How to Apply for a Family Visit Visa in Saudi Arabia

If you’re an expatriate in Saudi Arabia looking to bring your family for a visit, applying for a family visit visa is a key step. Fortunately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) offers an easy online application process. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps, required documents, and tips for a successful application. Let’s get started!

Eligible Family Members

When applying for a family visit visa, it’s important to understand which family members are eligible to be included in your application. Generally, immediate family members such as spouses, children, parents, and siblings are eligible. In some cases, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws, and other close relatives may also qualify.

Who Can Apply for a Family Visit Visa?

Unlike before, iqama holders of all professions, including laborers and house drivers, can now apply for a family visit visa in Saudi Arabia. To apply, you will need a valid iqama with a minimum of three months validity, applicant passport information, and an active Nafath account.

Applying for a Family Visit Visa in Saudi Arabia

To apply for a family visit visa in Saudi Arabia, follow these steps:

1 – Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) portal at https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/Home/Index.

2 – Select “English” and click on the “Login” button, then select “Individual Login.”

3 – Log in with your Nafath account.

4 – Once logged in to the visa platform, click on the “Apply” button in the “Family Visit Visa Application for Residents” section.

5 – Fill out the online visa application form for your family visit visa. The system will automatically fetch your basic details. Add any missing details, such as your address (it should match the city where you submit the visa application to the Chamber of Commerce), visa objective (“زيارة أفراد الأسرة” (Family Visit)), and visa number (which you can find on the visa stamp page of your passport).

6 – Click on the “Add” button under the “Wanted to Visit” section to enter the details of those you are applying for a visit visa for. You will need to enter the information one by one for each person, such as your wife and children.

7 – In the personal information section, first select nationality, then enter the name as per the passport in English, date of birth, birthplace, religion, occupation (select unemployed if not working), gender (male or female), relation (wife, father, mother, children, etc.), mobile number (any country), and email address.

8 – In the passport information section, enter the passport number, passport type (generally normal), passport issue date, expiry date, and place of issue. Then, in the visa information section, select the place you want to stamp your visa in your country and the number of entries (single or multiple). Click on the add button.

9 – If you have more than one family member to bring on the family visa, add additional members similarly. Once added, review the information. You will have the option to edit the information if required. Once verified, check the agreement box and click the “Save” button to submit the application.

10 – You have now successfully completed the family visit visa application. You can print your visa application confirmation by selecting the “Print” option.

Related: How to Check Your Family Visit Visa Status Online

Submission and Approval Process

After submitting the application online, you will need to have your sponsor sign and stamp the application.

• If the sponsor is a private entity, the signed application must be submitted to the local Chamber of Commerce in the same city as the sponsor’s address
• If the sponsor is a government entity, the signed application must be submitted to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
• For domestic workers like drivers, the sponsor can directly approve the visa application through the MOFA website under the “Services for Citizens and Residents > Citizen > Ratify individuals applications” section.

Once your visa has been approved, you will need to submit it to the Saudi Embassy or Consulate in your home country for processing.