Okay folks, buckle up because my Saudi visa journey was smoother than I expected, but man, the paperwork stage almost did me in. Here’s exactly how I went from clueless to holding that visa stamp.
The Starting Point: Pure Confusion
Honestly, I stared at my laptop screen feeling overwhelmed. Where even start applying for Saudi? Tourist visa? Business? Just visiting a friend? I finally figured out I needed the tourist visa, so Tourist Visa it was. My first real step was just Googling the official source, the place you HAVE to use. Found it, breathed a sigh of relief.
Diving Into the Application Abyss
Right, clicked the big “Apply” button. Felt like jumping into a pool, not knowing how deep it was. Started typing in my basic deets: name, passport number, birthday… the usual suspects. Easy enough. Then came the tricky bits:
- Passport Scan: Took my actual passport, laid it flat on a dark background (used my desk chair cushion, classy), snapped a pic with my phone. Cropped it super tight, just the info page. Made sure every single letter and number was crystal clear. No shadows, no glare. Double-checked!
- Photo Headache: Thought I could reuse an old visa photo. Big mistake. Saudi has super specific rules – plain white background, no smiling (seriously!), head covering only for religious reasons, even precise head size in the frame. Ended up dragging my partner out for a quick photo booth session. Stared blankly at the camera like they wanted. Success.
- Travel Plans? Um… The application demanded flight details and where I’d stay. I didn’t actually have bookings yet, obviously waiting on the visa! So, I made my best guess. Searched for a plausible flight number and arrival date maybe 3 weeks out. For the address, just picked a popular Riyadh hotel I knew existed and put that down. Felt a bit sketchy, but everyone says it’s okay at this stage.
- Hitting Submit (With Sweaty Palms): Went over every single box I’d filled like a hawk. Finally, took a deep breath and clicked Submit and Pay. Heart skipped a beat.
The Paypal Surprise & Nervous Wait
Wham! Total fee popped up. Paid using my regular bank card linked online. Got that confirmation email instantly – “Application Received.” That felt good! Then… nothing. For days. Checked the status page religiously, maybe five times a day? Just said “Under Review.” Saw online this can be quick or take weeks. Honestly, the waiting was the worst part. Kept checking my email like a maniac.
The Golden Email (& Stamp Shock)
Then, maybe 6 business days later? Bingo! An email: “Visa Approval Notification.” Almost fell off my chair. Clicked the link in the email, downloaded the official eVisa PDF. There it was! My details, the visa validity dates, and – shocker – it actually had an electronic stamp right on the PDF itself! No physical sticker needed. Printed that bad boy out twice just in case. Couldn’t believe it was that electronic.
So yeah, that’s the whole shebang. Definitely less intimidating once you break it down step-by-step like I did, but boy, getting those documents perfect is key. Patience during the wait is the other crucial ingredient! Ready to book those flights now.
