Obtaining a Saudi visa
 

It turns out that after years of somehow avoiding travel to KSA, I might need to go there for a series of meetings this fall. (The avoiding comment is tongue in cheek - I've spent lots of time in the UAE and Bahrain and Oman, but Saudi has never been first on my list of places to visit.)

I've heard obtaining a visa can be a bear for some folks, a piece of cake for others. I have co-workers who only got a sixty-day visa for one entry, and others who got the magic five-year multiple entry without even asking for it. My own situation is that I'm a dual citizen of Italy and the US, with no Israeli stamps in my passport, although plenty from other middle eastern countries. We've got a legit reason to be there, and can obtain an invitation without too much trouble.

Any tips on obtaining one? Should I go through the Saudi embassy, a visa service, or somewhere else? Any magic words to say (or omit) on the application?

Thanks!

You need a letter from the company (or your own Saudi affiliate company) inviting to. They need to submit this electronically. Then you have to apply through one of the Saudi Embassy approved travel agents in your country.

This is not something you can apply for without going through a travel agent. Documents have to be submitted electronically from approved agents.

So far I had everything on paper - the invitation (stamped by the local (Saudi) Chamber of commerce) + copy of the inviting company's registration + visa application + another paper where you sign that you know that most everything is punishable by death over there...)

Great nick! I don't know of anywhere to row in Riyadh sadly ;)

We've only had success getting five year visas through US embassies, for people with US passports. Otherwise, everything rides on getting the right invitation from the company inviting you. I've had one month, three month and six month visas.

Nearly all, if not all, Saudi embassies have outsourced the application process to a set of approved agents. The embassy will be able to point you towards them.

I'm having trouble finding a travel agency here in Seoul that can help me. Calls to the Saudi embassy have gone unanswered.

Try http://www.swtour.kr/

Korean only I'm afraid!

Look under 비자 -> 아프리카/중동 -> 사우디아라비아

Don't expect quick handling or logic when dealing with Saudi's. The new visa's are actual sheets of white printer paper folded up stapled to the back of your passport. Why? Who knows, they do things backwards many times. I live here and when everyone starting seeing the new visa's we were all like, where is the rest of it? If you loose this, you are screwed. Thus I would secure it with some glue and neat folds in the back to make sure it fits entirely into the passport cover or it can catch on something and be gone.

Hey schley, how about a Saudi DO? :)

Do you mean that they don't have the sticker visas anymore?? Also no requirement of "two empty facing pages" in your passport?

I'm game. I work for Aramco thus live on the compound. Holler.

No, although I have one from last year in my passport like that. The logic is not what you would expect. I have a bahrain book and the bahrain passport kiosks never stamp on it. It was meant to save me the 20 or so Bahrain stamps I get every year.