Today’s Good News: Pakistanis and Indians can now get Saudi visit visa on arrival & can also perform Umrah.

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has introduced one-year multiple entry visit visas for Pakistanis, Indians and all other applicants who have a valid UK, US or Schengen visa stamped on their passports.

The new multiple-visa will be valid for one year and the visitors will also be allowed to pefrom Umrah. However, they are not allowed to perform Haj.

Visitors can get visa on arrival at any international airport in Saudi Arabia but they must have a credit card to pay fee amounting to SR440 (Dh431) as cash is not accepted. They will be allowed to stay for 90 days at a stretch and can enter the Kingdon of Saudi Arabia multiple times during the validity period of their visit visa.

Amazing experience:

“It was an amazing experience when I visited Saudi Arabia last week,” said Ahmed Qureshi who went to perform Umrah with his family and landed at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. “I paid fee at the immigration counter using my credit card and now all my family members have multiple visit visas valid for one year. It took just 15 minutes to complete the procedure,” he explained.

A reservation agent at the Saudi Airlines in Dubai told Gulf News that the new visa service started last month. “Anyone who has a valid UK, US or Schengen visa can obtain visit visa to Saudi Arabia on arrival. However, visa is issued to only those applicants who have used their US, UK or Schengen visa for at least once. You will not be given visa on arrival if you have US, UK or Schegen visa stamped on your passport but have never used it,” she explained.

One of the pre-conditions to get visit visa on arrival is that the visitors will have to travel on one of the Saudi-based airlines including Saudi Airlines, Flynas or Flydeal. This is mandatory only for first time visitors. Repeat visitors who already hold Saudi visit visa can use any other airline.

Can you perform Umrah?

For non-muslims, the Saudi Arabia Tourist eVisa is granted for tourism purposes only. Visitors are forbidden from visiting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

For Muslims, visitors may travel for Umrah on a tourist eVisa outside of Hajj season only.

Online visa:

Earlier, Saudi Arabia had opened its doors to the world through its new visit 90-day visa introduced in September last year for more than 50 countries. They are also given one-year multiple visit visa and they have to apply online. Pakistan, India and many other countries are not included in this list.

The tourist e-Visa (which is different from visa on arrival) allows travellers to enter the country for leisure purposes and it enables them to stay in Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days. The Saudi Arabia tourist e-Visa application process is very simple and 100 per cent online.

Once the application is submitted and accepted, the applicant will receive an electronic visa that must be shown to immigration officers upon arrival.

Travellers must have their passport with at least a six-month validity from the date of arrival and have at least one page available for stamping.

The Saudi Arabia Tourist e-Visa allows applicants multiple entry in Saudi Arabia and visitors can remain in the country for up to 90 days.

Requirements for visa on arrival

Valid passport for at least six months

Valid US, UK or Schengen visa stamped on the passport

The US, UK or Schenegen visa must be utilised for at least once before entering Saudi Arabia

Applicant must hold a credit card as no cash payment is accepted

Application fee SR440 for each applicant

One-year-multiple visa

Maximum stay 90 days

Umrah is allowed but visit visa holder cannot perform Haj

Requirements for online visa application:

Applicants must have a passport from one of the eligible countries listed on the online visa website

Passport should be valid for six months from their date of entry into the country.

Payment through credit card

Visa will be sent on applicant’s email within 24-hours once the application is submitted

Take the copy to travel to any destination in Saudi Arabia

Visa fee SR440

Citizens of following countries are eligible for online visit visa:

Canada

USA

Andorra

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Holland

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Monaco

Montenegro

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

San Marino

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Brunei

China (Including Hong Kong and Macau)

Japan

Kazakhstan

Malaysia

Singapore

South Korea

Australia

New Zealand