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How does one get a visa to go to Saudi Arabia?
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How does one get a visa to go to Saudi Arabia?
How to independently visit Saudi Arabia?Why doesn't Saudi Arabia issue tourist visas?How cheap are the cheapest accommodations in Saudi Arabia?Visit visa to Saudi ArabiaExit-Reentry for Saudi ArabiaPersonal visit visa to Saudi Arabia for French citizensApply for a Bulgaria visa in CanadaWill a previous visa rejection affect my Canadian visa application?Saudi Arabia Transit VisaCigar shops in Saudi Arabia
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
I am not going for the Hajj or for the Jeddah Season Events.
I understand that there is no tourist visa for Saudi Arabia, but I have friends there to visit.
However, the Canadian website for the Saudi Arabia embassy only contains information for Saudi people to visit Canada:
https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/saudi_arabia-arabie_saoudite/index.aspx?lang=eng
And the Saudi website has a visa application form for "personal visit" but everything is in Arabic, even if you click on "English": https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/PersonalVisitVisa
Is there any way to do the application without the assistance of someone (or some translation device) that knows Arabic?
visas canadian-citizens saudi-arabia middle-east arabic-language
edited 56 mins ago
JonathanReez♦
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
asked yesterday
user1271772user1271772
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
add a comment |
I am not going for the Hajj or for the Jeddah Season Events.
I understand that there is no tourist visa for Saudi Arabia, but I have friends there to visit.
However, the Canadian website for the Saudi Arabia embassy only contains information for Saudi people to visit Canada:
https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/saudi_arabia-arabie_saoudite/index.aspx?lang=eng
And the Saudi website has a visa application form for "personal visit" but everything is in Arabic, even if you click on "English": https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/PersonalVisitVisa
Is there any way to do the application without the assistance of someone (or some translation device) that knows Arabic?
visas canadian-citizens saudi-arabia middle-east arabic-language
edited 56 mins ago
JonathanReez♦
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
asked yesterday
user1271772user1271772
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
Reading this Wikipedia article, it is not clear if they even issue tourist visas or not en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
– hojusaram
yesterday
9
That is the Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia, not the Saudi embassy in Canada. That is why it only has information for Saudi people to visit Canada. Try the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada web site instead.
– Michael Hampton
21 hours ago
One of my friends from college befriended the son of a Saudi prominent (IIRC a Saudi prince) at college and was offered a visit to Saudi Arabia. Realistically, this is probably the best possibility for most people...
– xuq01
8 mins ago
add a comment |
I am not going for the Hajj or for the Jeddah Season Events.
I understand that there is no tourist visa for Saudi Arabia, but I have friends there to visit.
However, the Canadian website for the Saudi Arabia embassy only contains information for Saudi people to visit Canada:
https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/saudi_arabia-arabie_saoudite/index.aspx?lang=eng
And the Saudi website has a visa application form for "personal visit" but everything is in Arabic, even if you click on "English": https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/PersonalVisitVisa
Is there any way to do the application without the assistance of someone (or some translation device) that knows Arabic?
visas canadian-citizens saudi-arabia middle-east arabic-language
edited 56 mins ago
JonathanReez♦
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
asked yesterday
user1271772user1271772
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
I am not going for the Hajj or for the Jeddah Season Events.
I understand that there is no tourist visa for Saudi Arabia, but I have friends there to visit.
However, the Canadian website for the Saudi Arabia embassy only contains information for Saudi people to visit Canada:
https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/saudi_arabia-arabie_saoudite/index.aspx?lang=eng
And the Saudi website has a visa application form for "personal visit" but everything is in Arabic, even if you click on "English": https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/PersonalVisitVisa
Is there any way to do the application without the assistance of someone (or some translation device) that knows Arabic?
visas canadian-citizens saudi-arabia middle-east arabic-language
visas canadian-citizens saudi-arabia middle-east arabic-language
edited 56 mins ago
JonathanReez♦
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
asked yesterday
user1271772user1271772
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
edited 56 mins ago
JonathanReez♦
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
asked yesterday
user1271772user1271772
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
edited 56 mins ago
JonathanReez♦
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
edited 56 mins ago
JonathanReez♦
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
edited 56 mins ago
JonathanReez♦
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
50.8k44 gold badges258 silver badges538 bronze badges
asked yesterday
user1271772user1271772
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
asked yesterday
user1271772user1271772
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
asked yesterday
user1271772user1271772
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
5512 silver badges15 bronze badges
Reading this Wikipedia article, it is not clear if they even issue tourist visas or not en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
– hojusaram
yesterday
9
That is the Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia, not the Saudi embassy in Canada. That is why it only has information for Saudi people to visit Canada. Try the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada web site instead.
– Michael Hampton
21 hours ago
One of my friends from college befriended the son of a Saudi prominent (IIRC a Saudi prince) at college and was offered a visit to Saudi Arabia. Realistically, this is probably the best possibility for most people...
– xuq01
8 mins ago
add a comment |
Reading this Wikipedia article, it is not clear if they even issue tourist visas or not en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
– hojusaram
yesterday
9
That is the Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia, not the Saudi embassy in Canada. That is why it only has information for Saudi people to visit Canada. Try the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada web site instead.
– Michael Hampton
21 hours ago
One of my friends from college befriended the son of a Saudi prominent (IIRC a Saudi prince) at college and was offered a visit to Saudi Arabia. Realistically, this is probably the best possibility for most people...
– xuq01
8 mins ago
Reading this Wikipedia article, it is not clear if they even issue tourist visas or not en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
– hojusaram
yesterday
Reading this Wikipedia article, it is not clear if they even issue tourist visas or not en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
– hojusaram
yesterday
9
9
That is the Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia, not the Saudi embassy in Canada. That is why it only has information for Saudi people to visit Canada. Try the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada web site instead.
– Michael Hampton
21 hours ago
That is the Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia, not the Saudi embassy in Canada. That is why it only has information for Saudi people to visit Canada. Try the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada web site instead.
– Michael Hampton
21 hours ago
One of my friends from college befriended the son of a Saudi prominent (IIRC a Saudi prince) at college and was offered a visit to Saudi Arabia. Realistically, this is probably the best possibility for most people...
– xuq01
8 mins ago
One of my friends from college befriended the son of a Saudi prominent (IIRC a Saudi prince) at college and was offered a visit to Saudi Arabia. Realistically, this is probably the best possibility for most people...
– xuq01
8 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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Realistically, you probably can't - at least, not at the moment.
Saudi Arabian visas are incredibly difficult to get. As you've said, there is no Tourist visa, and presumably you don't qualify for a Hajj visa (and even if you did, they only allow entry to specific areas and on specific dates - you can't travel within the country).
In general, the only visa a Canadian could get to access the country generally would be a business visa - but the chances of getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero. The paperwork required to justify your application is significant, as are the costs (my last Saudi visa cost over US$1600). All applications need to be done via an authorized agent, of which there are only a few - and as you've discovered several parts of the process need to be completed in Arabic.
The Saudi government stated in 2013 that they were going to start issuing tourist visas to citizens of select countries, however to date this has not started - with the latest estimates being by the end of 2019. However even if that occurs, Canada was not on the published list of countries that were to be included - although that could well change by the time they start issuing visas.
answered yesterday
DocDoc
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
2
"getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero" - of course, you could always come up with a business reason, such as wanting to visit a trade expo of some sort or wanting to meet with suppliers of something you might want to resell in your country. Plenty of hardcore travelers do that every year.
– JonathanReez♦
6 hours ago
2
@JonathanReez The bar set for such things is incredibly high. Despite working for a >100,000 person company with a globally household-known name, I had to get paperwork like a certificate of incorporation to prove that we existed. The requirements from the Saudi company that is inviting you is similar. I'm not saying it's impossible (I read an article by someone recently who did it), but it's about as close to it as you could get.
– Doc
5 hours ago
The article I was referring to - onestep4ward.com/i-got-saudi-arabia-visa
– Doc
5 hours ago
that's what I was talking about :) it's hard but not impossible.
– JonathanReez♦
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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Realistically, you probably can't - at least, not at the moment.
Saudi Arabian visas are incredibly difficult to get. As you've said, there is no Tourist visa, and presumably you don't qualify for a Hajj visa (and even if you did, they only allow entry to specific areas and on specific dates - you can't travel within the country).
In general, the only visa a Canadian could get to access the country generally would be a business visa - but the chances of getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero. The paperwork required to justify your application is significant, as are the costs (my last Saudi visa cost over US$1600). All applications need to be done via an authorized agent, of which there are only a few - and as you've discovered several parts of the process need to be completed in Arabic.
