The KSA government has invested a lot in its domestic higher education, due to which Saudi Arabia Study visa has risen in demand for foreign students.
Currently, 200,000 students are studying at educational institutions in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi universities have world-class technology facilities and offer scholarships and free tuition for postgraduate students.
Even international undergraduate students also prefer Saudi Arabic universities for higher studies.
Saudi Arabia also allows foreign students to work in a restricted way for the entire course of study to support dependents.
This ultimate Saudi Arabia study visa guide will explain all the interesting factors of its immigration system for international students.
Students can check the whole details of the visa process and FAQs in this article.
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Saudi Arabia Study Visa
1. Types of Saudi Arabia Study Visa for International Students
2. Visa fee for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
3. Saudi Arabia Embassies and Consulate for Students
4. Visa processing time for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
5. Documents Required for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
6. How to Apply for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
7. Interview Questions for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
9. Saudi Arabia Student Visa Success Rate
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1. Types of Saudi Arabia Study Visa for International Students
Foreign students need a visa to get master’s or PhD scholarships in Saudi Arabia institutions. There are two categories of visas.
Short-Stay Visa
A short-term visa is a student visa type for students who want to start a short language course or diploma certificate. The duration of the stay is 90 days.
Long-Stay Visa
Long-term visas are issued to students who are interested in a student visa to continue a degree program that is over 90 days.
First, students must get accepted into a Saudi higher educational institution. The university will then apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry will give permission for issuing a Saudi Arabia study visa.
After approval by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, students can apply for a visa at one of Saudi Arabia’s consulates or embassies. Students can travel to Saudi Arabia and continue their studies after receiving a student visa.
Other than residency permits and visas, there are no other visa types available for foreign students to study in Saudi Arabia.
Passport holders from over 40 countries can enter the Kingdom through the online e-Visa process.
Those foreign students who don’t meet e-Visa criteria will then apply for a study visa for Saudi Arabia.
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2. Visa fee for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
The Saudi Arabia study visa fee is 80 USD.
The country at which Embassy is located, and where the student is going to apply decides the specific method of payment.
According to recent regulations, students can only pay visa fees online when applying for a study visa for Saudi Arabia. Applicants cannot pay visa fees through the offline method.
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3. Saudi Arabia Embassies and Consulate for Students
The Embassy Pages for Saudi Arabia has the details of all Saudi Arabian embassies and consulates abroad. This list has also provided details of foreign embassies and consulates in Saudi Arabia.
The embassies of Saudi Arabia are located all over the world. International students apply to these embassies for visas.
There are different Saudi Missions working in different countries. Foreign students can visit the Saudi Missions website to find full details.
Saudi Arabia has 20 consulates and 103 embassies abroad. Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, hosts 114 embassies.
Along with this, there are 3 representatives and 89 consulates in Saudi Arabia.
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4. Visa processing time for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
If a student applies by himself for a student visa to Saudi Arabia, the visa application will process quickly. The standard processing time for visa application is 5 days.
While by Rush processing method, visa processing takes 3 days duration period.
The super rush processing method can process visa applications in a faster way. This method can process visas in 24 hours.
|
Visa Types Based on Processing Duration |
Processing Time |
|
Standard Processing Visa |
5 Days |
|
Rush Processing Visa |
3 Days |
|
Super Rush Processing Visa |
24 Hours |
If You have any questions related to your KSA study visa or any other study visa, you can also contact us for a live one-on-one session.
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5. Documents Required for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
5.2. Passport-size photographs
5.7. IELTS English Language Test for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
5.8. Statement of Purpose/Letter of Motivation/Cover Letter
5.11. Authorization Letter from Parents/Guardians
5.12. University Admission Letter for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
5.13. Proof of university Legal Fees
5.14. Receipt of Visa Processing Fee
5.15. Copy of Hotel Reservation & Flight Booking
5.16. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)
5.17. No Objection Certificate (Optional)
5.18. PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) for Saudi Arabia study Visa
5.19. Certificates of extracurricular achievements
5.20. Corona Vaccination Certificates
5.21. Marriage and Childbirth Certificate (Optional)
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5.1. Visa Application Form
Applicants must apply at the Saudi embassy for a study visa application at their place of residence. Students will fill out the visa application form and submit it with the documents.
The Visa application form is available at the nearest embassy of Saudi Arabia.
5.2. Passport-size photographs
The general picture format for a Saudi Arabia study visa is the following.
A: Two recent (within 6 months) passport-size (35x45mm) photos.
B: White background with neutral facial expressions. (Unedited)
C: Avoid uniforms & the head should be 80% in the photo.
D: The applicant should look at the camera.
5.3. Valid Passport
A: A passport must have at least 18 months of validity from the visa application date.
B: Applicants will also provide visa copies (if they have any).
C: The passport must have at least two blank pages.
D: All the previous passports must also be attached. (If they have any)
5.4. CNIC
A birth certificate and a National Identity card are mandatory for a Danish student visa.
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5.5. Academic Documents
It includes all academic records & certificates.
