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The information below is provided by The Expatriates Saudi readers and is not verified by the webmaster. For the official lowdown, contact your nearest embassy.
Saudi
Arabia
+ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Passports valid for at least six months and visas are required for entry. Visas are issued for business and work, to visit close relatives, and for transit and religious visits. Visas for tourism are issued only for approved tour groups following organized itineraries. Airport and seaport visas are not available. All visas require a sponsor, can take several months to process, and must be obtained prior to arrival. On occasion, American citizens have reported they were refused a Saudi visa because their passports reflected travel to Israel or indicated they were born in Israel. Women visitors and residents are required to be met by their sponsor upon arrival. Women traveling alone, who are not met by sponsors, have experienced delays before being allowed to enter the country or to continue on to other flights.
Women and children residing in Saudi Arabia as members of a Saudi household (including adult American-citizen women married to Saudi men, adult American-citizen women who are the unmarried daughters of Saudi fathers, and American-citizen boys under the age of 21 who are the sons of Saudi fathers) require the permission of the Saudi male head of their household to leave the country. Married women require the permission of their husbands to depart the country, while unmarried women and children require the permission of their fathers or male guardians. The U.S. Embassy can intercede with the Saudi government to request exit permission for an adult American woman (wife or daughter of a Saudi citizen), but may not be able to obtain permission for the departure of minor children without the father's agreement. Temporary visitors normally do not need an exit permit but may be prevented from departing the country if they are involved in a legal dispute.
Visitors to Saudi Arabia generally obtain a meningitis vaccination prior to arrival. A medical report or physical examination is required to obtain work and residence permits.
Residents working in Saudi Arabia generally must surrender their passports while in the Kingdom. The sponsor (normally the employer) obtains work and residence permits for the employee and for any family members. Family members of those working are not required by law to surrender their passports, though they often do. Residents carry a Saudi residence permit (Iqama) for identification in place of their passports. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in Saudi Arabia cannot sponsor private American citizens for Saudi visas.
Foreign residents traveling within the Kingdom, even between towns in the same province, carry travel letters issued by employers and authenticated by an immigration official or a Chamber of Commerce office. Police at all airports and dozens of roadblocks routinely arrest and imprison violators.
Residents in Saudi Arabia who are departing the country must obtain an exit permit prior to leaving and an exit/reentry permit if they intend to return to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi sponsor's approval is required for exit permits.
In
an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have
initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring
documentary evidence of the relationship and permission for the child's travel
from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation
on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.
There
is no such thing as a tourist visa for Saudi Arabia. You can enter the country
with a visitor's transit or (if you're Muslim) hajj or umrah visa. To get a
visitor's visa you will have to be sponsored by a Saudi individual or company.
Another option is a 24 or 48-hour transit visa - to get one you have to prove
that you had no choice other than to stop-over in Saudi Arabia en route to your
final destination. You can now also visit the country as a non-Muslim if you
join an approved (and expensive - US$5000 plus) organised tour.
Health risks: No particular risks, but you should consider vaccinations
for hepatitis A
Time: GMT/UTC plus 3 hours
Electricity: 110V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric