How to Apply Dependent Visa in Saudi Arabia for Families
Key Highlights
- The dependent visa in Saudi Arabia lets expatriates bring their spouse and children to stay with them for legal residency in the Kingdom.
- There are strict eligibility rules for this visa. The sponsor must have a valid Iqama and earn at least the required salary.
- When you start the visa application process, you need to give detailed documentation. This includes marriage certificates, birth certificates, and proof that accommodation is arranged.
- There are clear differences between the dependent visa for legal residency and a family visit visa in Saudi Arabia.
- Most visa applications are handled online. People use the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or go to the sponsor’s office for this process.
- Delays or rejections in the visa application process often happen. The reasons are usually missing paperwork or wrong information in the documentation.
Introduction
When you move to Saudi Arabia for work or plan to stay for a long time, you may want your family members to come with you. The dependent visa in Saudi Arabia helps spouses and children join their sponsor so they can have legal residency in the country. The visa application process can be hard to figure out because of all the rules and steps. This guide will explain what you need to do, so your family member’s visa application will meet all visa requirements. We want you to understand the application process and help make sure your loved ones get their Saudi dependent visa without any problems.
Understanding the Saudi Dependent Visa for Families
Saudi Arabia’s dependent visa system helps families come together and live in the Kingdom with the right legal status. To get a dependent visa, there is a clear process you need to follow. You have to pay close attention to each rule, check your eligibility, and collect the correct documents before you start the application process. In KSA, this kind of visa gives people working in Saudi Arabia a chance to bring their close family. That way, their loved ones can stay with them as legal residents for all of their time here. To get everything right, you will need to know the difference between a family visa and a dependent visa, and how the steps of applying work before you begin.
The next parts will explain what a dependent visa is, how it is different from a family visit visa, and what to do to get legal residency in Saudi Arabia.
What is a Dependent Visa in Saudi Arabia?
A dependent visa in Saudi Arabia is a type of residence permit. With this visa, workers from other countries can bring their close family to live with them. Most of the time, the dependent visa is for their husband or wife and children who are under 18 years old. This way, the family can stay in Saudi legally as the sponsor’s dependents. In some cases, the sponsor may also get the visa for their parents or adult children. But there are special rules about residency and how much money the sponsor must make.
Having legal residency in Saudi through a dependent visa does not give family members the right to work. If they want to get a job, they need to get a different type of visa that is made for work. The way to get a dependent visa starts when the sponsor fills out an application online. The sponsor has to give documentation that shows the family’s relationship, like marriage and birth certificates. When the Saudi government says yes to the visa, the dependents get an Iqama. This is a special card called a residence permit. People need it for legal residency in Saudi and to use many services.
The dependent visa will only stay valid if the sponsor keeps their own residency and follows all Saudi immigration laws.
Key Differences Between Family Visit Visa and Dependent (Residency) Visa
There are a few main differences between a family visit visa and a dependent visa in Saudi Arabia. The family visit visa lets your relatives come and stay for a short time. This visa is for a set number of days only. But the dependent visa gives your family legal residency in Saudi. With this, they can live with you for a longer time.
The application process for a dependent visa is also much more detailed. You have to show more documents for this visa. These include proof of relationship, such as birth certificates and marriage certificates. The family visit visa does not ask for as many papers as the dependent visa does.
Eligibility Criteria and Sponsorship Conditions
Meeting Saudi Arabia’s eligibility rules is very important if you want to sponsor your family for a dependent visa. The sponsor must have a valid Iqama. There is also a minimum salary that he needs to meet. Suitable accommodation is needed for the family as well. Not all expatriates can get this visa automatically. They have to follow all of these rules to send in a successful application.
It is important to know the sponsor’s eligibility and who in the family can be supported as a dependent before starting the visa application process. This will help you with the visa application in Saudi Arabia and make things go more smoothly for your family.
Who Can Sponsor Family Members?
Only some people can be sponsors for family members under the dependent visa system in Saudi Arabia. The sponsor has to be an expatriate who has a valid Iqama, which is a residence permit. This is usually for those who are working in Saudi Arabia. The person must also have at least SAR 4,000 as their minimum monthly salary. They need to have a place for their family to live.
Only people with legal residency in Saudi Arabia can be sponsors. Students and anyone who is already on a dependent visa cannot sponsor others. The employer of the sponsor may have to give extra papers for the visa application. These can include a salary certificate or proof that the person works with them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chamber of Commerce may also ask for more proof during the visa application process.
If you are a sponsor, you should make sure you meet all the legal and money rules. This is important so there are no problems or hold-ups in your dependent visa application process.
Which Family Members Can Be Sponsored as Dependents?
Under Saudi Arabia’s dependent visa rules, you can only sponsor certain family members. The main categories are:
- Spouse
- Children under 18
- Sometimes, adult children or parents (but you need special approval and have to show financial reasons)
- You must show proof of relationship, like a marriage certificate for your spouse or birth certificates for children
Eligibility for a dependent visa in Saudi Arabia is checked by looking at the original documents that prove your relationship. These documents must be official and attested. For example, if you want to sponsor your spouse, you need a marriage certificate that is legally accepted and attested. Children need birth certificates showing the sponsor’s details.
To sponsor your spouse or children, you must collect all the required documents. You should make sure any needed translations are ready. Then, you must send your application and documentation on the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal or through your sponsor’s office. Having your documentation in order will help the process go faster and reduce the risk of your visa application being delayed or rejected.
Documents Required to Apply for a Saudi Dependent Visa
Gathering all the necessary documents is a key step when you apply for a Saudi dependent visa. The Saudi embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are strict about how documents should be handled for a visa. They often ask for documents from both the sponsor and the person who wants the visa. Some papers also need to be translated into Arabic as part of this process. If any paperwork for the dependent visa is missing or not correct, it can slow things down or even lead to a rejection.
