Everything You Need to Know About the Saudi VoA Facility

If you are looking for an escape from your busy city life, Saudi Arabia can be a great place for you. The country has at least something for everyone – food, luxury, or culture, whatever you prefer for your refreshment. 

In fact, recently, the country has decided to promote open tourism. It allows you to explore hidden landscapes with treasures of their own.

However, before you see all those things, you will need to apply for a Saudi Arabian visa. Now, most people prefer to apply for the visa online. On the other hand, you can also opt for a Saudi Visa on Arrival or VoA.  

That’s because the Government allows citizens from over 60 countries like New Zealand, India, and Nigeria to apply for it.
Learn more about the Saudi VoA application process below.  

What Do You Mean By The Saudi Visa on Arrival (VoA)?

This travel document allows people to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As its name suggests, you can apply for this visa at the airport after disembarking from the plane.  Learn about the application process below.

Process of Application

Applying for the Visa on Arrival is simple in Saudi Arabia. You can do that in two ways:

• Proceeding to the self-service kiosk
• Visiting the passport control office.

You can follow the steps below to simplify your application process:

Check if you really need a visa – If you are a citizen of the GCC countries, you are saved from a lot of trouble. Saudi Arabia welcomes citizens from their neighbouring countries (GCC countries only) with a valid ID or passport. 

Are you underage? – If you happen to be under eighteen, you will have to be accompanied by a legal guardian who is older than eighteen. 

As you can see, the time you take to fill in the application will depend on the people in the group. 

Carry all the necessary documents with you before applying. Remember, with this visa, you get land, air, or sea as valid Saudi visa ports of entry.

Conditions to Apply for a Visa on Arrival

Saudi Arabia has a strict policy when it comes to issuing visas on Arrival. A person holding a UK, USA, or Schengen visa is eligible to apply for the Saudi Arabia Visa on Arrival.  You must hold a tourist or business visa, and your passport must have at least one stamp from the issuing country. There is more, you must have a permanent residence address in the UK, US, or EU.

The visa validity is also important when applying for VoA. 

You should know that your visa is valid for up to six months from your date of entry. If you meet all the conditions to apply for a VoA, you can get either a multiple-entry or single-entry visa. However, this will depend on the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Visa on Arrival is a great way to enter the country without waiting for approval after an online application. Besides, you can quickly plan for a tour to Saudi Arabia with the VoA option if you get too busy at work and don’t have much time to plan for a trip. On the other hand, in e-visa or other variants, you need to plan and wait for approval. Otherwise, your plan for Saudi Arabia is Kaput.

Documents Required for Saudi VoA

Let’s take a quick glance at the required documents for a Saudi visa on arrival:

• A valid passport with a validity of 6 months from the date of entrance (for UK and Schengen country citizens)
• Proof of your permanent residence in the US, UK, and EU in case you identify yourself as a national of other countries

Validity of the Saudi VoA

You can get a Saudi visa on arrival with single or multiple entries. The multiple-entry visa remains valid for a year from its date of issue.  On the other hand, you can stay for ninety days with a single-entry visa. However, this will depend on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Restrictions and Limitations of the Saudi VoA  

With a visa on arrival, you can use it for tourism or business purposes. It also allows you to do Umrah except during the Hajj. To do other activities, such as investment, diplomatic reasons, and others, you need to apply for different visa types. A Saudi visa on arrival is not good for you to do other activities.

In case you overstay or do not leave the country intentionally even after the validity period is over, you can be fined. For each day of overstaying, you have to pay SAR100. You can even be put in jail for overstaying long after the validity of your Saudi visa on arrival is over.

Besides, you can be in trouble if you carry in or out of the country that is not allowed. 

For example:

• Pork and pork-related products
• Weapons
• Drugs
• Used clothing, unless it’s your personal clothes
• Pornographic materials and others

So you should check your baggage before you leave Saudi Arabia, or when you’re packing for the trip.

Places to Visit in Saudi Arabia with VoA 

Now that you have learnt everything about the Saudi visa on arrival, let’s know some places that you must visit in the country.

Hegra in Alula – The sandstone architecture built by the Nabataeans is the crown jewel of your tour. With over 100 tombs carved in the cliff of sandstone, the site has been referred to as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Book the evening slot beforehand and enjoy your trip to the site.

Old Town in Alula – Another attractive place is the old town of Alula. With hundreds of mud houses on either side of the main street, it feels like you’ve travelled back in time to the 12th century. At the time, the town had a fort and fourteen entrances. 

When you visit the place, we recommend collecting unique perfumes from local shops or buying souvenirs. Don’t forget to sample the saffron coffee the town is known for. 

Edge of the World, Riyadh – Travel approximately 98 km north of Riyadh to reach the place. Standing on the edge of the canyon and looking at the vast stretch of desert below really gives you a feeling of standing at the Edge of the World.

You can carry a paperback to read there or a refreshing beverage, as it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

At Turaif, Riyadh- Another interesting place to visit while you are in Riyadh. The place is both historically and aesthetically significant. Here resides the father of Saudi Arabia, the House of Saud. The beautiful alleyways and winding paths will give you the vibe of walking on the movie set of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.

These are not all, several beautiful and exotic locations are there that you can explore with a Saudi visa on arrival.

Ready to Visit Saudi Arabia with a VoA? 

While a visa on arrival for Saudi Arabia helps you avoid waiting time and possible risk of online payment issues, you may have to wait in the queue upon arriving at any of the Saudi visa ports of entry.

Have an amazing trip!