Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Launched Free Stopover for visit - Visit Saudi Seasons

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the relevant authorities and in cooperation with the national air carriers, has launched the service of issuing (Free Stopover for visit) for those coming “by air” electronically, with the aim of facilitating coming to the Kingdom for all purposes, and facilitating and automating the procedures for obtaining an entry visa and automating it. The visa allows those passing by and those wishing to enter the Kingdom to perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque, in addition to moving around and attending Tourism Events.

The Ministry stated that the launch of the service will be from today, by submitting a request for a transit visa for a visit “by air” through the electronic platforms of the national airlines, to be automatically passed to the unified national platform for visas in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to process and issue the digital visa immediately and send it to the beneficiary via E-mail.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the digital transit visa service will contribute to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by strengthening the Kingdom’s position, and benefiting from its distinguished strategic location as a hub linking continents, a station that attracts transients, and a global tourist destination.

And she stated that the transit visa for the visit will be issued free of charge and immediately with the travel ticket, and its validity extends to three months, and residence in the Kingdom for a period of 4 days.

Enjoy Free Stopover Visa program that allows you to book your flight through our digital channels and stopovers of up to 96 hours with a free one-day stay.

During the downtime, you can perform Umrah, visit the holy sites, visit tourist and historical sites, and other wonderful activities. In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we made it possible for you to obtain a stopover visa immediately during the booking process*.

Steps to book a transit program to visit with national airlines

Select your international departure and arrival destinations.
Choose your flights with the most suitable connection time for you, up to a maximum of 96 hours.
If you do not have a valid document to enter the Kingdom; Apply for a visit transit visa from the Additional Services page.
Make sure to prepare your personal photos on your device according to the following specifications: (200*200px file size -20kb) before you start filling out the form.
We will collect the fees related to the issuance of the visa in one payment step together with the travel ticket.
You will receive an email with the issued visa and insurance for the duration of your stay in the Kingdom.

Conditions for benefiting from free accommodation

Once payment is confirmed, apply for a one-day free stay through the booking site.
When you arrive at the hotel, please present your boarding pass to the hotel receptionist to take advantage of the free stay offer.
Hotel reservations depend on the capabilities available at the time of making the reservation, and a request can be submitted via the form available on the site in the event that the possibility of reservation is not available.
All terms and conditions related to the selected hotels apply in cases of change or return of reservation.

Electronic visit transit visa:

The e-visit transit visa is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The residence period is 96 hours and its validity is 90 days from the date of its issuance. The periods may change according to the regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The e-visit transit visa is not extendable.
The number of transit times allowed for a single visa is one trip, as a transit visa is required for another visit in the event that there are additional trips that require a stopover in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia again.
Visa fees, electronic service fees, and medical and insurance service fees for an individual are calculated and prepared according to the visa regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Obtaining a transit visa for the electronic visit does not necessarily mean a guarantee of entry to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the documents will be checked by the passport officer to verify the validity of the information that was submitted.

Conditions for granting a transit visa for an electronic visit:

A recognized passport that does not contain any restriction or condition and is valid for a period of not less than six months (taking into consideration the bilateral agreements between the Kingdom and other countries regarding the validity of the passport).
A confirmed travel ticket to the intended destination, and an entry visa to it or a residence permit if he is not one of its citizens or exempted from obtaining a visa to enter it.

Terms and Conditions:

Ensure that the visa sent via e-mail is printed and shown upon entering the Kingdom.
An application for a transit visa for a visit is not made if the guest has a valid visa or documents allowing him to enter the Kingdom.
The applicant can cancel the visa if he refuses to travel, and there will be no refund for any of the visa fees after issuance, with the application of all terms and conditions of Saudi Airlines for airline tickets.
You can apply for another visa immediately after canceling the current visa for any reason.
Companions under the age of eighteen are included in the visa applicant’s application, as companions of this age group are not allowed to apply individually.
In the event that the application is rejected for one of the applicants, all persons attached to the same application will be rejected accordingly.
The price that appears after the approval of the sent request includes all fees related to the service, including insurance fees.
Passengers who have a transit visa for a visit and have a stopover period of more than 24 hours are required to collect their baggage at the stopover station, and the baggage cannot be delivered if the stopover time is less than 24 hours.
Passengers will not be accepted at the originating station if the requirements for travel to the final destination are not completed.
In the event that the transit passenger is not accepted at the transportation station, the passenger will bear the cost of returning him to the originating station at his own expense.
The responsibility to ensure the validity of the travel documents, the validity of the visa, the duration of the layover, health requirements, attendance for the flight before the take-off time, and the amendment of the reservation after the issuance of the visa and tickets is the responsibility of the traveler.
Passenger in transit for a single confirmed reservation is taken to the final intended destination and separate reservations are not handled.
Print the boarding pass and the baggage tag to the last stop at the originating station, if the transportation period does not exceed 24 hours.
Passengers who are authorized to obtain a visa upon arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and who are accompanied by a reservation for a connection will not be treated as passengers in transit, and their travel procedures will be completed to the first station, regardless of the period of transportation, and they must fulfill all travel requirements to their final destination before embarking on travel.

Frequently asked questions about a transit visa for a visit

Who are eligible for the visa?

They are all travelers on Saudi Airlines or Flynas to their final destination via any airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as of January 30, and the transit visa for the visit is intended for travelers to their final destination via Saudi Airlines, for example: from London to Cairo via a Saudi airport and Saudi Airlines

When is the decision applied?

January 30, 2023

How do I apply for the visa?

You can apply for the visa while booking your flight through the Saudi national airlines.

How long does it take to apply for a visa?

It only takes 3 minutes to apply for a transit visa for a visit

How long does it take to issue a visa?

The visa is sent to the e-mail immediately after the completion of managing your reservations and paying for them

How much does the visa cost?

The transit visa for the visit is free of charge, except for the costs of electronic services in addition to the health insurance fees

Do I have to pay for accommodation while in Saudi Arabia?

A free night is included with the visa when booking through Saudi Airlines, subject to availability

Is health insurance included in the visa?

yes

Can I get the visa in advance?

Visitors can apply for a visa up to 90 days before travelling

What is the validity period of the visa?

The validity of the visa is (90) days, and the validity of the stay in the Kingdom is (96) hours.

Does the visa allow the performance of Umrah?

Yes, visa holders can perform Umrah during their stopover by registering on the NSK platform, and Hajj cannot be performed using a transit visa to visit

Can I apply for a visa if I am traveling to Saudi Arabia for a vacation or a business trip?

Yes, you can apply for the visa if you are planning one trip during your trip to your final destination and you plan to stay for 96 hours. Also, the visit transit visa allows its holder to attend conferences and business seminars and does not allow him to work.

What if I need help while I am in Saudi Arabia?

You can call 930 24 hours a day to get help for visitors

Will I feel welcome as a visitor?

Saudis are known for their hospitality and there is so much to explore and we can’t wait to share what we have in our pristine homeland with our visitors