UK Visa for Saudis and Residents: ETA, Fees and Steps
London, Edinburgh and Manchester are regular destinations for Saudi families. But your UK visa depends on your passport: Saudis need an ETA, while residents of other nationalities usually need a full UK visitor visa with an appointment and documents. Either way, Almorad gets your UK visa for you.
Start your UK visa now:
UK visa for Saudi citizens: the ETA
Since 22 February 2024, Saudis visit the UK with an ETA instead of a traditional UK visa:
- Fee: GBP 20.
- Validity: 2 years or until passport expiry, whichever is sooner, multiple trips.
- Stay: up to 6 months per visit.
- Decision: usually within minutes, sometimes longer, so don't leave it to the night before.
What we do: we file the ETA for you and your whole family, check photos and passport data, and send you approved authorisations. You avoid unofficial sites charging several times the fee.
UK visa for residents of Saudi Arabia: Standard Visitor
If your nationality isn't ETA-eligible, you need a UK visitor visa:
| Validity | Official UK visa fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 months | GBP 135 |
| 2 years | GBP 506 |
| 5 years | GBP 903 |
| 10 years | GBP 1,128 |
Apply no earlier than 3 months before travel; decisions usually take 3 weeks after biometrics.
How Almorad gets your UK visa for you (residents)
- You send your passport, iqama and dates on WhatsApp or via our form.
- We choose the right UK visa length (6 months, 2 years or more).
- We complete the online UK visa application, including travel history and employment.
- We book your appointment at VFS Global in the Kingdom.
- We prepare your UK visa file: bank statement, employment letter, bookings and certified translations.
- Your only task: attend biometrics; your passport comes back the same day and we follow the decision.
Why UK visas get refused, and how we prevent it
Common reasons: unexplained deposits, unclear purpose, weak ties to Saudi Arabia. A refusal is asked about in every future UK visa application, so we review your file line by line. See What to Do After a Visa Refusal.
What you send us
- Passport copy (residents: iqama copy).
- Recent personal photo.
- Residents: recent bank statement and salary certificate.
UK visa FAQ
Do Saudis need a UK visa?
Not a traditional UK visa; a GBP 20 ETA, which we file for you.
How long does a UK visa take for residents?
Usually 3 weeks after biometrics.
Do I need to attend in person?
Saudis (ETA): no. Residents: only for biometrics.
Does a UK visa cover Europe?
No. The UK is outside Schengen; we can get your Schengen visa separately.
Ready for your UK visa?
Almorad's visa office in Riyadh files ETAs for Saudis and handles UK visas for residents end to end. Studying? See Study in the UK.
