees and insurance.
To apply, a Saudi-registered company submits the invitation request through the Saudi Visa Platform. The applicant then completes the visa application, makes the payment, arranges insurance, and fulfills any embassy or visa-center requirements. Typical documents include a valid passport, the company invitation, applicant and business details, a photograph, and medical insurance. Additional legalization or Chamber procedures may apply to invitation documents.
Investor residency
For those planning to invest, the reported investor residency fee is SAR 4,000. Investor residency generally requires an approved Saudi investment activity and licensing through the وزارة الاستثمار, with eligibility and capital requirements depending on the investment category. The typical steps are: obtaining the relevant investment authorization or license, establishing or registering the Saudi entity, submitting the residency application through the designated Ministry of Interior or Premium Residency channels, completing medical and identity requirements, and paying the approved fee.
Validity of investor residency depends on the granted category and approval, and there is no single universal validity period covering all investor visas. In a notable recent change, the investor license period has been increased to five years, giving investors a longer window of certainty as they build their operations in the Kingdom.
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