Saudi Family Visit Visa: Requirements & Steps

Bringing your spouse, children, or parents to Saudi Arabia for a visit is one of the most common requests we hear from residents. The family visit visa exists exactly for this purpose, allowing first-degree relatives of a Saudi citizen or legal resident to stay in the Kingdom for a defined period. The process is fully electronic and manageable on your own, but it depends on getting the documents and eligibility right from the start. This guide walks you through who qualifies, what you need, the costs involved, and the exact steps to apply.

Who can be invited

Family visit visas are issued only for first-degree relatives of the sponsor. That means:

• Spouse
• Children
• Parents
• Parents-in-law

The sponsor must be inside Saudi Arabia at the time of application and must hold a valid Iqama or Saudi ID with roughly four months or more of remaining validity. If your Iqama is close to expiry, renew it before applying to avoid rejection.

Documents you will need

Preparing your paperwork in advance saves the most time. As the sponsor, have ready:

• A clear copy of your valid Iqama or Saudi ID
• A copy of your passport
• Proof of relationship such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate, officially translated if it is not in Arabic or English
• Basic personal data for each visitor: full name, nationality, passport details, religion, and relationship to you

Each visitor must have:

• A passport valid for at least six months with blank pages
• A compliant digital photo
• Proof of relationship that matches the sponsor's documents
• Health insurance covering the Kingdom for the full period of stay

How to apply step by step

The application is submitted by the sponsor through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs electronic visa services platform, under the services for individuals and residents. The process runs as follows:

• Open the MOFA e-visas platform and complete the online form in Arabic. Names must be entered in Latin script exactly as they appear in each passport.
• Add each visitor individually and choose single or multiple entry.
• Save or print the completed application.
• Have the application electronically attested by your employer, or authenticated through the Chamber of Commerce if you are an expatriate sponsor. The Chamber attestation carries a small fee of around 35 SAR.
• Once approved, MOFA issues an electronic visa authorization with a reference number.

The visitor then uses this reference number in their country of residence for visa stamping or e-visa issuance, depending on the procedures of the local Saudi mission.

Understanding the costs

Fees change over time, so always confirm the current amounts on the official platform before paying. As a general guide:

• For most nationalities, stamping outside the Kingdom is done through the Enjaz/Tasheer system using the MOFA reference number. The base MOFA fee for a single-entry family visit visa is typically around 300 SAR.
• Multiple-entry visas usually fall into a higher band, commonly around 500 SAR, though some updated guidance uses a flat 300 SAR core amount with insurance and service fees added on top.
• Mandatory health insurance varies by age and risk. For a young adult it often falls in the 40–100 SAR range, while for an older visitor around 60 years old it can exceed 500 SAR.
• Recent digital practice adds two small non-refundable surcharges per application: a "digital services" charge of roughly 39–40 SAR and a separate "insurance services" platform fee of roughly 39–40 SAR, collected alongside the insurance premium.

Tips for a smooth application

• Double-check that every name in Latin script exactly matches the passport spelling, including middle names.
• Make sure your relationship documents are consistent between sponsor and visitor records.
• Complete the employer or Chamber attestation promptly, as approval cannot proceed without it.
• Keep your Iqama validity comfortably above the minimum threshold throughout the process.
• Confirm the final fees and insurance premiums on the official government portals, as these figures are updated periodically.

With the right documents and a valid Iqama, most residents can complete a family visit visa application on their own within a short time. Prepare carefully, verify each detail, and always rely on the official Saudi government platforms for the latest fees and requirements.

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