New Requirements for family Visa in Saudi Arabia

There are some changes adopted by the Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia for granting the family visit visa. The need to furnish the profession on the visa is relaxed. This new change has definitely given hopes to so many expats here who are on the so-called “Independent visa” (South Asian community calls it Azaad visa – “Freedom visa”). These individuals might be engineers, doctors, software developers and what not, but due to circumstances not in their control has purchased these visas from illegal sources to come to Saudi Arabia in the hope of earning bread for their loved ones.


More than 99% times, these visas are labor visa (تأشيرة العمل) has a labor profession on it like “Plumber - سمكري”, “Electrician – كهربائي”, “House Cleaner - العاملة في المنزل” … etc. These visas are sold by the Saudi sponsors to some agents in third world countries and they in turn get hold of the vulnerable. Individuals from these countries pay heavy amounts like 10, 12 and in some cases about 20 grands even in Saudi Riyal to get these visas hoping that they will later get transfer to another visa and they can make enough money from it.

Having said the problem at hand and to resolve the misuse of this industry, the Foreign Ministry and the Recruitment Office has relaxed the requirement for bringing the families here. It is a big relieve for the expat community as earlier only white collar jobs only and to some extent blue collar jobs were allowed to apply for family visa.

Link: Family visa now linked with salary
 
Just today I received this news article in Arab News negating the earlier news article about family visa: No change in family visa rules: Official. It is indeed sad news.
 
So my intention was to bring to the attention of the readers the needed documents to apply for the family visa:

These requirements are for those applying for Family visa here in Saudi Arabia to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs either in Riyadh, Dammam or whichever office is closer to your city.


1) Visa Application form

• Most probably this form will be with your Delegated Representative (Mandoob - مندوب) for Ministry work at your employer’s office. He will fill this out for you. This form called as Family visiting visa request (Talab Ziarat A’aliat - طلب زيارة عائلية ) can be filled out online or can be picked from the Istiqdam office (تقديم المكتب).

• The form looks like this if picked up from the office of Istiqdam (تقديم المكتب)

Fig 01 – Visa Application Form

• The name of your family member AND the name of the sponsor i.e. Applicant should be filled ONLY in English.

• All the remaining data are to be filled in Arabic. Most probably, your Mandoob will help you out on this. Remember, you as an applicant is the sponsor for your family, and not your employer.

• In case more than one family member (like children and accomplice) are visiting you and are coming by the same flight, enter their names in the same form, otherwise use separate forms.

• If filling up online, then make sure you print out the final copy with confirmation and submit it with other documents within 3 days.

2) Salary and Occupation Statement (also known as Introduction Letter) from your employer


• This needs to be stamped by Chamber of Commerce (will cost you SAR 25 for ratification).

• This letter should be in Arabic. If your employer gives you an English version, then you will have to either request this letter in Arabic or get it translated in Arabic (translation service will cost you somewhere between SAR 25 to SAR 60)

3) Iqama photo copy


• It is a good idea to carry your original with you or your Delegated Representative (Mandoob - مندوب) will carry it for you. They have asked for original one at the counter at the Istiqdam office (تقديم المكتب).

4) Passport photo copy


• It is a good idea to carry your original with you or your Delegated Representative (Mandoob - مندوب) will carry it for you). They have asked for original one at the counter at the Istiqdam office (تقديم المكتب).

5) Original Degree/Academic Certificates


• For South Asian countries, they will ask for originals

• For westerners copies might be ok but will have to provide Degree verification certificate (a document that shows that the certificates are authentic and from recognized institution)


6) Marriage certificate


• If the certificate is in other languages other than Arabic, then you will have get it translated (translation service will cost you somewhere between SAR 25 to SAR 60).

• Will have to be stamped by Chamber of Commerce (another SAR 25).

• Spouse’s name has to be on the Visa application form as well.

7) Child/Children’s Birth Certificate


• These certificates again have to be translated (Another SAR 25 to SAR 60 X the number of children) if in other languages other than Arabic.

• Children’s name has to be listed on the Visa Application form and the relationship has to be shown as well.

8) Family Visa Fee


• If your employer/sponsor is not paying for the family visa, check your contract that you signed with your employer, because if it is not paid for then you will have to pay for it.

• The fees is 2050 SAR

Take these documents to the Office of Istiqdam (تقديم المكتب), take a number and you will be called to the counter. The gentleman at the counter will make sure the documents are in order and will give you his approval to take these documents to another window. At this counter, you will find a General Supervisor is sitting and this gentleman will stamp your papers.


Thereafter you will come back to the original counter and submit the documents here. This guy will give you the visa paper which is also called as “Yellow Slip”. This is the final step (in the kingdom) for you to get your family here. The gentleman at the counter will confirm with you the city and country where you want this information to be sent. This visa information will be sent to the nearest Embassy in the country which you have specified. The “Yellow Slip” looks like this

Fig 02 - Yellow Slip

It is good idea to make a copy of this immediately and keep it with you as you will have to send this your family in your country of origin. Make sure to send this document in a registered mail.

Preparation for your family

These are the requirements for your wife in their country of origin to provide to the Saudi Embassy for the embassy to stamp the family visa on her and kids passport.

1. A passport valid for at least six (6) months, with at least two (2) clear visa pages adjacent to each other.


* Remember that there is a possibility of being rejected if the passport is not valid for more than six months.

2. Applicant’s copy of the Iqama (expat I-card). You probably will have to email the scanned copy or mail it along with the “Yellow Slip”.


3. Recent passport size color photograph with a white background; the photograph must be a full-face view in which the visa applicant is facing the camera directly. Side or angled views are NOT accepted.

4. Copy of your marriage certificate.


5. A proof of kinship when accompanied by a family member (required only when you plan to bring your in-laws to prove the relationship between your wife and her parent(s) - this is to ensure that the visitor is really your in-law).

6. Required for non-western applicant: Printout of your last 3 months' bank statement.

7. Required for all applicants: A letter in English addressed to the Saudi Embassy / Consulate of your home country stating that you will be present to receive your guest.


8. Salary statement or Introduction letter in Arabic from your employer giving details about your salary. (You will have to send it along the other documents with “Yellow Slip”)

9. Application Form fully completed and signed by the applicant. Application looks like this. There might be little variation in this form as required by your country.

Fig 03 – Saudi Arabia Family Visa Application

10. Required for western applicants: An electronic visa form "ENJAZ", which is required by the consulate, will need to be completed as well. Link: https://enjazit.com.sa/ . Usually an Embassy approved agent will submit your information thru this website and will provide you an paper hat has approval number which is required to be submitted along with other documents.

11. For western applicants: An invitation letter issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The “Yellow Slip” might also suffice.

12. Copy of the husband work visa, passport data page. (make sure you send this information along with the “Yellow Slip”)

13. For western applicants: A letter of guarantee from the US company (if there is US Sponsor involved)

14. For children, a copy of the birth certificate. The age of an accompanying male child should not exceed seventeen (17) years; an accompanying daughter should not be married.

15. For non-US citizens, a copy of the green card or other documented proof of legal residence in the USA.

I might have to edit this post as I get to know more inofrmation. Comments and corrections are most welcome.