Saudi Family Visit Visa for Pakistanis 2026: Sponsor Rules, Fees and Documents
For the millions of Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia, the family visit visa is the way to bring a spouse, children or parents over for a few months. The process runs mostly online through the sponsor in the Kingdom, but a few Pakistan-side steps — attested documents and vaccinations — trip people up every year. Here is how the Saudi family visit visa works for Pakistanis in 2026.
Who can sponsor, and who can come
The sponsor must be a resident of Saudi Arabia holding a valid Iqama (residence permit) with enough validity left — usually at least three months, though some cases need six. An Iqama holder can invite first-degree family: spouse, children, parents and in-laws. The sponsor's profession and salary can affect approval, so check your eligibility before you start.
Fees and mandatory insurance
The government visa fee is around SAR 300 for a single-entry family visit visa and SAR 500 for multiple-entry. On top of that, health insurance is mandatory and is bought through the MOFA portal, costing roughly SAR 112–375 depending on age and duration. Stamping the visa from Pakistan, including insurance and service charges, typically works out to around PKR 60,000 per person, though this moves with the exchange rate.
How long your family can stay
Duration depends on the visa type. A single-entry visa allows a defined stay (commonly up to 90 days, often extendable from inside the Kingdom), while a multiple-entry family visit visa is usually valid for one year, allowing up to 90 days per visit with an exit and re-entry to reset the period. Always confirm the exact validity printed on your visa, as conditions vary by case.
Documents and attestation
The visitor needs a passport valid for at least six months, photos, and proof of relationship to the sponsor — a marriage certificate for a spouse and birth certificates for children. These Pakistani documents usually must be attested by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Embassy, and an Urdu marriage certificate often needs a certified English or Arabic translation. Getting attestation and translation right before you apply is what prevents most delays.
The process, step by step
- The sponsor in Saudi Arabia raises the request through the Absher / Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal (visa.mofa.gov.sa) and pays the fee and insurance.
- The approved request is sent to the family member in Pakistan.
- The visitor submits the passport and attested documents to the Saudi mission / visa centre in Pakistan for stamping.
- Visitors must hold valid polio and MMR vaccination certificates, which are mandatory for Saudi visit visas.
Processing is usually quick — around three to seven business days once documents are in order.
Extending the visa
Extensions are handled by the sponsor while the visitor is physically inside Saudi Arabia, provided the Iqama is valid and there are no outstanding violations. Start the extension request 10 to 14 days before the visa expires to avoid overstay fines.
Hijrat handles the Pakistan side — MOFA and Saudi Embassy attestation, certified translation of marriage and birth certificates, and document checking — from our Aabpara office in Islamabad, serving Rawalpindi and overseas Pakistanis.
See also our guides to the Saudi work visa 2026 and Umrah 2026 new rules.
Disclaimer: Visa rules, fees, insurance costs and stay durations change frequently, and the SAR/PKR figures here are approximate and move with the exchange rate. Eligibility and the final decision rest solely with the Saudi authorities (MOFA and Jawazat). Always confirm current requirements through the official visa.mofa.gov.sa portal or the Saudi Embassy before applying.