Saudi Arabia Visa for Vietnamese Passport Holders in Dubai
Do Vietnamese passport holders in Dubai need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes — but not an embassy visa. Vietnam is not on the Saudi e-Visa passport-nationality list, so the qualifying route for Vietnamese in the UAE is residency: with a valid UAE residence permit (3+ months remaining; passport 6+ months; age 18+), you apply online for the 1-year, multiple-entry Saudi tourist e-Visa at ksavisa.sa — any profession, 90 days per stay. Official processing is 1 minute to 3 business days, and the government fee is SAR 300 plus mandatory insurance (roughly SAR 480 / ~AED 470 all-in). One trap: a UAE residence permit does NOT give visa-on-arrival — apply online before you fly.
Key Takeaway
- Yes — but not an embassy visa. Vietnam is not on the Saudi e-Visa passport-nationality list, so the qualifying route for...
- Channel: Online e-Visa at ksavisa.sa (via UAE residency)
- Processing: 1 minute to 3 business days (official)
- Max stay: 90 days per entry; 1-year multiple-entry
- Govt fee: SAR 300 + insurance (~SAR 480 / ~AED 470 total)
- Source: ksavisa.sa + visa.visitsaudi.com — checked 3 Jul 2026
Vietnam's presence in the UAE has grown quickly — professionals in construction, hospitality, aviation and increasingly the large Saudi giga-projects, alongside a rising number of leisure travellers. For Vietnamese passport holders living in the UAE, a trip to Saudi Arabia for business in Riyadh or Jeddah, or tourism to AlUla and the Red Sea coast, is now common. The key fact for this community: a Vietnamese passport holder living in the UAE does not need an embassy appointment for a Saudi tourist visa.
Vietnam is not on the Saudi e-Visa passport list — and here a useful contrast helps: several of Vietnam's regional neighbours (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore) are on that list and qualify by passport, but Vietnam is not. That does not slow you down, because the route that matters for Vietnamese in Dubai is residency: a valid UAE residence permit (3+ months remaining; passport 6+ months) qualifies you for the same 1-year, multiple-entry Saudi tourist e-Visa online, any profession, at the official ksavisa.sa portal. No profession list applies, the resident e-Visa is not single-entry, and there is no embassy step for tourism.
This guide covers the full picture for Vietnamese passport holders in Dubai as of July 2026: how you qualify, the visa-on-arrival trap, official fees, and the online application.
Is Vietnam on the Saudi e-Visa List? No — Here Is Your Route
Saudi Arabia's tourist e-Visa has three qualifying routes. The first is by passport: citizens of the 66 countries on the official Permitted Country list apply directly. Vietnam is not on that list — unlike its neighbours Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, which are. The second route is by residency: residents of a GCC country, including every UAE residence-permit holder, qualify regardless of passport. The third is by visa held: holders of a valid Schengen, US, or UK visit visa, or permanent residents of the US, EU, or UK, also qualify.
For a Vietnamese passport holder living in Dubai, Sharjah, or Abu Dhabi, the residency route is the practical one. Your UAE residence permit must be valid for at least 3 more months, your passport for at least 6, and you must be 18 or older. You apply online at ksavisa.sa and receive the e-Visa by email — the same 1-year, multiple-entry tourist e-Visa a Thai or Singaporean passport holder receives, just via residency rather than passport.
Which Saudi e-Visa Route Applies? (Vietnamese Passport, 2026)
| Your situation | Route | Where you apply | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE residence permit valid 3+ months | GCC-residency e-Visa | Online at ksavisa.sa | The main route for Vietnamese in the UAE — any profession |
| Valid Schengen, US, or UK visit visa | Visa-held route | Online e-Visa or visa-on-arrival | The visa should have been used to enter the issuing country |
| US, EU, or UK permanent residence | PR route | Online e-Visa or visa-on-arrival | Green card / EU residence / UK settled status |
| None of the above | Embassy route | Saudi mission in your country of residence | Specific categories — plan several weeks ahead |
UAE residence permit valid 3+ months
- Route
- GCC-residency e-Visa
- Where you apply
- Online at ksavisa.sa
- Notes
- The main route for Vietnamese in the UAE — any profession
Valid Schengen, US, or UK visit visa
- Route
- Visa-held route
- Where you apply
- Online e-Visa or visa-on-arrival
- Notes
- The visa should have been used to enter the issuing country
US, EU, or UK permanent residence
- Route
- PR route
- Where you apply
- Online e-Visa or visa-on-arrival
- Notes
- Green card / EU residence / UK settled status
None of the above
- Route
- Embassy route
- Where you apply
- Saudi mission in your country of residence
- Notes
- Specific categories — plan several weeks ahead
Vietnam is not on the 66-country passport list, so a Vietnamese passport alone does not qualify — one of the routes above must apply. Verify your case at ksavisa.sa.
The Facts Vietnamese Applicants Are Most Often Told Wrongly
- No profession list applies — the earlier rule limiting the GCC-resident e-Visa to certain job categories was removed. Any profession qualifies.
- The resident e-Visa is not single-entry — it is a 1-year, multiple-entry visa allowing up to 90 days per stay.