A. Certificate & transcript of Bachelor’s (If a student is applying for a master’s program)
B. Certificate & transcript of Master’s (If a student is applying for a Ph.D. program)
C. Transcript (DMCs) of Metric & FSC and certificates (if a student is applying for a bachelor’s degree)
D. Proficiency certificate in English from the university.
E. Course summary which explains current courses & previous courses.
F. Provide two Recommendation Letters from your university along with the referee’s details.
5.5.1. Translated Documents
A. Confirmation from Translation Company/Translator
B. Translation Date
C. Name and Signature of the Translator
D. Translator’s Contact Details
NOTE:
The above-mentioned documents must be attested by respective universities and boards.
For example, in the case of Pakistan, it must be attested by IBCC, HEC, and MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
IBCC authority is only responsible for the attestation of metric and inter documents.
Their offices are present in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and also in other cities of Pakistan.
HEC office attests to Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. documents.
Other International students should attest their documents from their own respective ministries & authorities.
5.6. CV
CV is compulsory for the university admission process and optional for embassy interviews.
It should contain all the contact details and academic information.
5.7. IELTS English Language Test for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
IELTS English language test is acceptable at the universities of Saudi Arabia.
The minimum band score required for Master Programs is 6.0 while for Ph.D. is 6.5.
5.8. Statement of Purpose/Letter of Motivation/Cover Letter
This document comprises the following information about the student:
A. Previous academic record
B. Employment Status
C. Relationship with your home country
D. Immigration History
E. Economic conditions of the applicant
A statement of purpose (SOP) & letter of motivation (LOM) are almost the same thing & could be interchangeable.
In this letter, Embassy and university asked an applicant to write about personal and professional reasons for applying for a course or the scholarship. It will also ask about the intention of traveling to Saudi Arabia.
The maximum length of this letter is three pages. It is recommended to make it short & concise to one page.
5.9. Medical Report
Saudi Ministry of Health has issued mandatory health requirements for students. When the medical report is provided to students, it is only valid for three months from the issuance date.
The student completes a medical report to process the application for a study visa for Saudi Arabia. The medical report must be identical to the one issued by the Saudi Arabian Embassies.
The doctor will confirm all the required tests in this report. These tests are Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, and HIV. The physician will tick the “OK” mark for positive results. The doctor will explain the reasons for positive results and then type in the report.
Students must attach results copies of specific diseases with a report of the medical form.
The note of the doctor must be typed on the letterhead of the clinic. It must be stamped with the official seal along with the sign and the license number of the doctor.
By this method, the report will be certified.
5.10. Health Insurance
When students apply for a Saudi Arabia study visa, they require travel health insurance. It also covers Covid-19 treatment and quarantine.
The cost of health insurance is 10 USD.
It also covers the costs of 14 days of quarantine and hospital stays.
5.11. Authorization Letter from Parents/Guardians
If a student is under the age of 18, then the student must bring an authorization letter from parents/guardians.
The authorization letter tells that the student is allowed to go to study in Saudi Arabia.
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5.12. University Admission Letter for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
Students first get an admission letter from the institution for a study visa for Saudi Arabia. The university will then apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for authorization of a student visa.
After authorizing a student visa, the student will then apply for a Saudi Arabia study visa along with an admission letter.
Students need to submit this letter along with other documents.
5.13. Proof of university Legal Fees
It is a receipt or proof of the “first-semester fee” or the “fee for the whole year”.
When students pay the Annual fee, University will send them an admission letter.
Applicants must also save all the online fee invoices & attach them to their documents while submitting for a study visa for Saudi Arabia.
5.14. Receipt of Visa Processing Fee
The student will pay a non-refundable fee and fill out the form.
For a Saudi Arabia study visa, Students need to pay 80 USD.
Remember, in some countries, external service providers like VFS Global can also take extra charges for their services.
5.15. Copy of Hotel Reservation & Flight Booking
The booking confirms the arrival date in a particular country. The hotel reservation shows that a student researched the process.
The host university should mention in their admission letter if they provide accommodation for the student.
The student can also provide a rental home contract.
5.16. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)
A family registration certificate (FRC) is a document that tells that the family record of the student is complete in the database of the home country.
This document contains details of the name and information of the parents and siblings.
This document is very much important in case of extending a residence permit.
Pakistani students can apply for FRC documents through different NADRA Offices in Pakistan.
They can also get it through online methods.
International students can get it from their local ministries & authorities.
5.17. No Objection Certificate (Optional)
It also varies from country to country. It is compulsory for some countries and known as NOC.
This letter tells that the student is allowed to apply for a student visa to Saudi Arabia.
It also tells that Students will return to the country after completing their education.
NOC must be written by the Dean or HOD of the university.
5.18. PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) for Saudi Arabia study Visa
International students who want to apply for a Saudi Arabia residence permit may require submitting a document showing a history of a criminal record.
This document must be issued by the country of your residence within five months of starting the visa application.
PCC can be issued by your local security police station. Many international students can also make it online.
Indian students can make PCC certificates through the Passport Seva website.
Pakistani students can make PCC documents in “Police Khidmat Markaz”. They can also make it through the ICTP app or the ICTP website.
