Are you looking to extend your family visit visa in Saudi Arabia and not sure how to do it? Don’t worry. We’ve explained it in detail in this article. This simplified guide will walk you through the process, whether you hold a single or multiple-entry visa.
Things to Know About Visit Visa Extension
- Single Entry Visit Visa can be extended; however, the total extension period of the visa must not exceed 180 days.
- When to Extend?: Either 7 days before your visa expires or 3 days after. Even if your Iqama has expired, you’re still eligible to apply.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Visa Extension
- Ensure Medical Insurance Validity: Medical insurance is a mandatory requirement for a visit visa extension. Your medical insurance must be valid for the duration of the visit visa extension. Read: How to Check Visit Visa Insurance Validity
- Pay Extension Fees:
- Regular fee: SR 100 for visa extensions.
- Late fee: An extra SR 500 if applied within 3 days post-expiry.
How to Extend Single Entry Visa through Absher:
- Log in to the Absher Portal.
- Visit “Services” then “Family Members Services“.
- Select “Extend Visit Visa“, then click on “Proceed“.
- You can see the list of family members under your sponsorship. Click on “Extend Visa” next to the member whose visa you need to extend.
- Confirm details, accept the terms, and finalize by clicking “Extend Visit Visa“.
That’s it. Your visa will be renewed for 30 days.
How to Extend Visit Visa via Tawasul:
If you encounter an error and cannot renew your family visit visa using the method mentioned above, you can turn to the Tawasul service in Absher. To do so, prepare the following documents in PDF format, ensuring each document has a maximum size of 1 MB. Each family member’s documents should be separate, and each document should be named with a single word:
- Error message screenshot.
- Passport of the visa holder.
- Visa details from Absher.
- Insurance details.
Once you have prepared the above documents in PDF format, follow the steps below to make a request using the Tawasul service.
- Visit the Absher Portal.
- Click “Services” under “My Services”.
- Go to “Passports” then “Tawasul“.
- Start a “New Request” (in Arabic).
- Fill out the form and upload the previously prepared PDFs.
- Wait for around 24 hours for your visa extension.
How to Check Tawasul Extension Status:
- Sign in to Absher.
- Go to “General Services”, then “Passports.”
- Select “Tawasul”, then select “Inquire for Requests“.
You can view the status of your request here.
Visit Visa Extension via Istiqdam:
If you cannot extend your visa using online methods, Istiqam is your solution. It is the offline method, and below are the requirements and procedures:
Requirements:
- You need to schedule an Istiqdam appointment.
- Prepare the essential documents like the visa holder’s passport, the sponsor’s Iqama, and proof of medical insurance.
- In case of medical emergencies, get a doctor’s note.
Procedure:
- Go to the Jawazat office with your documents on the appointment day.
- Go to the counter and submit your documents.
- The officer will evaluate and possibly grant the extension. In emergencies, an additional 15 days might be approved.
Conclusion
In conclusion, extending your family visit visa in Saudi Arabia in 2023 is simpler than you might imagine. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily renew your visa online. Thank you for reading!
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