Documents Needed to Travel to India from Saudi Arabia
Travelling to India from Saudi Arabia involves meeting a few requirements, the most important one being related to documents. From getting an online Indian eVisa to bank statements, individuals are required to have all the necessary documents. This ensures they are free to travel without facing any issues.
Saudi Arabia has always had a good relationship with India. This has been proven through many official initiatives and visits, one of the most noted ones being the visit of Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, in 2024. This, in turn, has made it easy for citizens of each country to visit the other country and make the travel ties even stronger.
However, visiting Saudi Arabia from India involves more than just filling out the India eVisa application. Irrespective of whether someone is traveling for business, tourism, education, or any other reason, there is a long list of document requirements for Saudi Arabian visitors to India. So, it is important to know the documents to avoid potential issues.
What are the Essential Documents?
Some of the essential documents that all Saudi Arabians will need when visiting India are:
Valid Passport
This is one of the most important travel documents for India or any other international travel, as it proves your ties with your country. However, your passport must meet a few requirements for it to be considered valid.
Minimum Validity Requirements - It should have a minimum 180-day validity after you arrive in the country.
Two blank pages are also necessary.
What are the Indian Visa Requirements?
Saudi Arabians are eligible to apply for a wide range of Indian visas depending on their travel purpose. Some of the types of visas one can apply for are:
Tourist Visa
This visa is designed for people who are visiting the country to explore the different landmarks and tourist spots of India. This visa can be applied for either online portal which is the online Indian eVisa, or traditionally through the embassy. Getting the online visa is best as it has added convenience.
An Indian travel eVisa is primarily of three types depending on its validity.
30-day eVisa: Offers double entry during its 30-day validity, but it is non-extendable and non-convertible.
1-year eVisa: Offers multiple entries, but has a maximum stay period of 180 days out of its 1-year validity.
5-year eVisa: Offers multiple entries, but allows a maximum stay period of 180 days each calendar year during its 5-year validity.
The documents you need to match the India visa requirements from Saudi Arabia for this visa are scanned copies of a valid passport, a recent passport-sized photograph, and bank statements. Plus, they will also need a travel itinerary.
Business Visa
This travel document for India is applied for by Saudi Arabian citizens who are visiting the country to attend a meeting, seminar, conference, or to set up a business or acquire one. One can easily get a business-related visa online, and it comes with a validity of 1 year.
However, the maximum stay during one visit is 180 days, and an individual is allowed to make multiple visits during this time. In case an individual intends to stay beyond 180 days, they should just get in touch with the FRRO/FRO 2 weeks before the time expires.
Some of the documents required to fill out the Indian eVisa application include scanned copies of a valid passport, a recentlt taken passport-sized photograph, and bank account statements. Other than this, you will also need a letter from the sponsoring organization in India, an invitation letter, and company credentials.
Medical Visa
This visa is applied for by individuals who are visiting to receive medical treatment. The visa stays valid for 2 months, starting from the day you set foot into the country. Other than that, it also allows triple entries.
There is another visa that goes hand in hand with this one, which is the Medical Attendant visa, which offers the same validity as the medical visa. This is applied by anyone who is accompanying the applicant for a medical visa.
For this online Indian eVisa, you will need scanned copies of your passport, bank account statements, and a recent passport-sized photograph. Plus, you must also provide medical records and a letter from an Indian hospital or clinic.
Student/Study Visa
This is applied by individuals who are visiting the country to enroll in an Indian institution. This can also be applied online and allows a validity of 1 year, which includes a total of four entries.
Some of the things that you will need for this visa are scanned copies of a recent photograph, your passport, and bank statements. Next, you should also have an admission letter from an Indian educational institution and a letter from a previous institute. Show proof that you have accommodation and are capable of paying for the expenses.
Steps for The Visa Application Process
The process of applying for an online Indian eVisa is easy, and it involves the following steps. Here, we will be focusing on an eVisa as it is more convenient to apply, and the approval process is prompt.
- Open the portal for the India eVisa application.
- Fill in the application form correctly.
- Scan the required documents and upload them.
- Pay the fee required for the visa application through your preferred payment method, debit or credit.
- Visa processing will take around 3 days.
- Get the visa approval letter at your email address that you added on the visa application form.
- Carry a few printed copies with you.
Note: Inform the helpdesk in case you face a delay or rejection during the process.
Health and Vaccination Documents
Although it is not a necessity, it is still best to carry a few health documents along with the travel documents for India. Some of this includes:
- COVID-19 vaccination certificate or negative test result.
- A yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from or transiting through yellow fever–affected areas like Africa or South America.
Financial and Identity Proofs
Besides matching the required documents for an Indian visa, one must also provide a few proofs to prove their identity and financial ability. Some of these proofs include:
- Flight tickets into and out of the country.
- Bank statements to prove proof of funds.
- Proof of accommodation.
- National ID or Iqama for expatriates applying from Saudi Arabia.
Note: One must also get travel insurance, which is highly recommended for health coverage abroad.
Visa Mistakes That You Should Stay Away From
Making mistakes is common for all processes. However, one should stay away from making any errors when applying for an Indian eVisa. This is simply because, irrespective of how insignificant an error is, it can affect your visa approval. Some of the common mistakes regarding visas are:
- Submitting low-quality passport photos.
- Submitting visa forms with incomplete or inaccurate data.
- Booking flights before visa approval.
- Failing to carry physical copies of e-Visas, which includes the approval letter.
Final Pre-Travel Checklist
This is a final checklist that a Saudi Arabian citizen can use to ensure they have fulfilled all the India visa requirements from Saudi Arabia. Some of these include:
- Check that your passport is valid post 6 months from leaving the country.
- Remember to apply for the visa that matches your reason behind the visit.
- Carrying hard and soft copies of the visa approval in your carry-on.
- You must book your hotel in advance and have proof of it.
- Book your return flight ticket to prove you have no plans of overstaying your visa validity.
- Carrying proof of funds.
- Make sure you have your insurance certificate with you; in case anything goes wrong.
- Get your vaccination certificate.
Ready to Visit India from Saudi Arabia?
Traveling from Saudi Arabia to India is smooth and enjoyable. However, you will have to be fully prepared and get your online Indian eVisa in time and match all the travel requirements for the country.
Also, keep our checklist handy. However, in case you face some delay or other issues, then the Helpdesk will be there to offer a solution.
READ MORE:
What is an Indian Business Visa? A business visa is what you need if you plan to visit India for market or industry-related purposes. You can either get a regular stamped one or an electronic copy of an India multi entry visa for business.
Check your eligibility for Online Indian Visa and apply at least a week before your scheduled trip to India. Citizens of many countries including Saudi citizens, Danish citizens, Korean citizens, German citizens and US citizens are eligible for India e-Visa.