Saudi Arabia Transit Visa: When Will It be Not Issued?
Saudi Arabia has introduced a Saudi Transit visa for foreign travelers who are looking to visit another country through KSA and stop by any of Saudi Arabian airports for 18 to 72 hours. If you are on the same page, you need to obtain a Saudi Transit visa alongside the visa for another nation you are visiting.
Are you thinking of getting it at the airport? Well, there's a catch! Saudi Arabia Transit visas are not available on arrival. In fact, there are many other circumstances when Transit visas to Saudi Arabia are not issued. Let us tell you why.
Why Are Saudi Transit Visas Not Issued for Visa on Arrival (VoA)?
Recently, Saudi Arabia doesn't provide foreign nationals with a visa on arrival (VoA) option when it comes to obtaining a Saudi Transit visa. Usually, the primary reason is security concerns. The Saudi Arabian government thinks that allowing a pre-approved visa for transit purposes may eliminate the chances of passenger verification to identify their travel intentions, especially for those who go through any airport for such long hours. Also, additional security initiatives, like infrastructure and personnel, are needed at the airports to ensure security and safety of passengers. Besides this, there are some other circumstances when Saudi Arabia doesn't issue transit visas. Such as:
When you are a woman traveling alone, you won't be eligible to apply for a Saudi Transit visa. You have to be with a male guardian while submitting a copy of your birth certificate or marriage certificate to obtain the visa. Also, if there are children with you, submission of their birth certificate is also necessary as evidence of being with legal parents.
If you are laying over Jeddah while visiting another country and planning to perform Hajj or Umrah leveraging this opportunity, it's not possible. You won't get a transit visa in this case. Transit visas in Jeddah are not issued to foreign travelers during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. Instead, you need to apply for an Umrah visa or Hajj visa to stick to your plan.
How to Apply for a Saudi Transit Visa Online?
As mentioned earlier,visa on arrival (VoA) is not an option for Saudi Transit visas. Hence, when you have to travel through Saudi to visit another country, the only option is to apply online. Here's how to apply for a Saudi Transit visa:
To start the process, you need to submit a few vital documents first, including a valid passport, a recent passport-size photograph, a filled out and signed Saudi visa questionnaire as a declaration of agreeing on Saudi Laws, a travel itinerary, a confirmed ticket of visiting your destination country if laying over at the Saudi airport.
Next, fill out the form online and pay the Saudi Arabia Transit visa fees (charges are different depending on the country you belong to).
Note: Make sure you don't overstay on your transit visa as it may charge you a hefty amount.
Need help with the Saudi Transit Visa Application?
If yes, or if you need further information about a Transit visa to Saudi Arabia when planning to layover at the airport during your journey to another country through Saudi, we can help.
At SAUDI ARABIA VISA, we have an efficient team for customer support to guide you throughout the process, whether for obtaining this travel authorization or document translation into English from over 100 languages. Also, we ensure you have an error-free application by checking it thoroughly for accuracy, spelling, and grammar. Visit our portal today to apply online now or check your eligibility.
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Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently introduced an electronic visa specifically designed for transit passengers, permitting them to continue their stay in the country for a maximum of 96 hours. Find out more at New Transit Visa for Saudi Arabia Launched.
Check your eligibility for Online Saudi Visa and apply for Online Saudi Visa 3 days in advance of your flight. German citizens, Czech citizens, Slovak citizens, Spanish citizens and Maltese citizens can apply online for Online Saudi Visa.