You need to make sure that all the sponsor’s documents and the dependents’ papers are ready before you send them to the Saudi embassy. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and any proof of relationship should be properly checked, attested, and translated as needed before you turn them in at the embassy or the ministry of foreign affairs.
Essential Personal and Sponsor Documents
Both the sponsor and each dependent need to give a set of important documents for the Saudi Arabia visa application. It is important to have all the right documentation to help make the visa application process smooth.
Typical required documents include:
- Valid passports for all dependents (these passports must have at least six months left before they expire)
- Sponsor’s passport and valid residence permit (Iqama)
- Marriage certificate for the spouse, which should be attested and translated into Arabic
- Birth certificates for children, which should also be attested and translated
- Sponsor’s salary certificate and proof of accommodation
- Recent passport-sized photographs with a white background
The sponsor’s employer might need to give more paperwork, like proof of employment, or a lease agreement for accommodation. To help your visa application, make sure each document is attested by the right authority and then stamped by the Saudi embassy. Doing this cuts down the chance of delays or rejection in the visa application process.
Additional Supporting Documents and Translations
Beyond the main documents, you may need to give some extra papers for your visa to go through. The saudi embassy needs all official paperwork, like marriage and birth certificates, to be changed into Arabic. These must be done by a certified translator and should be legally checked. If you do not do this, there is a good chance your visa for saudi could be rejected.
Extra papers asked can include:
- Medical clearance for family members (only from approved medical centres)
- Proof you have enough money, like the latest bank statements
- Copies of any old residency permits, if these apply
There are some common errors that can lead the saudi embassy to say no to your visa. These are not getting all papers translated right, names or dates not matching, or missing stamps. To keep from making these mistakes, look over all the details on your application. Every document should be up to date, translated, and checked by the right people before you send it off. Laila Al-Harbi, a visa expert, says to always get all your papers cleared and double-check every single thing if you want fewer rejections.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply for a Dependent Visa in Saudi Arabia
Applying for a dependent visa in Saudi Arabia has more than one step. Each step has its own things you need to do and a timeline to follow. You need to collect the right documentation, fill out the application, and pay the visa fees. It is important to pay close attention to the details so you can get a good result. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the one that handles most application process steps online. Sponsors and their families should know about the medical check rules and how long the processing may take.
Let’s take a look at each step of the application process. This way, you can be ready and feel sure as your family goes through the journey in Saudi Arabia.
Step 1: Gather Required Documents and Prepare Applications
Start by getting together all the necessary documents talked about before. Good planning at this point will save you time later and help you avoid delays with your Saudi visa application process.
The main steps are:
- Gather valid passports, your sponsor’s Iqama, and marriage and birth certificates. Make sure they are all translated and attested the right way
- Get recent photos of each applicant. The background should be white
- Collect employer papers, like a salary certificate or proof of accommodation
- Check that personal and sponsor documents are correct and up-to-date
When you put your documents in order, the Saudi Arabia visa application process gets a lot easier. It also lowers the chance of your Saudi visa getting rejected. After you check that everything is ready, you can start the real application process. Use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal or go through the sponsor’s official office in Saudi Arabia.
Step 2: Submit Application Online or Through Sponsor’s Office
The formal visa application starts when you send your details through the right channels. Most people do this online at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website. Some people may send paperwork through their sponsor’s office or go to Istiqdam, which handles things for people from other countries.
Key actions at this stage:
- Register for an Absher account. This lets you use the MOFA website and begin your dependent visa application.
- Print the finished visa application. Make sure the sponsor, or their employer, signs and stamps it.
- Add all needed supporting documents. Double check every document is translated and has the right attestations.
Once you turn in your application, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will check it. If all is good, they give you a visa reference number. Next, take this approval and all your documentation to the Saudi embassy or visa centre back in your home country. They finish the visa process and put the stamp on your visa.
Step 3: Pay Fees, Attend Medical Checks, and Await Approval
After you send in your application, you have to pay the needed visa fees. You may also need to go for medical checks, and then wait while your paperwork is processed. Visa fees are different for people based on where they are from or how long the process will take. Be sure to pay the right amount on the official government website or at banks picked by the government.
Main actions in this phase:
- Pay all the visa fees you need for Saudi Arabia, which are usually SAR 500–2,000. You also need to pay for medical exams when needed.
- Get all medical checks done for each family member at clinics approved by the embassy or visa centre. Make sure the medical results are sent to the embassy or visa office.
- Check the status of your visa on the MOFA website or by asking the embassy.
It can take about 2 to 4 weeks to process your visa for Saudi Arabia, but it might take longer if more details are needed or if many people are applying at the same time. After your visa is approved, pick up your passport with the visa stamped inside. Make plans for your family’s time to travel to Saudi Arabia. When you arrive, apply for a residency card (Iqama) for each family member so they will all have legal residency in Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion
In the end, getting a dependent visa for Saudi Arabia can be simple if you follow each step and make sure you fit the eligibility rules. It helps to know the difference between each type of visa and what documentation you will need. Follow the right process, and you will have a better chance to get your visa approved. Watch out for any new rules or updates about eligibility and documentation in Saudi Arabia, so things go well for you. If you need guidance or have questions about the dependent visa, you can ask for a free consultation. Taking this one step can help your family be together in Saudi Arabia.
Is it difficult to get family visa in saudi?
Obtaining a family visa in Saudi Arabia can be straightforward if you meet all requirements. While the process may seem complex due to paperwork and regulations, thorough preparation and understanding of the application steps can simplify it significantly. Following guidelines ensures a smoother experience for families seeking to reunite.
