Ultimate Guide to Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa: Requirements and Eligibility

Updated on Mar 04, 2025 | Saudi e-Visa

Are you planning to visit Saudi Arabia? Are you coming to visit your family in Saudi? Then, one thing that you need is a Saudi Arabia family visit visa. This will work like your permit in easily visiting your family. The process of getting this visa involves a few different steps. These are set in place to make visa applications simpler for you.

However, the mix of these steps can sometimes make it hard for people to understand everything. On top of that, if you are doing this for the first then you are anyway expected to face a few difficulties. This is why it is better to understand the different factors of this travel permit before you apply for it.

What is the Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa?

This is just like any other travel permit issued by the KSA. However, the only difference is the purpose of the visit. A Saudi Arabia family visit visa gives you short-term access to the country to meet your family members.

One can use this visa if they are coming to Saudi Arabia to meet:

  • Parents
  • Spouses
  • Siblings
  • Children
  • Direct in-laws

Meeting anyone who is not a part of this list will not qualify as a purpose to get this visa. Moreover, you will also have to prove that you are being invited to come to this country by a family member. This is why individuals are required to share a letter of invitation from the member who is inviting them.

This particular visa comes in two entry types. These are single-entry visas and multiple-entry visas. These are different from one another in a few different ways which is why you are required to choose whichever fits your plans the best.

Validity period

  • Single-Entry Visa: 90 days
  • Multiple-Entry Visa: 6 months to 1 year

Stay up period

  • Single-Entry Visa: 30 days
  • Multiple-Entry Visa: 90 days (each visit)

Number of Entries

  • Single-Entry Visa: Only one
  • Multiple-Entry Visa: Multiple entries and exits

Extension

  • Single-Entry Visa: The stay-up period can be extended
  • Multiple-Entry Visa: One cannot extend the stay-up period

Why You May Need a Family Visit Visa

It is quite clear by the name of it that the visa focuses on family relations. This gives you a chance to meet your family members to rebuild or strengthen your bond with your family members.

Moreover, one can also apply for this visa to attend different family occasions like a family reunion, the wedding of a child or sibling, spending holidays, or even cultural exchanges. All that an individual needs is an invitation letter from a first-line family member and that will be more than enough to ensure the rest.

Eligibility Criteria for a Saudi Family Visit Visa

Getting a Saudi Arabia family visit visa seems like an excellent way to meet your family. This visa comes with a few different eligibility criteria. So, it is best if an individual checks the criteria before they end up applying for the visa.

Who Can Apply for a Family Visit Visa?

This visa can only be applied by individuals with immediate family residing in Saudi Arabia. However, this family member should be a citizen of the country. This family must have a permanent address and employment in the country.

Moreover, every family member does not qualify as an immediate family member. Rather, it is only the parents, siblings, spouse, in-laws, and children of Saudi Arabian citizens who can apply for the visa.

Conditions for Sponsorship

The resident sponsor in a Saudi Arabia family visit visa is known as the Kafeel. This word has originated from Urdu and it first originated in the Quran. The meaning of it is someone who is in charge of a responsibility or sponsorship. Moreover, in some places, they are also referred to as the guarantors.

They will have to provide a valid invitation letter from their end to become the sponsor. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs must sponsor and approve the same.

Requirements for Saudi Family Visit Visa Application

Similar to all other types of visas, this one also involves you matching a few requirements. Some of the documents that they will require are:

Valid Passport and Passport-Sized Photos

This one is definitely constant with all types of visas irrespective of what the purpose of your visit is. So, make sure you have a valid passport based on the requirements of the authority. Basically, it should have a minimum validity of 6 months and have 2 blank pages at least. On the other hand, your photograph should be of passport size, one where your face is visible.

Proof of Relationship

You will have to share some documents that prove your relationship with the sponsor. For this, you can use your birth certificate, marriage certificate, or anything that validates the relationship.

Sponsor ID and Iqama Copy

Validating the identity of the sponsor is an important part of the visa process. This is why you will need to add in a government ID of the sponsor and a copy of their Iqama. The latter is a document that works like a resident certificate, this helps in proving that the sponsor is indeed a citizen of the country.

Letter of Invitation from the Sponsor

Your sponsor is required to write a formal letter that deals with them inviting you to Saudi Arabia. This letter should be approved by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for it to be treated as a valid document.

Saudi Arabia family visit visa application process

Applying for this visa is pretty simple. This comprises a few different steps that should be followed by all if they want to get the visa. Some of the steps of this visa application process are:

Visit portal

Step 1 is to visit our portal. From there go to our application form.

Form fill up

This step is all about filling out all the areas of the form with accurate answers. Make sure you make no mistakes in this step and copy exactly as it is written in your government detail. Moreover, you should properly answer the questions which deal with the specifics of your visit.

Attach your documents

The required documents have been mentioned above. But in case you still have some confusion then you can check our portal for a detailed understanding. Some of the basic things that you will have to provide are scanned copies of your photograph, passport, proof of relationship, and other things.

Fee payment

This is the last step of the process where you will be required to pay the application fee. The amount varies based on your nationality, so remember to check it during the time of application.

Submit the form once these are done. After that, you will have to wait a few days for the application to be approved. Post approval, you will receive the letter in your provided email ID. Print this out and take it with you on your trip.

Ready to get a Saudi Arabia family visit visa?

A Saudi Arabia family visit visa works like a super key that helps you meet your immediate family members easily. This can be availed quite easily if you manage to follow a proper method for it. Just make sure you have arranged all the necessary documents and carry out the whole thing with proper attention.

However, if you still face any difficulty then you can just get help from our Helpdesk.

Check your eligibility for Online Saudi Visa and apply for Online Saudi Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight.

 
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