# Saudi Arabia Visa Processing Time from India (2026 Update) > How long each Saudi visa route takes for Indians in 2026: instant Package Visa, up to 3 business days on KSA Visa, 1-2 working days for business, and what Tasheer adds. _Published: 2026-10-23 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1145_ ## TL;DR An Indian buying Saudi Arabia's new Package Visa gets an instant eVisa, but travel can start only 48 hours after purchase. Visit visas on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' KSA Visa platform take 1 minute to 3 business days, and business visit visas usually 1-2 working days. Time spent at a Tasheer centre and passport return is not published. ## Key takeaways - Package Visa (launched 6 July 2026): instant eVisa, but travel must start at least 48 hours after purchase. - KSA Visa tourism, family and medical visit visas: 1 minute to 3 business days, longer in exceptional cases. - Business visit visa: usually 1-2 working days after the invitation letter and application are submitted. - Time at a Tasheer visa service centre, including passport return, is not published. - Refunds for rejected or cancelled KSA Visa applications take 45-60 business days. **According to Saudi Arabia's official visa platforms, an Indian buying a Package Visa through an accredited agency gets an instant eVisa, while tourism, family and medical visit visas on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' KSA Visa platform take 1 minute to 3 business days. Business visit visas usually take 1-2 working days. Tasheer centre timelines are not published.** ## Article These timelines are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026: Visit Saudi, the KSA Visa platform run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Tourism and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in New Delhi. The full route-by-route breakdown of eligibility and fees is on our Saudi Arabia visa page for Indians. ### How long does each Saudi visa route take? Saudi Arabia has no single processing time, because Indians reach a visa through different channels. This table sets the published times side by side. RoutePublished processing timeFeePackage Visa (tourist eVisa bought with a travel package)Instant eVisaSAR 402.21 including fees and medical insuranceTourism, Family and Friends or Medical visit visa (KSA Visa)1 minute to 3 business days; up to 3 working days after submission and payment, longer in exceptional cases$80 plus $10.5 visa and $10.5 insurance digital services fees, plus insuranceBusiness visit visa (KSA Visa)Usually 1-2 working days after the invitation letter (if any) and application are submitted$80 plus the same digital services feesTransit/Stopover visa (Saudia or Flynas)Created and emailed on booking and approvalFree visa; application fee roughly 39.50 (US$10.50)Embassy, Consulate or Tasheer centreNot published$80 tourism visit visa fee on KSA Visa; Tasheer charges in INR not verifiedThe clock on KSA Visa starts once the application is submitted and the fees are paid, not when you open the form. ### Which route can you actually use? Processing time is only useful if you are eligible for the route. Saudi Arabia's official visa tool places India in its 'Visa by Package' group. With only an Indian passport, you can choose: - a Package Visa bought from a Ministry of Tourism-accredited agency; - a visit visa through an Embassy, Consulate or Tasheer visa service centre; - a Transit/Stopover visa if you fly Saudia or Flynas. If you also hold a valid US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa that has been used at least once with a physical entry stamp, or a UK, US or EU permanent residence permit, you can apply for an eVisa on the KSA Visa portal (SAR 339.44, about USD 90.50, insurance extra) or take a visa on arrival (SAR 395, about USD 105.32, insurance included). Digital entry stamps do not count. ### Why an 'instant' Package Visa still needs 48 hours The Package Visa pilot opened to Indian citizens on 6 July 2026. You buy it from an accredited agency (Reserval, Almosafer, Webook.com or Almatar), and the visa and travel insurance are issued on completion of the booking and sent by email. Approval is immediate, but the package rules set the real timeline: - Travel starts at least 48 hours after purchase. - Trips run from 2 to 88 days. - A package covers up to 9 tourists over 18 and up to 5 children. - The hotel must be rated 4 stars or above and licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, with a confirmed round-trip flight booking. - Makkah and Madinah are excluded. So on the Package Visa route, the earliest departure is 48 hours after you buy the package, not the same day. ### What adds time at a Tasheer centre or the embassy? Indians who do not qualify for an eVisa apply through a Saudi visa service centre run by Tasheer, or through a Saudi mission in New Delhi or Mumbai. KSA Visa lists 11 authorised visa offices in India, while Tasheer's own India portal shows 14 centres. Each step can add days: - Booking an appointment online on the Tasheer portal or at the centre. - Attending for