KSA Visas changes
 

Significant changes to the Saudi visa fees to take effect in early October

The only good point from this change in fees are first time pilgrimmage fees for both Hajj and Umrah are free.

Everything else stinks, both for visas to visit and for expats living in Saudi

Single visit visa
Before - SR 200
Now - SR 2000

Multiple visit visas:
Before - 6 months to 5 years - SR 400
Now - 6 months - SR 3000
1 year - SR 5000
2 years - SR 8000

Exit/reentry
Before - single - SR 100
multiple (6 months) - SR 500
Now - single - SR 200 (for 1 month and SR 100 per month thereafter)
multiple - SR 500 (for 3 months and SR 200 per month thereafter)

http://www.arabnews.com/node/966771/saudi-arabia

Just read an article supporting the changes by saying most countries in the world charge fees for visas and that expats have it very well in KSA and so it should not be a problem ... I mean, well ... :)

The visas are one of many attempts to squeeze money out to help them overcome their huge deficits due to the low oil prices. If they put as much thought and effort to root out corruption and waste, they would have much better results.

For expats, perhaps they could afford it.... But its all about proportionality. We are not talking about 10-20% increases.

Well, 'expats' is a bit of generalisation here. Many expats in KSA earn very little (e.g. ones from south Asian origin), while Westerners are being paid at least 20 times that. Anyway, the exit/re-entry visas 'only' got a 100% hike.

People who visit KSA on visit visas most likely fall in one of these two categories:

- Hajj and Umrah pilgrims (visa cost waived for the first visit),
- Business travellers (visa cost reimbursed by their employers).

So this looks aimed at companies bringing consultants/salespeople from outside the Kingdom on a regular basis...

I wonder what the actual price will be, as my current 6m multiple visit visa cost ~650 SAR (officially 400 SAR).

as anticipated, the visa fee is changed. got this from friends.

interesting wording on umrah visa fee - first timer = free (within one hijriah year [Muharram-Dzulhijjah]). unlike the hajj visa which is clearly stated only free once in lifetime, is umrah visa fee waived once per year based on that embassy letter?

isn't the thinking likely to be umrah is promoted as an any-time, recurring visit; while haj is a single obligation over the key days of Zulhijja, with multiple visits putting pressure on infrastructure?

it is correct.
it's very understandable in hajj point of view, but might become quite unfortunate for umrah pilgrims.

what I highlight is the different wording on umrah and hajj - the presence of 'once in a lifetime' wording. some folks interpret it differently on umrah visa. I guess I'll just wait for KSA clarification (if any), or friends experience.