Saudi Arabia welcomed 16 million visitors in 2017. It is the second biggest tourist destination in the Middle East. Most of the foreign visitors that travel to Saudi Arabia do so for religious pilgrimages with a Hajj or Umrah visa.
However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wants to change that and is opening up the country to the world through the implementation of the Saudi Arabia Visa for tourism for over 45 nationalities.
This electronic visa system was introduced in September 2019 and will allow foreign nationals, including citizens of South Korea, to easily apply for the Saudi tourist visa through a simple online application.
Do South Korean citizens need a Saudi Arabia Visa?
At this time, the only countries that do not require a visa to enter Saudi Arabia are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. South Korean nationals need a Saudi Arabia visa to travel and enter the country, and are able to obtain a visa for business, religious pilgrimage, transit, or purposes of tourism.
Citizens of South Korea are now able to apply for a visa for tourism through a simple online form, eliminating the need to visit a Saudi embassy or consulate to apply for a visa. The Saudi visa for tourism is valid for 1 year from the date of approval. It can be used for multiple visits of up to 90 days (3 months) at a time.
Those with an approved Saudi eVisa from South Korea are able to use a printed copy of the visa alongside their passport to gain expedited entry to the country.
South Korean travelers may need a transit visa if the connecting time between flights is over 12 hours. Travelers are advised to check with a travel agency, or airline whether a visa will be required.
To travel to Saudi Arabia, South Koreans must have a current passport, valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry to the country. The traveler needs to have at least 2 blank passport pages for an entry stamp. A yellow fever certificate may be a requirement as well.
South Korean women should know that they must be met by a sponsor on arrival to the Kingdom. Otherwise, as a woman, they may face delays before being allowed to enter the country to continue to a connecting flight.
What are the requirements for South Koreans Applying for a Saudi Arabia Visa
To successfully submit an eVisa application, South Korean citizens will need to meet the requirements for a Saudi visa. Before applying for a Saudi visa, applicants must have the following:
- The passport should be valid for 6 months from the date of arrival
- The passport must have at least 2 back-to-back blank visa pages
- Pay the Saudi visa fee
- One (1) recent passport size color photo with a white background
Applicants will need to provide:
- Personal information (full name, address, date of birth, etc.)
- Passport details (number, expiration date, nationality, etc.)
- Proof of travel (dates, accommodation, etc.)
- Health information
In order to submit a Saudi Arabia eVisa application, South Korean nationals will also need a debit or credit card to pay the eVisa fee and an email address. The email address will be a requirement so that the applicant can receive notifications about the status of their Saudi eVisa, as well as the approved eVisa once it has been processed.
How to apply for a Saudi visa as a South Korean citizens
Previously, South Korean citizens needed to gather all the necessary requirements and apply for their Saudi visa through an embassy or through a visa agency accredited to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.
However, now that the Saudi Arabia eVisa is available, South Koreans are able to apply online for travel authorization for tourism.
The Saudi Arabia eVisa application is straightforward and easy to complete. Applicants are required to complete several details on the online form, including their full name, date of birth, sex, country of birth, citizenship and contact information. Each applicant is required to provide their passport details, including the number, issuing, and expiration date.
South Korean nationals also need to answer a series of security questions, pay for the visa fee and submit the application form. The Saudi Arabia eVisa system will process the application and will notify the applicant when the eVisa has been approved.
We will update this site with essential information about the eVisa for Saudi Arabia. Be sure to check the site for news about the visa and all the requirements for South Korean nationals.