The World Travel and Tourism Council predicts that the travel and tourism sector of Saudi Arabia would contribute a whopping SAR 263.1 billion to the kingdom’s GDP in 2019, according to an article on Greek Travel Pages. One of the major factors behind this figure is the introduction of the new electronic tourist visa, which welcomes foreign nationals of 49 countries, including Poland, to enter the KSA for tourism purposes.
Documents Required For Saudi Visa For Polish Citizens
In order to fulfill the visa requirements for Polish citizens, the first step is to gather all the necessary documents. These include:
PASSPORT
A Polish passport with validity of at least six months beyond your intended travel to Saudi Arabia. Make sure there are at least two blank pages for the entry stamp.
RECENT PHOTOGRAPH
A digital copy of a recent, coloured passport-sized photograph, taken against a white background and with your full face clearly visible.
HEALTH DOCUMENTS
Proofs of vaccinations for Yellow Fever, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, etc., will need to be produced at the port of entry. So, make sure to visit a physician and get all the require vaccinations well before your travel dates. You will also need medical insurance, without which you will not be allowed into the kingdom. The good news is that the insurance is arranged for you by the Saudi authorities, as part of the visa process, so you don’t need to buy a policy separately.
How To Apply For The Saudi Arabia Visa For Polish Citizens
Here’s what to do, to fulfill the visa requirements for Polish citizens:
STEP 1: VISIT SAUDI ARABIA’S OFFICIAL ELECTRONIC VISA PORTAL
The first step to begin with the application procedure is to log into the official e-visa website of Saudi Arabia. Make sure you are on the official page because there are many similar pages online.
STEP 2: CREATE AN ACCOUNT
Create an account where you can complete the application procedure. Once done, you can start filling up the visa application form. This account will have all the mandatory visa information and you can also check the status of your application here.
To create the account, you will need to enter your passport type and the name of its country of issuance, which is Poland in this case. Fill in your basic details, such as your full name, email address, phone number, along with your login info, such as username and password.
Once you have done this, a verification link will be sent to the email address you had provided. You will need to click on the link to activate your account. Once your account is active, you can start the visa application process.
STEP 3: FILL THE VISA APPLICATION FORM ONLINE
The application form consists of many pages, so make sure you keep enough time at hand to fill in all the details accurately. On the first page, fill in your personal details, such as your full name, gender, country of birth, marital status, occupation, address, etc.
Here, you will also be required to upload the digital photo, where your entire face and forehead are clearly visible. The dimensions of the photo should be 200×200 pixels and the size should be between 3KB and 100 KB. The photo should be in .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif or .bmp format.
On the next page, fill in your passport information and your intended dates of entering and exiting Saudi Arabia. The travel dates need not be rigid, since you can visit the kingdom anytime within one year of your e-visa being approved.
Lastly, you will be required to fill in other details, like the purpose of travel to Saudi Arabia and your place of accommodation in the country. Next, enter the purchase details of the mandatory medical insurance. The cost of insurance is SAR140, including 5% VAT. Finally, the last page will have details of the terms and conditions for you to read.
STEP 4: PAY THE VISA FEE
The final step is to make a payment of SAR463.44. This amount includes the visa fee of SAR300, insurance fee of SAR133, 5% VAT, which comes to SAR22, and a transaction fee of SAR8.44. You can make the payment via credit or debit cards.
After all the above steps are completed properly, you will receive the visa via email.
Public Etiquette You Should Follow In Saudi Arabia
When you are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, make sure you conduct yourself in public according to the following rules.
- Make sure there is no physical contact with a person of the opposite gender while in public. Handshakes are, however, allowed, only if the woman extends her hand first. No hugging or other forms of public display of affection are allowed.
- Make sure you are not practicing any other religion, apart from Islam. Also, do not preach against the values and principles of Islam. It is a severe offense and might land you in serious trouble.
- Men should wear full pants and full-sleeved shirts and women must cover their shoulders and knees at all times while in public. Obscene texts or images on your clothes are strictly prohibited.
- Clicking pictures of certain military installations, government institutions and buildings are not permitted.
- Alcohol or alcoholic beverages are forbidden in the kingdom. Carrying alcohol is also an offence and you might be subject to severe punishment.
The visa requirements for Polish citizens can be completed online but if you are travelling to Saudi Arabia for the first time, it might be helpful to use the services of an experienced agency like Rapid Visa, to guide you through the process. This will ensure a hassle-free process, without any unnecessary delays.