It is better to cross-check the requirement with your local Saudi Arabia consulate.
5.19. Certificates of extracurricular achievements
These certificates could include internship certificates and experience letters.
The embassy gives extra value to these certificates.
5.20. Corona Vaccination Certificates
Students must complete the COVID-19 vaccination before the interview appointment at the embassy.
The administered vaccines are listed by the WHO (World Health Organization).
5.21. Marriage and Childbirth Certificate (Optional)
The embassy may ask about Childbirth Certificates and marriage certificates.
It is better to bring both childbirth and marriage certificates along with you for a student visa for Saudi Arabia.
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6. How to Apply for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
International students interested in Saudi Arabia’s higher education must apply for a Saudi Arabia study visa. After acceptance from the institution, foreign students will apply for a study visa application.
Students who are nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region countries do not need a student visa for Saudi Arabia. International students from all other countries require a student visa in Saudi Arabia.
Steps of Visa Application
Get Electronic Authorization and Invitation Letter
First, students must get electronic authorization and invitation letters from Saudi Arabia University.
This is one of the major requirements for applying for a student visa.
Prepare Documents
Students will prepare all the documents for the application for a student visa to Saudi Arabia.
These documents along with the visa application are important for filling out the visa application.
Submission of Visa Fee
Students must submit the visa fee at the nearest Saudi Embassy before forwarding the student visa application.
Submit Documents at the Nearest Saudi Embassy
Students must visit the nearest Saudi Embassy and submit the complete visa application forms and necessary documents.
Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website and Checking E-Services
In case of an online application, students must visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Check required Visa services. After checking E-Services, students will click on the list of student visa request categories. Submit the student visa request form.
Wait for the Final Student Visa Results
Wait for the processing of the visa form status. It usually takes three days to process. Sometimes, Embassy rejects visa application and demand for submission of additional documents.
After submission, the embassy will process the application and grant a student visa.
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7. Interview Questions for Saudi Arabia Study Visa
There are common questions student faces during their visa interview.
Name of the student & questions about previous educational qualification.
What is your purpose for going to Saudi Arabia?
Did you already search for opportunities in your home country?
Where is the university in Saudi Arabia?
Who is your sponsor? What is your relationship?
What is your course structure or Course summary?
Which course you will start at the university?
Why did you choose this university and subject?
How will this course shape your career?
How did you find this university?
What are your plans after the completion of the course?
Who advised this accommodation and how much will it be?
When will your course start?
Why did you choose Saudi Arabia and not another country?
Can you name other cities where famous universities exist?
Did you give an examination and a test for university admission?
Where will you stay in Saudi Arabia?
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8. Frequently asked questions about Saudi Arabia Study Visa
Do students need a visa to move to Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi Arabia is also offering visas on arrival to students of some countries. They issued it when someone reaches the Saudi Arabian Airport.
Students from 79 countries can request a visa on arrival. It is better to get a visa before moving to Saudi Arabia.
How can a student get an e-Visa to Saudi Arabia?
International students can apply for e-Visa through an online portal. This is a simple process.
It requires basic information like a passport, resident ID, date of birth, email address, and bank information.
After the form, applicants will pay the fee and request for issuing an e-Visa.
How much time e-Visa from Saudi Arabia take?
The e-Visa is usually issued within 1-3 business days. It can take up to a maximum of 10 business days for e-Visa issuance.
Applicants from 49 countries are eligible to apply for the online e-Visa of Saudi Arabia and it has an easier process.
Sometimes, e-Visa is rejected because of incomplete information provided by the applicant.
What is the validity duration of the student visa for Saudi Arabia?
Student visa for Saudi Arabia depends on the program or duration of the selected course by the student.
The duration of a short-term visa for language courses or a short diploma is 90 days.
A long-term visa is granted for a degree program longer than 90 days duration.
What is the stay duration for an applicant on e-Visa in Saudi Arabia?
Applicants can stay for a maximum of 90 days on an e-Visa with multiple entries.
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9. Saudi Arabia Student Visa Success Rate
Some visa categories for Saudi Arabia have high rejection rates like tourist visas. There are certain mistakes that lead to visa rejection.
However, for a student visa, the case is different. The student visa acceptance rate is over 90 percent.
The information which is provided by students is cross-checked with the provided passport. Visa approving authority may reject visas based on information provided with the passport.
Sometimes, a student visa is rejected based on provided documents or other changes in the application.
The embassy will notify students for providing additional documents. Students reapply for the visa after completing additional documents.
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10. Saudi Arabia study visa for international students (SUMMARY):
1. Take a visa appointment at a nearby Saudi Arabia embassy or consulate. Choose the correct visa category. (short-term visa, long-term visa.)
2. Pay the visa fee and other processing fees. Provide them with the required documents and scholarship acceptance letter.
3. Carefully Prepare the list of documents discussed above.
4. Do the visa interview & wait for the result. It can take some time.
We try to cover each & everything about the topic, but if you still have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.
If You have any questions related to your KSA study visa or any other study visa, you can also contact us for a live one-on-one session.
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