Country
Passport Required?
Visa Required?
Return Ticket Required?
(a) Holders of an Israeli passport or passports with
Israeli stamps in them. (b) Passengers not complying with
Saudi conventions of dress and behaviour, including those who
appear to be in a state of intoxication, will be refused entry
(see Social Conventions section). (c) There are special
regulations concerning pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia. Contact
the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) for further
information.
(a) Unaccompanied women must be met at the airport by their
sponsor or husband and have confirmed onward reservations as
far as their final destination in Saudi Arabia. If met by a
sponsor, it is worth noting that there are restrictions on
women travelling by car with men who are not related by blood
or marriage: enquiries can be made at the Information Centre
or Embassy. (b) No foreign passenger who is working as a
domestic servant in Saudi Arabia should be transported to
Saudi Arabia unless holding a valid non-refundable return
ticket.
A valid passport is required by all except Muslim pilgrims
holding ‘Pilgrim Passes’, tickets and other documents for
their onward or return journey and entering the country via
Jeddah or Medina. All passports must be valid for at least 6
months beyond the estimated stay in Saudi Arabia.
Required by all except the following:
(a) male nationals
of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab
Emirates;
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey
by the same or first connecting aircraft within 10 hours,
provided holding valid onward or return documentation, not
leaving the airport and making no further landing in Saudi
Arabia;
(c) holders of re-entry permits and ‘Landing
Permits’ issued by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
Family Visit, Business and Work
$60; Multiple entry: $145; Residency: $15;
Pilgrim (Ummra) Visa: no charge (2
weeks).
Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) Travellers are advised to apply well in advance.
Family visas: (a) 1 application form. (b) 1
passport-size photo. (c) Passport valid for at least 6 months.
(d) Prepaid, self-addressed, recorded delivery envelope, if
applying by post. (e) Fee (payable in cash, by postal order or
by banker’s draft only). (f) Invitation from host or sponsor,
authorised by Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Residency
visas: (a)-(e) and, (f) Medical report, authenticated by
the UK Foreign Office (for persons over 15 years of age).
Business visas: (a)-(e) and, (f) Letter of invitation from
Saudi host company endorsed by Saudi Chamber of Commerce. (g)
Letter from company or organisation in own country.
Work visas: (a)-(e), (f) letter of intoduction from
Saudi sponser and copy of the employment contract. (h) Medical
report, authenticated by the UK Foreign Office. (i) Copies of
academic qualifications and work experience in the field of
job applied for. (j) Letter of No Objection if
previously employed in Saudi Arabia. (k) An amount equivalent
to SR50 deposited at the Consulate’s cashier desk. (l)
Authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi
Arabia. Pilgrim visas: (a)-(d), (e) airline
ticket with confirmed booking (both ways) and, (f) meningitis
immunisation certificate is required.
At least 24 hours. At least 1 week if applying by post. For
information on processing time for all other types of visa,
contact the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy).
Nasseriya Street, Riyadh 11124, Saudi Arabia
Tel: (1)
406 7777 or 441 6836. Fax: (1) 403 0159.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all
travellers arriving from countries of which any parts are
infected.
Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant
falciparum form, exists throughout the year in most of
the Southern region except the high altitude areas of Asir
Province, and the urban areas of the Western Province (Jeddah,
Mecca, Medina and Taif). Resistance to chloroquine has been
reported. The recommended prophylaxis is chloroquine plus
proguanil.
All water should be regarded as being potentially
contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or
making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise
sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled.
Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make
sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy
products which are likely to have been made from unboiled
milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served
hot. Salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables
should be cooked and fruit peeled.
(a) During the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca),
Saudi Arabia requires vaccination of pilgrims against
meningococcal meningitis. Although this applies mainly
to pilgrims, other travellers may find themselves affected,
especially during the month of August. Vaccination is
compulsory all year round, however, for nationals of Burkina
Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria arriving from the following
countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic,
Chad, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea
(Rep), Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan. (b) Nationals of CIS
countries arriving for the Hajj require vaccination
against diphtheria.
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid
swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are
well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Hepatitis A
occurs and hepatitis B is endemic. Visceral
leishmaniasis occurs in the southwest of the
country.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk,
vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are
bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
Medical facilities are generally of a high standard, but
treatment is expensive. Health insurance is essential.
Feb 23 2002 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Mar 16 Islamic New Year. Mar 24 Ashoura. May
25 Birth of the Prophet. Oct 5 Leilat al-Meiraj
(Ascension of the Prophet). Dec 6-8 Eid al-Fitr (End of
Ramadan). Feb 13 2003 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the
Sacrifice). Mar 6 Islamic New Year. Mar 14
Ashoura. May 15 Birth of the Prophet. Sep 24
Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet). Nov 25-27
Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Destination Guide – Kingdom Saudi Arabia
Passport and Visa Application
Health
Holidays
Restricted entry
Note
Passports
Visas
Types of visa and cost
Application to
Application requirements
Working days required
Addresses
1
2
3
Note
Other risks
Health care
Public Holidays
Note
| British | yes | yes | yes |
| Australian | yes | yes | yes |
| Canadian | yes | yes | yes |
| USA | yes | yes | yes |
| OtherEU | yes | yes | yes |
| Japanese | yes | yes | yes |
| Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
|
|
|
|
| Health Precaution | Special Precaution | Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Fever | no | 1 |
| Cholera | no | no |
| Typhoid and Polio | yes | n/a |
| Malaria | 2 | n/a |
| Food and Drink | 3 | n/a |
|
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region. During Hajj (when pilgrims visit Mecca) all government establishments and some businesses will be closed for ten to fourteen days. |