Saudi Arabia visa requirements for Zambians

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Zambians visiting Saudi Arabia

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Saudi Arabian Visa.

  • International passport with a validity of not less than 6 months after exit from the country. 
  • The passport should have two blank pages for necessary stamps.
  • Correctly completed visa application form duly signed by the visa applicant.
  • Two recent passport-sized photographs with a white background. 
  • The photo should follow the specification for a visa application.
  • Bank statement from three months prior to the period of visa application. 
  • This is proof of a steady and continuous flow of funds.
  • Travel insurance which has sufficient medical coverage. 
  • The insurance should be valid for the duration of your stay in Saudi Arabia.
  • Proof of accommodation for the period you will be staying in the country.
  • Copy of return flight ticket.
  • Travel itinerary.

Saudi Arabia Visa for Zambians

Facts about Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is just the place to go to if you are looking to disconnect from the world. The country is regarded as the world’s most isolated nation. The internet and much of the 21st century is still quite unknown to the people living in the country. 
 Every year, the country receives between 4,000 to 6,000 Western tourists. The average number of foreign visitors in the country every year is 200,000. Concerted efforts are being made to ensure the number of people who visit the country reaches one million.
 Foreigners are not allowed to take Saudi Riyals out of the country. There used to be restrictions on the interaction between foreign tourists and local people. However, those restrictions have been relaxed slightly in recent times. Disruptive behavior by tourists is not tolerated, this can lead to the imprisonment and torture of tourists.
 

Types of Saudi Arabia Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Business visa 15 days. 90 days.
Tourist visa 15 days. 90 days.
Visitor Visa 15 days. 90 days.
Work visa 15 days. 90 days.

General Requirements for Saudi Arabia Visa

  • International passport with a validity of not less than 6 months after exit from the country. 
  • The passport should have two blank pages for necessary stamps.
  • Correctly completed visa application form duly signed by the visa applicant.
  • Two recent passport-sized photographs with a white background. 
  • The photo should follow the specification for a visa application.
  • Bank statement from three months prior to the period of visa application. 
  • This is proof of a steady and continuous flow of funds.
  • Travel insurance which has sufficient medical coverage. 
  • The insurance should be valid for the duration of your stay in Saudi Arabia.
  • Proof of accommodation for the period you will be staying in the country.
  • Copy of return flight ticket.
  • Travel itinerary.
Saudi Arabia Business visa Saudi Arabia Tourist visa Saudi Arabia Visitor Visa Saudi Arabia Work visa

Saudi Arabia Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is issued to foreigners traveling to Saudi Arabia for business purposes.
  • The business visa application form must be completed in block letters.
  • The letter must be only filled with the applicant's handwriting as third-party handwriting will not be accepted.
  • No handwritten changes or correctional fluids will be accepted on the application form.
  • Business travelers are to have a valid sponsor in Saudi Arabia. 
  • It is advised that the sponsor comes from a reputable Saudi Arabian company.
  • Proof of sponsorship is to be provided in the form of an invitation letter, certified both by a Saudi Chamber of Commerce,  and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Business visa holders will need their visa sponsor’s permission to obtain a final exit visa to leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • A police report from the Zambian police stating that you are not a criminal and have not been convicted of any crime should be provided.
  • Certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever, Measles, Hepatitis A and B, and Polio is to be also provided.
  • This visa will not be issued to foreigners who are under-qualified or do not have the right qualifications.
  • Proof of medical insurance is required during the visa application process.
  • Bank statement for the last 6 months is to be provided also.
  • An original business introduction letter from your employer in Zambia printed on the company's letterhead is to be provided.
  • 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.
  • Applicants are not to bring in any illegal items.
  • A multiple-entry business visa is valid for up to 6 months and costs about 160USD.

