The Saudi General Directorate of Passports and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj announced that the mechanism for adding a "Host Visa" service through the "Absher" system is currently being studied. The service would allow citizens and residents to host whomever they wish under their personal sponsorship for up to 90 days, and it is to become available in the coming days.
The new visa is one of the modern services that the Ministry of Interior is working to add through the Passports directorate. The "Host Visa" allows those arriving on it freedom of movement and accommodation, whether in a hotel, residential apartments or inside their host's home, according to Okaz newspaper.
The preliminary version of the visa showed that its cost per year will be 500 Saudi riyals per person, with the possibility of repeating the invitation up to 3 times a year through the "Absher" app, where all the data and information of those being hosted from various countries can be registered.
The visa enables its holder to tour the Kingdom freely and attend tourism events. It is expected to make it easier for the host to host 3 to 5 Umrah pilgrims, who will be issued visas on the civil registry of citizens and on the residency permits of residents. For residents, it will cover first-degree relatives, while citizens will be able to host whomever they wish, and the host must take care of and serve them until their departure.
It is worth mentioning that Saudi Arabia has made new tourist visas available to strengthen the Kingdom's position in tourism. They are valid for up to one year from the date of issue and are granted to those aged 18 and over, while those under that age must be accompanied by a guardian. Religion is not a condition, and the visa grants a stay of 90 days per year.