The Saudi government stated in 2013 that they were going to start issuing tourist visas to citizens of select countries, however to date this has not started - with the latest estimates being by the end of 2019. However even if that occurs, Canada was not on the published list of countries that were to be included - although that could well change by the time they start issuing visas.
answered yesterday
DocDoc
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
2
"getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero" - of course, you could always come up with a business reason, such as wanting to visit a trade expo of some sort or wanting to meet with suppliers of something you might want to resell in your country. Plenty of hardcore travelers do that every year.
– JonathanReez♦
6 hours ago
2
@JonathanReez The bar set for such things is incredibly high. Despite working for a >100,000 person company with a globally household-known name, I had to get paperwork like a certificate of incorporation to prove that we existed. The requirements from the Saudi company that is inviting you is similar. I'm not saying it's impossible (I read an article by someone recently who did it), but it's about as close to it as you could get.
– Doc
5 hours ago
The article I was referring to - onestep4ward.com/i-got-saudi-arabia-visa
– Doc
5 hours ago
that's what I was talking about :) it's hard but not impossible.
– JonathanReez♦
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Realistically, you probably can't - at least, not at the moment.
Saudi Arabian visas are incredibly difficult to get. As you've said, there is no Tourist visa, and presumably you don't qualify for a Hajj visa (and even if you did, they only allow entry to specific areas and on specific dates - you can't travel within the country).
In general, the only visa a Canadian could get to access the country generally would be a business visa - but the chances of getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero. The paperwork required to justify your application is significant, as are the costs (my last Saudi visa cost over US$1600). All applications need to be done via an authorized agent, of which there are only a few - and as you've discovered several parts of the process need to be completed in Arabic.
The Saudi government stated in 2013 that they were going to start issuing tourist visas to citizens of select countries, however to date this has not started - with the latest estimates being by the end of 2019. However even if that occurs, Canada was not on the published list of countries that were to be included - although that could well change by the time they start issuing visas.
answered yesterday
DocDoc
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
2
"getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero" - of course, you could always come up with a business reason, such as wanting to visit a trade expo of some sort or wanting to meet with suppliers of something you might want to resell in your country. Plenty of hardcore travelers do that every year.
– JonathanReez♦
6 hours ago
2
@JonathanReez The bar set for such things is incredibly high. Despite working for a >100,000 person company with a globally household-known name, I had to get paperwork like a certificate of incorporation to prove that we existed. The requirements from the Saudi company that is inviting you is similar. I'm not saying it's impossible (I read an article by someone recently who did it), but it's about as close to it as you could get.
– Doc
5 hours ago
The article I was referring to - onestep4ward.com/i-got-saudi-arabia-visa
– Doc
5 hours ago
that's what I was talking about :) it's hard but not impossible.
– JonathanReez♦
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Realistically, you probably can't - at least, not at the moment.
Saudi Arabian visas are incredibly difficult to get. As you've said, there is no Tourist visa, and presumably you don't qualify for a Hajj visa (and even if you did, they only allow entry to specific areas and on specific dates - you can't travel within the country).
In general, the only visa a Canadian could get to access the country generally would be a business visa - but the chances of getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero. The paperwork required to justify your application is significant, as are the costs (my last Saudi visa cost over US$1600). All applications need to be done via an authorized agent, of which there are only a few - and as you've discovered several parts of the process need to be completed in Arabic.
The Saudi government stated in 2013 that they were going to start issuing tourist visas to citizens of select countries, however to date this has not started - with the latest estimates being by the end of 2019. However even if that occurs, Canada was not on the published list of countries that were to be included - although that could well change by the time they start issuing visas.
answered yesterday
DocDoc
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
Realistically, you probably can't - at least, not at the moment.
Saudi Arabian visas are incredibly difficult to get. As you've said, there is no Tourist visa, and presumably you don't qualify for a Hajj visa (and even if you did, they only allow entry to specific areas and on specific dates - you can't travel within the country).
In general, the only visa a Canadian could get to access the country generally would be a business visa - but the chances of getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero. The paperwork required to justify your application is significant, as are the costs (my last Saudi visa cost over US$1600). All applications need to be done via an authorized agent, of which there are only a few - and as you've discovered several parts of the process need to be completed in Arabic.