Saudi Arabia Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is issued to Zambians who are visiting Saudi Arabia for touris purposes.
  • Religious individuals/groups traveling for the purpose of Hajj and Umrah are also eligible candidates for this visa.
  • Hajj visa applications are to be done via licensed travel agents only.
  • This visa will not be issued to unrecognized groups, they are granted only to selected groups on a limited basis.
  • The 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, travelers are also required to present a return ticket to their country of origin.
  • Proof of medical insurance that covers the entire duration of stay is also needed.
  • Applicants who are employed should provide a letter from their employer. 
  • The letter should be printed on the company’s letterhead and must contain confirmation of the applicant's leave.
  • Women travelers who are under the age of 25 years must be in the company of a male relative/watchman while in Saudi Arabia.
  • Women traveling alone are not allowed to enter the country unless they will be met at the airport by a husband, a sponsor or a 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.
  • During your time in the country, you are not permitted to engage in any form of business activity.
  • You are to provide a document that serves as proof of the incentive of returning to your home country.
  • Proof of accommodation for the entire duration of stay is required.
  • 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 travelers who have booked through an authorized tour operator are eligible for tourist visas.
  • Tourists are advised to always respect local traditions, customs, and laws of Saudi Arabia.
  • Travelers are advised to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever, Measles, Tetanus, Malaria, Hepatitis A and B, and Typhoid Fever before setting out to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Saudi Arabian Family(visit) visa is for persons who are traveling to Saudi Arabia to visit family members or friends who are Saudi residents.
  • All documents submitted are to be translated into Arabic.
  • Alongside a fully completed and signed visa application form, travelers are also required to present a return ticket to their country of origin.
  • The family member who resides in Saudi Arabia must be employed as a white-collared worker.
  • You are to submit proof of family ties with the resident/worker in Saudi Arabia.
  • This could be marriage certificates or birth certificates of the children.
  • The documents are to be attested by the Saudi Embassy in Zambia as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • All passports of the dependants are to be submitted.
  • The proof of employment of the host in Saudi Arabia is to be submitted.
  • Proof of a steady income is also to be submitted.
  • You are to submit valid proof of accommodation in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Saudi Arabian work visa is for applicants who wish to travel to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of taking up forms of employment.
  • The requirements for an employment visa are similar to those for a business visa.
  • Applicants of this visa type must have been offered a job by an employer in Saudi Arabia before they can be issued this visa.
  • Proof that the job that was offered to the Zambian has been advertised in Saudi Arabia and that there was no Saudi Arabian qualified to take the job is to be provided.
  • This visa will not be issued to foreigners who are under-qualified or do not have the right qualification for the job they have been offered.
  • The employer must be willing to pay you above the minimum wage paid to Saudi Arabian nationals.
  • A letter from your Saudi employer certified by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to be submitted.
  • Your sponsor is also to write a letter stating that they will be covering all expenses regarding your trip.
  • A signed copy of your employment contract in Saudi Arabia is to be submitted.
  • Notarized certificates of your academic and/or professional qualifications are to be submitted also.
  • A recent police report stating if you have any criminal records/charges is to be submitted.
  • Three copies of your official medical report, including HIV test results, issued by a licensed physician or medical facility in Zambia is to be submitted.
  • Expats on long-term assignments need to have their employment visa extended to a Residence Permit (iqama), which is usually valid for one or two years.
  • The iqama is issued by the General Department of Passports, which is part of the Ministry of Interior, or its local branch offices.

Saudi Arabia Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Business visa

149.00 (USD)

Tourist visa

149.00 (USD)

Visitor Visa

108.00 (USD)

Work visa

200.00 (USD)

Saudi Arabia Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Zambia

Location

Address

Lusaka

Leopard Hill Street, Kaplonga 27 B C P.O. Box 34411 Lusaka 10101

zmemb@mofa.gov.sa

(+260) 211 266 862 / 1

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take alcohol in Saudi Arabia?

Alcohol and alcoholic beverages are illegal in Saudi Arabia and no one will be allowed to break this rule, even non-muslims.

Can I eat meat in Saudi Arabia?

Chicken and lamb are the most common kinds of meat in Saudi Arabia as beef is very rare to come by and pork is forbidden according to the laws of Islam.

Can I drink the tap water in Saudi Arabia?

The tap water is safe for drinking in Saudi Arabia, although water is scarce thereby putting the demand for bottled water at a very high rate.

Good afternoon I want to know more about acquiring a working visa in Saudi Arabia and how much is the cost. Thanks?
Do you assist Zimbabweans with work Visas for Saudi Arabia?
How much is visa going to Makkah?