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Guidelines
and Instructions issued
to Kingdom’s Diplomatic Missions Abroad
On granting Entry Visa
Businessmen and Investors Entry to the Kingdom |
Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (Consular Section) issued a number of Controls and
Instructions for arrangements of granting the businessmen and the
investor’s entry to visit their counterparts from the missions
directly without consulting the Ministry. In this regard the Diplomatic
Missions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques have been issued the
following Instructions and Guidelines:
1-
Representatives of foreign companies and establishments, businessmen and
the investors are granted visit visas to the Kingdom for commercial
purposes. These visitors include representatives of contracting and
investing companies inside the Kingdom. The Consulate must be informed
with confirmation of acquainting and investing prior to issuance of such
visa.
2- The Representatives of the foreign companies and establishments who
want to visit the Kingdom to look for chances to investigate and study
Saudi Market are granted visas in their countries if the union and
Boards of Chambers of Industries and Commerce make the request for the
same.
3- Applications for commercial visits for businessmen and investors
that are filed with the missions by fax by Saudi companies and
establishments which have attested those applications from Saudi Chamber
of Industry and Commerce, will be accepted. But the government
companies, i.e. Saudi Airlines and Aramco, and the companies in which
the country has more than 50% of the Capital, i.e. Sabic, do not need to
attest their applications from the Chamber of Commerce.
4- Foreign businessmen and investors of the countries where the Kingdom
has no missions can be granted visas by Saudi Missions offices of the
neighboring countries after the applicants visits commercial character
has been checked. These applicants must have a confirmation letter from
the Chamber of Commerce in their countries or memo from their
countries’ embassies indicating the commercial character of their
visits.
5- Foreign businessmen and investors (non- residents) who have been
invited by Saudi companies of Industrial and Commerce chambers and who
have letters from their countries are granted to obtain visas from their
countries directly.
6- Visas for businesswomen can be issued internally by Saudi Companies
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or one of its branches and also can
be issued for her in case her husband or blood relatives accompany her.
7- Visit Visa can be granted to businessman’s wife or the wife of the
representative of the company or establishment after the confirmation of
the relationship.
8- Indicated instructions cannot be applied to the people who have
commercial character, i.e. if they are technicians, craftsmen,
engineers, teachers, professors, lawyers, computer programmers,
mechanics, doctors, and others who do not have commercial character, who
visit through Saudi companies and establishments to finalize some
temporary work visas. Individuals who desire to visit the Kingdom have
to file their applications with concerned authorities in the kingdom to
obtain work visas.
9- Visas for the participants in commercial exhibitions held in Kingdom
and which are licensed by the Ministry of Commerce can be granted
internally according to the data presented by Saudi companies organizing
the commercial exhibitions for the Ministry of Commerce. After studying
and confirmation, the data can be transferred to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to be sent to the concerned missions according to the Telegram
No. 2501/24 dated 12/11/1422H. corresponding to 26/1/2002 issued by H.E.
The Minister of Commerce.
10- Visas for doctors for whom the hospitals present visit applications
for limited time can be issued internally after the concerned hospital
presents a letter from the Ministry of Health confirming the entry of
the required doctor; this is valid according to the telegram No. 1297/15
dated 14/11/1422H corresponding to 28/1/2002 issued by H.E. The Minister
of Health.
11- Visas covering commercial and industrial information can be issued
internally by the Kingdom (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any of its
branches) after the attachment of letter confirming entrance; this would
be valid according to the Telegram No. 2039/21 dated 2/12/1422H.
corresponding to 15/2/2002 of H.E. The Minister of Information.
12- Validity of commercial visa issued by consulates is for one month
maximum. For some satisfactory reasons the visa can be issued for more
than one month, up to three months maximum.
13- Head of Consular Section can grant multiple visit visa for six
months maximum and not more than one month for each visit for the people
who are in need to repeat visits for short periods and for the
applicants wishing to visit the companies and establishments for
contracting and investing.
14- To apply this instruction the following conditions must be met:
a) Visitor must have a valid passport; the visitor can go back to his
country or to another country. He must make these visits on transit
ticket.
b) Visitor has to present a letter from his company indicating
commercial character of his visit, purpose and time of the visit, and
name of the company or establishment that he will visit.
c) The name of the company or establishment that he will visit should be
mentioned on top of the visa along with the letter of confirmation by
the inviting Saudi company that must be known and has commercial
registration and is a member of any of the Chambers of Commerce in the
kingdom.
Source:http://www.mofa.gov.sa/ooo/visa/Business_visas.htm
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