Basic Travel Requirements for Kenyans visiting
Saudi Arabia
Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to
apply for a Saudi Arabian Visa.
- A Kenyan passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
- Duly completed and signed visa application form.
- If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- Passport-size photographs (2 x 2”) taken in white background.
- Travel document.
- Proof of financial support.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Copy of return flight ticket.
- Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country.
- Travel medical insurance to cover entire duration of stay.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
- Copy of travel itinerary.
Saudi Arabia Visa for Kenyans
Facts about Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is just the place to go to if you are looking to disconnect from the world. The country is regarded as the world’s most isolated nation. The internet and much of the 21st century is still quite unknown to the people living in the country.
Every year, the country receives between 4,000 to 6,000 Western tourists. The average number of foreign visitors in the country every year is 200,000. Concerted efforts are being made to ensure the number of people who visit the country reaches one million.
Foreigners are not allowed to take Saudi Riyals out of the country. There used to be restrictions on the interaction between foreign tourists and local people. However, those restrictions have been relaxed slightly in recent times. Disruptive behavior by tourists is not tolerated, this can lead to the imprisonment and torture of tourists.
Women in the country should wear abayas or loose conservative clothing. The idea is to dress decently and respectfully.
Types of Saudi Arabia Visa
| Types of Visa | Processing Time | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | 7 working days | 30 days |
| Business visa | 7 working days | 90 days |
| Official visa | 7 working days | More than 90 days |
| Work visa | 7 working days | More than 90 days |
General Requirements for Saudi Arabia Visa
- A Kenyan passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
- Duly completed and signed visa application form.
- If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- Passport-size photographs (2 x 2”) taken in white background.
- Travel document.
- Proof of financial support.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Copy of return flight ticket.
- Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country.
- Travel medical insurance to cover entire duration of stay.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
- Copy of travel itinerary.
Saudi Arabia Tourist Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- The Saudi Arabia tourist visa is for Kenyans planning to visit the country for tourism, Hajj and Umrah.
- The photograph used for the visa application must be 2″ x 2″ in size and showing a close up of your face and the top of your shoulders so that your face takes up between 70% – 80% of the face.
- Women travelers under the age of 25 years must have the support of a male relative/watchman while making a trip to Saudi Arabia.
- Holders of this visa are not permitted to engage in business activities during their time in Saudi Arabia.
- Travelers are advised to be vaccinated against measles, tetanus, malaria, hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever before entering the country.
- Visitors to Saudi Arabia must abide by the country’s Islamic laws and regulations and respect its society’s values and traditions.
- Travelers are not allowed to bring in alcohol into Saudi Arabia.
- The official system of law in Saudi Arabia is Sharia. Prepare to abide by the stipulations of Sharia law during your stay in the country.
- Always carry an identification with you at all times, whether it’s a photocopy or your actual passport.
Saudi Arabia Business Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- Business-oriented travelers are the main applicants of this visa.
- Holders of this visa are free to meet up with partners in the country to negotiate and sign business contracts.
- During your time in the country, you can also attend conferences, trade fairs, and business summits.
- Visa applicants should present a letter from their employer in Kenya stating awareness and allowance of their leave. The letter should state the applicant’s status in the company, the intended duration of stay, and the true purpose of the visit.
- A letter of invitation from your host in Saudi Arabia written on the company’s letterhead should be submitted. The reason for your visit and term of stay should be appropriately stated in the letter. The letter should be signed by an official in the company.
- The party responsible for your finances while you are in the country should be clearly stated in the letter provided by your employer.
- The host company in Saudi Arabia must present a clear scanned copy of their certificate of business registration.
- If you have previously been in business with the company in Saudi Arabia, a proof of this should be presented during the visa application process.
- Female applicants traveling to Saudi Arabia without a male relative must submit a special approval letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia.
- Foreigners are to provide proof that they have the incentive of returning to their home country at the expiration of their visa.
- Holders of the Saudi business visa are expected to abide by all rules guiding foreign travel to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia Official Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- This visa is for Kenyans who are visiting Saudi Arabia for official purposes.
- The visa is designed for Kenyan diplomats and government officials visiting Saudi Arabia for diplomatic and official reasons.
- An official letter of invitation from the Saudi Arabian government should be provided. The purpose and duration of the visit should be clearly stated in the letter.
- Government officials are required to provide a diplomatic note from the Kenyan government before travel. Your position in government as well as the purpose and intended duration of your trip should be clearly stated in the letter.
- Diplomats who are visiting the country for non-official visits will not be issued this visa. Only heads of states will be issued this visa for whatever purpose.
- Government officials are required to carry a valid means of identification at all time.
- Female applicants traveling to Saudi Arabia without a male relative must submit a special approval letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia.
- Holders of this visa are not permitted to be paid for the services they render during their time in the country.
Saudi Arabia Work Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- A work visa allows Kenyans to take up paid employment in Saudi Arabia. This visa is also called an employment visa.
- Applicants of the Saudi work visa should ensure they have been offered employment by a reputable company in Saudi Arabia before they start the visa application process.
- You must provide a copy of your employment contract signed by both the sponsoring company and the work permit applicant. The position mentioned in the contract should match the position mentioned in the block visa reference, as should the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
- A recent medical report is needed during the application of this visa. The report must be issued by a licensed physician who must sign each copy and must certify that the applicant is free of any contagious disease, especially hepatitis A, B, and C.
- The license number and address of the physician should appear on each copy of the report.
- The medical report must be attested by the FCO, as well as a police certificate certifying the applicant has no criminal record.
- Your employer must confirm that you will not be paid below the minimum wage when you are employed in the country.
- The Saudi Arabia company offering the job must be a fully registered and operational establishment.
- Applicants who do not have the right qualifications/skills for the job being offered would not be issued this visa.
Saudi Arabia Visa Fees
Tourist visa
149.00 (USD)
Business visa
149.00 (USD)
Official visa
0.00 (USD)
Work visa
149.00 (USD)
Saudi Arabia Visa Application Centres & Embassies in
Kenya
Nairobi
Main Muthaiga Road, Nairobi, Kenya.
http://www.embassies.mofa.gov.sa/sites/Kenya/
keemb@mofa.gov.sa
+254 20 406 2781