Saudi Arabia Personal Visit Visa from the UK

Invited to Saudi Arabia by a Saudi citizen friend or relative? Once your host has obtained the authorisation letter, we handle the UK side for you: document review, the online application, your biometric appointment and meet and greet at the Saudi Visa Centre.

Personal Visit Visa service
£95

Fixed service fee. The Saudi visa fee and insurance are paid at the Visa Centre.

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Included in our service

  • Document review within one working day
  • Authorisation letter check
  • Online visa application completed for you
  • Biometric appointment booking in London
  • Appointment confirmed by email
  • Meet and greet outside the Saudi Visa Centre
  • Application tracking and status updates
  • Pre-travel briefing

Paid at the Saudi Visa Centre

  • Saudi Embassy visa fee
  • Mandatory travel and health insurance

We tell you the expected amounts before your appointment.

2–3 working daysTypical issue time after biometrics
30–90 daysTypical permitted stay, set by your host’s application
LondonBiometrics at the Saudi Visa Centre

How the Personal Visit Visa works

This visa is for people invited by a Saudi citizen. Unlike a tourist visa, it needs a host inside Saudi Arabia who starts the application.

Stage 1 · In Saudi Arabia

Your host requests the visa

Your Saudi citizen host applies through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) using Absher or the visa platform. Once approved, MoFA issues an authorisation letter, which your host sends to you.

Stage 2 · In the UK

We complete your application

We review your documents, complete the online application, book your biometric appointment in London and meet you there on the day.

Is this the right visa for you?

Saudi citizen host

Personal Visit Visa

Your host is a Saudi national who applies through MoFA. Authorisation letter and London biometrics required. This page.

Host on an Iqama

Family Visit Visa

Your relative is a foreign national living in Saudi Arabia. See the Family Visit Visa.

No host

Tourist Visa or ETA

Travelling for tourism with no sponsor? See the Tourist Visa or, with a British passport, the Saudi ETA.

Documents required

Applicant

Valid passport

At least 6 months’ validity from your travel date, with two blank pages facing each other.

Applicant

Two photographs

Recent, passport-sized, against a plain white background.

From your host

Authorisation letter and sponsor ID

The MoFA authorisation letter for your visit, plus a copy of your host’s ID.

Paid at the centre

Travel and health insurance

Mandatory cover for your stay, bought at the Saudi Visa Centre when the visa is issued.

The authorisation letter is essential. It carries the reference number that links your UK application to your host’s MoFA request, and without it the application can’t go ahead. If your host hasn’t applied yet, ask them to do so before you gather your UK documents. Send us a copy and we’ll confirm it’s complete.

How we handle your application

  1. Send your documents You

    Passport copy, photographs and the authorisation letter. We review them within one working day.

  2. Online application Our team

    We complete the Saudi online application, matching the authorisation letter to your passport exactly.

  3. Biometric appointment Our team

    We book your appointment at the Saudi Visa Centre in London and email you to confirm a suitable time.

  4. Meet and greet Applicant

    You attend in person. We meet you outside the centre to make sure you have everything before you go in.

  5. Visa issued Saudi authorities

    The visa is usually stamped in your passport within 2–3 working days of biometrics.

  6. Pre-travel briefing Our team

    We brief you on your visa conditions, entry requirements and what to expect on arrival.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Saudi Personal Visit Visa?
A visit visa for people invited by a Saudi citizen friend or relative. The host applies through the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which issues an authorisation letter that you use to complete the application in the UK.
Who can sponsor a Personal Visit Visa?
Only a Saudi citizen, who applies through Absher or the MoFA platform. Foreign residents on an Iqama normally can’t; their visitors should apply for a Family Visit Visa.
What documents do I need?
A passport with at least 6 months’ validity and two facing blank pages, two recent photographs on a white background, the MoFA authorisation letter and a copy of your host’s ID.
What is the authorisation letter?
The letter MoFA issues once your host’s request is approved. It contains your application reference and allows you to complete biometrics in London and have the visa issued.
How long does it take?
Once biometrics are done, the visa is usually issued within 2–3 working days. Times can vary with the Visa Centre’s workload and any extra checks.
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is £95, covering document review, the online application, appointment booking and meet and greet. The Saudi visa fee and mandatory insurance are paid at the Saudi Visa Centre.
Do I need to attend in person?
Yes. All applicants attend a biometric appointment at the Saudi Visa Centre in London. We book it for you and meet you on the day.
How long can I stay?
This depends on your host’s application. Personal Visit Visas are typically issued for stays of 30 to 90 days, sometimes with multiple entries. The exact terms appear on your visa.

Ready to apply for your Personal Visit Visa?

Send us your authorisation letter and we’ll confirm it’s complete, then take care of the rest.

Call +44 20 7856 0115 · Email info@apostilleandcertification.com