The Saudi government stated in 2013 that they were going to start issuing tourist visas to citizens of select countries, however to date this has not started - with the latest estimates being by the end of 2019. However even if that occurs, Canada was not on the published list of countries that were to be included - although that could well change by the time they start issuing visas.
answered yesterday
DocDoc
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
edited 23 hours ago
answered yesterday
DocDoc
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
answered yesterday
DocDoc
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
answered yesterday
DocDoc
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
81.1k5 gold badges188 silver badges300 bronze badges
2
"getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero" - of course, you could always come up with a business reason, such as wanting to visit a trade expo of some sort or wanting to meet with suppliers of something you might want to resell in your country. Plenty of hardcore travelers do that every year.
– JonathanReez♦
6 hours ago
2
@JonathanReez The bar set for such things is incredibly high. Despite working for a >100,000 person company with a globally household-known name, I had to get paperwork like a certificate of incorporation to prove that we existed. The requirements from the Saudi company that is inviting you is similar. I'm not saying it's impossible (I read an article by someone recently who did it), but it's about as close to it as you could get.
– Doc
5 hours ago
The article I was referring to - onestep4ward.com/i-got-saudi-arabia-visa
– Doc
5 hours ago
that's what I was talking about :) it's hard but not impossible.
– JonathanReez♦
4 hours ago
add a comment |
2
"getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero" - of course, you could always come up with a business reason, such as wanting to visit a trade expo of some sort or wanting to meet with suppliers of something you might want to resell in your country. Plenty of hardcore travelers do that every year.
– JonathanReez♦
6 hours ago
2
@JonathanReez The bar set for such things is incredibly high. Despite working for a >100,000 person company with a globally household-known name, I had to get paperwork like a certificate of incorporation to prove that we existed. The requirements from the Saudi company that is inviting you is similar. I'm not saying it's impossible (I read an article by someone recently who did it), but it's about as close to it as you could get.
– Doc
5 hours ago
The article I was referring to - onestep4ward.com/i-got-saudi-arabia-visa
– Doc
5 hours ago
that's what I was talking about :) it's hard but not impossible.
– JonathanReez♦
4 hours ago
2
2
"getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero" - of course, you could always come up with a business reason, such as wanting to visit a trade expo of some sort or wanting to meet with suppliers of something you might want to resell in your country. Plenty of hardcore travelers do that every year.
– JonathanReez♦
6 hours ago
"getting one of these without a valid business reason is basically zero" - of course, you could always come up with a business reason, such as wanting to visit a trade expo of some sort or wanting to meet with suppliers of something you might want to resell in your country. Plenty of hardcore travelers do that every year.
– JonathanReez♦
6 hours ago
2
2
@JonathanReez The bar set for such things is incredibly high. Despite working for a >100,000 person company with a globally household-known name, I had to get paperwork like a certificate of incorporation to prove that we existed. The requirements from the Saudi company that is inviting you is similar. I'm not saying it's impossible (I read an article by someone recently who did it), but it's about as close to it as you could get.
– Doc
5 hours ago
@JonathanReez The bar set for such things is incredibly high. Despite working for a >100,000 person company with a globally household-known name, I had to get paperwork like a certificate of incorporation to prove that we existed. The requirements from the Saudi company that is inviting you is similar. I'm not saying it's impossible (I read an article by someone recently who did it), but it's about as close to it as you could get.
– Doc
5 hours ago
The article I was referring to - onestep4ward.com/i-got-saudi-arabia-visa
– Doc
5 hours ago
The article I was referring to - onestep4ward.com/i-got-saudi-arabia-visa
– Doc
5 hours ago
that's what I was talking about :) it's hard but not impossible.
– JonathanReez♦
4 hours ago
that's what I was talking about :) it's hard but not impossible.
– JonathanReez♦
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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Reading this Wikipedia article, it is not clear if they even issue tourist visas or not en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
– hojusaram
yesterday
9
That is the Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia, not the Saudi embassy in Canada. That is why it only has information for Saudi people to visit Canada. Try the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada web site instead.
– Michael Hampton
21 hours ago
One of my friends from college befriended the son of a Saudi prominent (IIRC a Saudi prince) at college and was offered a visit to Saudi Arabia. Realistically, this is probably the best possibility for most people...
– xuq01
8 mins ago