- Your UAE residence permit is what qualifies you — no US, UK, or Schengen visa needed first, and no embassy for tourism.
- The official government cost is about SAR 480 (~AED 470) all-in — be cautious of bundled prices far above this.
The Visa-on-Arrival Trap: UAE Residence Does NOT Give VOA
Saudi Arabia does operate visa-on-arrival counters — but only for holders of a valid Schengen, US, or UK visit visa and permanent residents of the US, EU, or UK. A UAE residence permit is not on that list. A Vietnamese resident of Dubai who arrives in Jeddah without an approved e-Visa, expecting to pay at the counter, will be turned around at check-in or the border. The rule: the UAE residence permit qualifies you to apply online — it does not qualify you to arrive without a visa. The e-Visa is usually approved within minutes.
How to Apply, Fees and Processing (Official Figures, July 2026)
- 1Check your two validity windows: UAE residence permit valid at least 3 more months, Vietnamese passport valid at least 6 months from entry. Renew first if either falls short.
- 2Go to ksavisa.sa, select the tourism visit visa and the GCC-resident route, and have your Emirates ID and residence-permit details ready.
- 3Complete the application: passport details exactly as printed, UAE residence details, travel dates, and a compliant photograph.
- 4Pay the government fee online — about SAR 480 (~AED 470) all-in. Keep the receipt.
- 5Receive the e-Visa by email (1 minute to 3 business days) and travel with the same passport you applied with.
Saudi Tourist e-Visa — Official Cost and Timing
| Item | Official figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Government visa fee | SAR 300 | Listed as USD 80 (refundable) on ksavisa.sa |
| Mandatory health insurance | ~SAR 180 (provider-based) | Selected during the application |
| Approximate all-in total | ~SAR 480 (~AED 470) | The same for every applicant on this route |
| Processing | 1 minute to 3 business days | Many approvals are near-instant |
| Validity | 1 year, multiple entry | 90 days per stay |
Government visa fee
- Official figure
- SAR 300
- Notes
- Listed as USD 80 (refundable) on ksavisa.sa
Mandatory health insurance
- Official figure
- ~SAR 180 (provider-based)
- Notes
- Selected during the application
Approximate all-in total
- Official figure
- ~SAR 480 (~AED 470)
- Notes
- The same for every applicant on this route
Processing
- Official figure
- 1 minute to 3 business days
- Notes
- Many approvals are near-instant
Validity
- Official figure
- 1 year, multiple entry
- Notes
- 90 days per stay
Source: ksavisa.sa and visa.visitsaudi.com Terms & Conditions, checked 3 July 2026. Government figures are periodically revised — OraVisa confirms the current total.
Apply for Your Saudi e-Visa with OraVisa
Vietnamese passport holders in Dubai qualify for the 1-year multiple-entry Saudi tourist e-Visa online via their UAE residence permit — any profession, no embassy. OraVisa checks your eligibility and prepares the application. Free consultation.
Get Your Free ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
Can Vietnamese passport holders in Dubai get a Saudi e-Visa?
Yes. Vietnam is not on the Saudi passport-nationality list (unlike neighbours Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore), but Vietnamese passport holders who are UAE residents qualify through the GCC-residency route: a valid UAE residence permit (3+ months remaining) plus a passport valid 6+ months lets you apply online at ksavisa.sa for the 1-year, multiple-entry tourist e-Visa — any profession, no embassy, 90 days per stay.
Can Vietnamese travellers get a Saudi visa on arrival with a UAE residence visa?
No. Saudi visa-on-arrival is available only to holders of a valid Schengen, US, or UK visit visa and to permanent residents of the US, EU, or UK. A UAE residence permit does not grant visa-on-arrival — it qualifies you to apply online in advance at ksavisa.sa, usually approved within minutes to 3 business days.
How much does the Saudi e-Visa cost for Vietnamese in the UAE?
The official government fee is SAR 300, plus mandatory health insurance (provider-based, roughly SAR 180) and small digital service fees — about SAR 480 (~AED 470) all-in (ksavisa.sa, checked July 2026). The government cost is the same for every applicant on this route; be cautious of bundled prices far above it.
Do only certain professions qualify for the Saudi e-Visa via UAE residency?
No. The earlier profession-list requirement was removed — UAE residents of any profession qualify, provided the residence permit is valid at least 3 months and the passport at least 6. If you have been told only white-collar categories can apply, that information is outdated.
How long does the Saudi e-Visa take for Vietnamese UAE residents?
The official processing time is 1 minute to 3 business days (ksavisa.sa) — many approvals arrive near-instantly. Apply before booking non-refundable travel, and remember the e-Visa must be approved before you fly: there is no visa-on-arrival for UAE residence-permit holders.
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Written by
Priya Sharma
Senior Visa Consultant — Asia & Americas
Senior Visa Consultant specializing in Asian & American destinations. 8 years of experience with a proven track record in complex multi-country applications.
Expert reviewed by Ahmed Al Rashid
Senior Visa Consultant
Last updated: · 12+ years of visa consultancy experience
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