a document check, biometrics and identity verification, and paying the due fees. - Waiting for the decision; extra documents may be requested by email or through a visit to the embassy. - Collecting the passport at the centre or having it delivered. Neither Tasheer nor the Embassy publishes a processing or passport-return time for India, so allow a buffer and confirm with your centre when you book. ### Do Umrah and Hajj dates change the timeline? Yes, because availability changes. The Umrah visit visa, applied for through Nusuk, is available all year except the Hajj season (15 Dhul Qa'dah to 15 Dhul Hijjah). The Hajj visa is a separate visa for Muslims, limited to the Hajj season. Muslim visitors on a tourist visa may perform Umrah, but Hajj is not permitted on it, and during the Hajj season entry is only through specific designated ports. ### How long does a refund take if the visa is rejected? KSA Visa states that if an application is rejected or cancelled, an automatic refund request is processed within 45-60 business days, and you can reapply at any time. It shows the $80 visa fee as refundable and the $10.5 digital service fees as non-refundable. Visit Saudi's eVisa FAQ says tourist visa fees are non-refundable in any case, so check the terms on your route before paying. ### Timing mistakes that delay Indian travellers - Booking a same-day departure on a Package Visa. The 48-hour rule applies even though approval is instant. - Assuming a Schengen visa without an entry stamp qualifies. The visa must have been used at least once with a physical stamp. - A short passport. You need at least six months' validity beyond the date of entry on every route. - Under-18s travelling alone. Minors may enter only with a parent, grandparent or adult sibling. For an embassy or Tasheer file that needs a flight reservation, hotel booking, itinerary or cover letter, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram offers packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us on our contact page. Official eligibility rules are on Visit Saudi's visa regulations page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I get a Saudi visa on arrival with an Indian passport? Not on an Indian passport alone. Visa on arrival is only for Indians holding a valid US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa used at least once with a physical entry stamp, or a UK, US or EU permanent residence permit. It costs SAR 395 with insurance included. #### How long is a Saudi tourist visit visa valid once issued? KSA Visa lists a single-entry visa valid for 90 days with a stay of up to 90 days, and a multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year with stays of up to 90 days. #### Does VFS Global handle Saudi visas in India? No. VFS does not publish a Saudi Arabia visa service for India. Saudi visa service centres in India are run by Tasheer, which books appointments, records biometrics, collects fees and returns passports. #### How do I track a Saudi visit visa application? On the KSA Visa platform you track it with your invitation or application number, and approval or rejection is sent by email. Tasheer also offers tracking and optional SMS status updates. ## FAQ ### Can I get a Saudi visa on arrival with an Indian passport? Not on an Indian passport alone. Visa on arrival is only for Indians holding a valid US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa used at least once with a physical entry stamp, or a UK, US or EU permanent residence permit. It costs SAR 395 with insurance included. ### How long is a Saudi tourist visit visa valid once issued? KSA Visa lists a single-entry visa valid for 90 days with a stay of up to 90 days, and a multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year with stays of up to 90 days. ### Does VFS Global handle Saudi visas in India? No. VFS does not publish a Saudi Arabia visa service for India. Saudi visa service centres in India are run by Tasheer, which books appointments, records biometrics, collects fees and returns passports. ### How do I track a Saudi visit visa application? On the KSA Visa platform you track it with your invitation or application number, and approval or rejection is sent by email. Tasheer also offers tracking and optional SMS status updates. ## Sources 1. [KSA Visa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) – Tourism visit visa: fees, validity, eligibility, requirements](https://ksavisa.sa/visa/tourism/details) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia 2. [KSA Visa (MOFA) – Business visit visa: fees, processing, requirements, steps](https://ksavisa.sa/visa/business-visit/details) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia 3. [Ministry of Tourism – Package Visa: eligible countries (incl. India) and accredited agencies](https://mt.gov.sa/en/tourist-visa) — Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia 4. [Visit Saudi (Saudi Tourism Authority) – Saudi Arabia Visa Requirements, nationality India](https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/plan-your-trip/visa-regulations) — Saudi Tourism Authority