Are you currently planning to take a trip to Saudi Arabia? Then, you must spend some time in Riyadh to make your trip truly memorable. Visited by around 2.8 million foreign tourists in 2023, Riyadh is a tourist hotspot. You should start filling out the KSA online visa application fast to avoid rejections. However, more than that will be needed to have a good trip.
This is why, you need to start the process with some good planning. This way you will be assured of having a successful trip.
What Will You Need for Your Trip to Riyadh?
Visiting Riyadh for a week requires to first enter through the borders of Saudi Arabia. So, you will first have to meet the entry requirements of Saudi Arabia before you start planning for anything else. Some of the things that stand as the entry requirements for the country are:
Have a passport:
The most important thing that you will need for your trip to Saudi Arabia is a passport. This is your biggest identity proof when you are in foreign lands. Moreover, it also proves your ties with your home country. This is why all individuals are required to use a valid passport for the different processes related to the trip.
A valid passport is one that comes with a minimum validity of 6 months remaining after you depart from Saudi Arabia. Moreover, this one should also have at least 2 blank pages in it for it to get stamped when you enter and exit the country. However, the most important condition is for it to be in a machine-readable condition. This means your name and other details should be clearly visible on the passport.
Get your visa:
Traveling to Saudi Arabia requires you to get a permit. This travel permit is known as a visa or a visit visa. So, unless you are on the visa waiver list for the country, you will definitely have to apply for visit visa Saudi Arabia. This visa can be applied for in two different ways; through the embassy or online.
The first one is a more traditional way of doing things. This involves you physically visiting the embassy and carrying out the whole process. This is why, it is considered to be inconvenient, resulting in more people gravitating towards the latter. The steps for that process are:
Visit the portal:
The process starts with you visiting the online portal for the process. During this, you can choose to use the Immigration website of Saudi Arabia or any other reputed site that deals with the same process. From there, you will have to check the list of the eligible countries before you move any further into the process.
Fill out the form:
The next thing that you will have to do is fill out the entire KSA online visa application form. This is the place where you will need to be extremely attentive and look out for any possible mistakes. Make sure you fill out your name and other details in the exact way it is on your government document.
Attach your document:
The visa application process involves you to add a few copies of the necessary documents for the process. Some of the necessary documents include your passport, recent photographs, bank statements, travel itineraries, and others. Please keep in mind that these should be scanned copies and should be in PDF or JPG format.
Pay your visa application fee:
The final step in this process is to pay a certain amount towards the application fee for a Saudi Arabia visit visa. The amount of this fee varies depending on your nationality and other factors, so you will have to check this during your application. However, you can easily pay this amount through your debit or credit card. After that, you can move on to submit the application form.
It will just take a few minutes to days for the application to be processed after you are done with the process. If your visa application gets approved then you will be able to receive the approval letter on the email ID that you have provided in your application form. This visit visa will stay valid for 1 year and offers multiple entries.
However, the total maximum stay-up period on this is 180 days and one stay cannot be more than 90 days. Remember to get a few copies of this letter and bring them with you to the airport.
Things That Make the Perfect Trip to Riyadh
Experiencing the perfect trip to Riyadh involves you to have a proper understanding of a few things after you apply for visit visa Saudi Arabia. This way there will be fewer chances of things going in the wrong way, thus offering you peace of mind.
Choose a good time:
Timing is key when it comes to having the perfect trip. This is why, you will be required to understand what the best time to visit Riyadh is. Most people like to visit the place during winter (November to March) as the temperature around that time is quite pleasant. Moreover, your stay in Riyadh should at least be a week, otherwise, you will not be able to properly enjoy everything. So, make sure you plan your entire trip according to that.
Areas that you must visit:
Being the capital city of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh has many places that one can visit. All these places add something new to your experience, making them a must during your visit. For instance, some of the places that we always advise tourists to visit are the Masmak Fortress, Riyadh Zoo, Kingdom Centre, Edge of the World, and Murabba Palace.
All these places are some of the most recognizable landmarks of Riyadh, so they should be on your list. Moreover, there are also a few other places that you can check out on the internet after your KSA online visa application gets approved.
Carry appropriate clothing:
Saudi Arabia has a few unsaid social dressing rules for everyone, especially for women. So, if you are a female visiting the place for the first time then you should keep in mind to pack some appropriate clothing with yourself after you fill out the KSA online visa application.
For instance, you should not wear outfits where your knees, chest, shoulders, or midriff are visible. It is best to carry long and flowy dresses that do not cling to your body. Moreover, you should also carry some head scarves for the times when you visit religious places.
Foods that you must try:
Your trip to Riyadh will be incomplete if you do not try some of the best foods in the country. So, make sure you make proper arrangements for a proper food walk on one of the days during your trip. During this, you should try Kabsa, Hummus, Shakshuka, and other things. The first one is considered to be the national dish of the country and comes with a side of rich flavors.
However, you should remember that most of the food items come with meat in it. So, you might have to research a bit if you are a vegetarian.
Learn the language:
Saudi Arabians tend to speak in Arabic language. Although most of them understand and even speak fluent English, it is still best to learn some basic Arabic after you apply for visit visa Saudi Arabia. You do not have to know everything, just some basic phrases will be more than enough for the trip.
For instance, you should learn that “As-salamu alaykum” is the word for Hello, and “Ma’a as-salama” is used for bidding goodbye.
On the other hand, you will have to say “Na’am” for yes and “La” for no. Most importantly, you should learn to say “Shukran” when thanking someone as that helps in expressing gratitude.
Ready to Spend the Best Week in Riyadh?
Most people who apply for visit visa Saudi Arabia tend to make a short stop at Riyadh to make their trip more special. So, if you also want to do the same then you must visit this city at least for a week. However, you should follow our guide and incorporate the things that we told you.
This way you will be able to have a successful trip. But, in case, you still face any issues during your visa application then you will have to take some assistance from the Helpdesk. On the other hand, you should call the emergency number of Riyadh, 999 for any issues during your stay.
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