How to get a Saudi Arabia visa from Ethiopia

• The Saudi Arabia tourist visa is issued to foreign citizens who intend to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for vacation or hajj.
• When travelling with a group, ensure the group is well recognized. Tourist visas are granted only to selected groups on a limited basis.
• The Ethiopian passport used in your application must be original and valid for at least six months beyond your stay in Saudi Arabia.
• Alongside a fully completed and signed tourist visa application form, travellers are also required to submit a passport-size photograph taken with a white background.
• As proof that you intend to return to your country of origin, you must present a return flight ticket.
• Proof of medical insurance that covers the entire duration of stay is also needed.
• Women travelling alone are not allowed to enter the country unless they will be met at the airport by a husband, a sponsor or male relative.
• Muslim female passengers under the age of 45 arriving to perform Umrah or Hajj must also be accompanied by an immediate male family member that is 18 years of age or older.
• You are required to provide proof of accommodation for the entire duration of your stay in Saudi Arabia
• A visa for Saudi Arabia does not give the absolute right to enter the country -- it is only an authorization. Whether or not the visa holder will be allowed to enter the country depends on the final decision of an immigration official.
• According to Saudi Arabia's law and tradition, entry may be refused to any visitor judged as behaving indecently.
• You should also note that a visa can be revoked at any time.
• Only travellers who have booked through an authorized tour operator are eligible for tourist visas.
• The visa allows a maximum stay of 30 days for a single stay but can be valid for up to 2 years. This means that you can use the visa to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia once within 2 years if its issuance, but you cannot stay longer than 30 days as soon as you enter the country.
• Ethiopian tourists are advised to always respect local traditions, customs and laws of Saudi Arabia.
• The importation of pork to Saudi Arabia is forbidden.
• Hajj visa applications are encouraged to be done via licensed travel agents only.
• Ethiopians travelling to Saudi Arabia are advised to be vaccinated against measles, tetanus, malaria, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid fever before setting out to Saudi Arabia.

• Saudi Arabia business visas are granted to foreign nationals travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for business purposes.
• The business visa application form must be completed in block capitals and only by the applicant. Third-party handwriting will not be accepted.
• No handwritten changes or correction fluid will be accepted on the application form.
• Business visitors are required to have a valid sponsor in the country. It is best if this sponsor comes from an acknowledged Saudi Arabia company.
• The proof of sponsorship should be provided in the form of an invitation letter, certified by both a Saudi Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• You are required to have valid travel medical insurance that covers the entire duration of your stay in Saudi Arabia.
• A valid Ethiopian passport with at least 6 months validity beyond entry date is required. It must have two blank pages for visa stamps.
• Ethiopian travelling to Saudi Arabia for business purposes must be able to show that they have enough money to take care of their expenses while in Saudi Arabia.
• An original business introduction letter from your home country employer printed on the company's letterhead must be submitted for your visa application.
• The business introduction letter must include the company's registration number and details of its operations. It must also specify the visa type requested and the intended duration of the trip.
• Importation of pork and alcoholic products into Saudi Arabia is forbidden.
• A multiple-entry business visa is valid for up to 6 months and costs about US$ 134.
• The costs of visas tend to change frequently. You are advised to contact the Saudi Arabian representative in your country to find out the up-to-date cost.

• The Saudi Arabian work visa permits foreign citizens who have received a job offer from a Saudi employer to work legally in the country.
• The work visa is issued through the Ministry of Labour in Saudi Arabia.
• Alongside a work visa, a residence permit is also required to authorize stay in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabia residence permit is issued by the Ministry of Interior’s Directorate-General for Passports.
• Usually, the employing company in Saudi Arabia is required to initiate the work visa application process for a foreign national coming to work in the country.
• Ethiopians seeking a work visa must be sponsored by a Saudi employer. To transfer from one employer to another, a No-Objection Certificate from the previous employer is required.
• The visa applicant is required to submit a signed employment contract from the Saudi company during the application process. This document must be presented in Arabic.
• The visa application form must be completed in block letters and black ink.
• Ethiopians travelling to Saudi Arabia should note that if an Israeli visa stamp is found on their passport, the visa will likely NOT be granted to them.
• A police clearance certificate dated within 6 months from the application is required.
• A medical report showing a clean bill of health is also important. This report should be issued by a clinic approved by the Saudi Embassy and must be recent (issued within 3 months from the date the application is lodged).
• Individuals who are working in Saudi Arabia without a visa or permit can be fined up to SAR 10,000 and immediately arrested and deported.

Saudi Arabia is open to non-Muslim tourists. However, the country remains an Islamic country and other religions are not permitted to be practised there. In addition, Saudi Arabia is a country that strictly enforces Sharia law, thus if you are not prepared to accept several limitations on your behaviour and freedom of expression, or if you feel uncomfortable with such adjustments, you should not travel to Saudi Arabia.

There are several places worthy of a visit when in Saudi Arabia. They include the Empty Quarter, Riyadh's Kingdom Center Tower, Coral Houses of Jeddah and a lot more. Travellers should, however, note that non-Muslims are not allowed in certain places such as Mecca.