As a part of its growth and development initiatives, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will now allow easier access for GCC residents (including residents of Oman) to the country with an eVisa – and here’s how you can apply for one.
It must be noted that the new law, which a Ministerial Decree implemented, will allow resident cardholders of the Sultanate to visit the Kingdom on a multiple-entry eVisa which is valid for one year.
Tourists can spend up to 90 days in the country, following which they must exit the borders. The eVisa primarily overs tourism-related activities and Umrah (excluding the Hajj season) and other activities such as educational trips.
The eVisa should also cut the time taken for visas to be granted to foreigners for entering the Kingdom.
This decision also extends to a new visa-on-arrival system that will allow residents of the UK, US, and the EU to visit the country without applying for a visa beforehand.
OERLive learns that the holders of a valid tourist or business visa from the UK, US or one of the Schengen agreement countries will be applicable for receiving visas on arrival provided that the holder has entered the country (that issued the visa) at least once.
To ease the process, visitors will also no longer need to visit the country’s embassy to seek permission.
In a statement issued by Khaleej Times, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia, was quoted as saying: “Elevating the visitor experience is at the heart of the tourism sector’s future. Through harnessing digital innovation and streamlining the traveller journey, Saudi Arabia is welcoming more and more visitors from all corners of the globe.”
Travellers from 48 countries are currently eligible to apply for the Saudi Arabian visa. This includes the US, Canada, Switzerland, UK, China, Singapore, Australia, and South Korea – but citizens of South Asian countries such as India and Pakistan are not on the list of countries eligible for the eVisa.
How Can Oman Residents Apply For The eVisa:
1) Visit the https://visa.visitsaudi.com/ website. Here, travellers can apply for a visa in three simple steps:
- Fill in the online application
- Pay the visa fee
- Get your online visa
Requirements For Applying For The eVisa:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old to use the service and to apply for an eVisa. Travellers cannot use the service if they are under 18 years of age. “If you will be using the service on behalf of a minor, you agree to these terms on behalf of that minor and you represent that you have the authority to do so. If you do not have such authority, you must not use the service,” according to instructions posted by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism.
- Applicants need to have a valid passport with six months of validity from a permitted country.
- If the eVisa application is accepted, the visa will be sent as an attachment via e-mail.
- Rejected applicants will be informed via e-mail.
- Once applicants have submitted an application for an eVisa, they will not be able to cancel it or request a refund under any circumstances.
- However, applicants that are not successful (for whatever reason) will not be entitled to a refund of any application fees paid.
- Any application containing false or misleading information will be rejected.
- Payment of an application fee does not guarantee approval of an eVisa.
- The price of the service will be set out on the Website and at the time of payment during the eVisa application process.
- VAT will be charged at the applicable rate and will be payable by the applicant as part of the fees.
- eVisa will be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
- It will be valid for multiple entries unless stated otherwise on the specific eVisa.
- The maximum length of stay allowed under the eVisa is three months.
- Once granted an eVisa, it cannot be extended.
- If the eVisa expires before entry to KSA, applicants must apply again and another application fee must be paid.
- An eVisa is granted solely for tourist purposes or for the purpose of performing an Umrah and it is not considered a visa for work.
- Applicants must be able to support themselves (and any dependents) during the visit.
