Visa application / entry requirements: Saudi Arabia

E-VISA FOR TOURISTS

Germans and 48 other nationalities - if travelling as tourists - are entitled to apply for an e-visa (electronic visa) online. You can apply via the following website: https://visa.visitsaudi.com

The electronic visa is valid for one year from the date of issue and allows multiple entries with a stay of up to 90 days each (but maximum 180 days during one calender year). 

How to obtain an eVisa via SERVISUM can be found in the black box on the right.

REGULAR BUSINESS VISA

For the regular visa application to Saudi Arabia, biometric data (fingerprints and iris scan) of all applicants are recorded. For this purpose, the company "VFS TasHeel International" with its offices in Berlin and Frankfurt has been commissioned, where the applicants have to hand in their documents personally.

Depending on the place of application and visa category, additional documents may be required or these may vary slightly. More about that can be read below.

Application in Berlin or Frankfurt?

The place of application can be chosen freely. However, it is important that the recipient of the invitation letter is the same as the recipient of the company letter. This means that the company letter must be addressed to the Saudi Embassy in Berlin if the invitation is also addressed to Berlin. In the case that the invitation is addressed to Frankfurt, the Saudi Consulate in Frankfurt must also be entered as recipient in the company letter. However, VFS TasHeel will charge a forwarding fee of approximately € 50 if the application is submitted in the letter of invitation at a location other than the representation mentioned above.

There are also some differences between the application in Berlin and Frankfurt. For example, travelers applying for a "government visit" visa in Frankfurt do not need to make an appointment with VFS TasHeel, but apply for the visa directly at the consulate.

Also, other documents are required when processing business visas in Frankfurt, these are:

• a copy of the commercial register of the sponsoring company of the Chamber of Commerce of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• original qualification certificate
• Bachelor's degree certificate in original for lawyers, architects, engineers, doctors, project managers, technical managers. all other qualifications, except Sales/Divisional/Export/Marketing/Commercial Managers, original diploma or university degree is required, related to the company activity and the employee's job title
• diploma certificate or experience certificate for professional and technical professions for technicians, mechanics, assemblers and skilled workers in original.

If you apply for the visa in Berlin but have an invitation issued in Frankfurt, the following additional documents are required.

• two high resolution passport size photos on a white background
  It is essential that the two passport size photos match the photo taken on the day of the appointment during the biometric data collection at the Visa Center (mustache, beard, hair length/color, tan, etc. may cause inconsistencies with the photo taken during the biometric data collection). Therefore, it is advisable to take both passport size photos on the same day of the appointment at our Visa Service Centers.
• a current certificate of registration in original, not older than 6 months
  (non-EU citizens a copy of the valid residence permit, still valid for at least 6 months)
• the passport must not have any conditions that prevent the passport holder from entering Saudi Arabia
• visa invitation or pre-approved visa (not older than 90 days)
• the job title on the visa invitation or pre-approved visa must be identical to the job title in the letter of guarantee from the German company

We recommend - if possible - to apply in Berlin with an invitation also issued in Berlin.

More information can be found here: Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia // VFS TasHeel 

Website of the embassy: http://embassies.mofa.gov.sa