Saudi Visa Platform MOFA Guide 2026: Apply & Check

By Ishita Roy — Business Consultant, Noble Core · Updated June 2026

What the Saudi Visa Platform (MOFA) actually is

The Saudi Visa Platform at visa.mofa.gov.sa is the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) system for issuing, tracking and printing entry visas to Saudi Arabia. It is widely known by its long-standing name “Enjaz,” and MOFA has been rolling out a refreshed “KSA VISA” interface. Whichever version you land on, the platform performs the same core job: it turns an approved invitation or sponsorship into a printable visa a traveller can use to enter the Kingdom.

The homepage organises everything into three service tracks:

• Visitor Services — visit, business and family visit visas for individuals.
• Citizens & Residents Services — services tied to people already inside Saudi Arabia.
• Business & Government Services — the track most companies use to sponsor employees, investors and business visitors.

It is important to separate MOFA’s platform from the other authorities you will meet. MOFA issues the visa itself; the Ministry of Investment (MISA) issues the investor licence; the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) and Qiwa handle work permits and labour quotas; and the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) via Absher and Muqeem handles residency (Iqama) once a worker is inside the country. The Saudi Visa Platform is the front door; the others manage what happens after you walk through it.

The platform is bilingual in intent, with an Arabic-first interface and English support across key screens. Every application is protected by CAPTCHA image verification at login, and outcomes are delivered electronically so a traveller can print the visa and present it either at a Saudi embassy or consulate abroad or, for eligible categories, at the port of entry. Because MOFA is steadily modernising the system under Vision 2030’s digital-government drive, you may see the classic Enjaz layout on one visit and the newer KSA VISA design on the next — the underlying account and application data remain the same.

Who needs to use the Saudi Visa Platform MOFA guide

You will use visa.mofa.gov.sa if you fall into any of these groups:

• Investors and founders entering Saudi Arabia to set up or manage a company — often on a business visa first, then transitioning to an investor residency once a MISA licence and Commercial Register are in place.
• Companies sponsoring foreign employees — after securing a work-visa quota (Visa Balance) through Qiwa and MHRSD, the actual entry visa is issued through the MOFA platform for the worker to collect at a Saudi embassy or consulate.
• Business visitors attending meetings, exhibitions, negotiations or site visits.
• Family members of residents applying for visit visas.

Tourists using the separate e-Visa/Visit Saudi portal generally do not need the MOFA business track, but the underlying visa is still a MOFA product. If your purpose is commercial — hiring, investing, or attending business activity — the MOFA platform combined with Qiwa is your route. Our team explains the full sequence on our company formation in Saudi Arabia guide.

Understanding the main visa types

Before you begin, it helps to know which category you are applying under, because the documents and the sponsoring party differ:

• Business visa — for founders, executives and professionals visiting for meetings, market research, contract signing or exhibitions. It is typically single or multiple entry with short stays and does not permit paid local employment.
• Work visa — for foreign employees who will live and work in the Kingdom. It requires an approved work-visa quota and leads to an Iqama after arrival.
• Visit visa — for family members of residents and personal or business visitors, issued for defined periods.
• Investor entry — investors holding a MISA licence can travel on a business visa and then move to investor residency, giving them the ability to manage their Saudi company directly.

Choosing the wrong category is a common early misstep. If you intend to hire staff or run operations, you need the work and investor track, not a short business visa alone.

Step-by-step: how to use the Saudi Visa Platform

The exact button labels shift slightly between the Enjaz and new KSA VISA interfaces, but the flow below matches both. Have your passport, a recent photo and your company or invitation details ready before you start.

1. Open the platform. Go to visa.mofa.gov.sa and choose your track: the Individual login for personal visit/business visas, or the Government agencies and business sector login if you are applying as a sponsoring company.
2. Register or sign in. New users click Register / New user, enter a valid email and mobile number, set a password, and complete the CAPTCHA image verification. Company users typically link through their establishment credentials.
3. Start a new visa application. Select Apply for Visa (or the relevant visitor/business service), then pick the visa type — business visa, work visa, or visit visa.
4. Fill the application form. Enter passport data exactly as printed, nationality, purpose of travel, the inviting party or sponsor details, and the destination Saudi embassy/consulate where the visa will be collected. Upload the passport photo in the required dimensions.
5. Pay the MOFA visa fee. Use the Payment screen (SADAD or card, depending on your country’s channel) to settle the visa issuance fee and any insurance component. Keep the payment reference.
6. Track and print. Return to the Inquiry (“Estilam”) section and search by application number, visa document number, or request number. Once the status shows issued, download and print the visa sticker or e-visa PDF to present at the embassy or on arrival.

For work visas, remember that the MOFA step comes after the company has secured a work-visa quota. Companies raise that quota and manage employee contracts on Qiwa, the MHRSD labour platform, before the entry visa can be generated on the MOFA platform.

Required documents and IDs

Requirements vary by visa type and nationality, but the platform will generally ask for the following. Confirm the exact list on the official portal before you submit, because MOFA updates document rules periodically.

For a business or visit visa (individual)

• Passport valid for at least 6 months with blank pages.
• A recent colour photograph on a white background in the specified pixel size.
• An invitation letter or business reference from the Saudi host (for business visas).
• Proof of purpose — meeting details, exhibition registration, or company introduction.

For a company sponsoring a work visa

• Active Commercial Register (CR) and MISA investor licence where applicable.
• An approved Visa Balance / work-visa quota from Qiwa and MHRSD.
• The employee’s passport copy, photo, and signed employment contract.
• Attested qualifications where the role requires them.

Companies must be correctly registered before they can sponsor anyone. If you have not yet secured your foreign-investment approval, our MISA licence in Saudi Arabia guide covers the prerequisite step that unlocks work-visa sponsorship.

Saudi Visa Platform fees and timelines (2026)

The table below sets out indicative government figures for the visa journey and the related setup costs a company encounters. MOFA visa fees vary by nationality, reciprocity and visa duration, so treat these as planning ranges and confirm current figures on the official portal at the payment stage.

Item	Authority / Portal	Indicative fee (SAR)	Typical timeline
Business / visit visa issuance	MOFA — visa.mofa.gov.sa	300 – 2,000 (varies by nationality & duration)	3 – 10 business days
Work-visa quota (Visa Balance)	Qiwa / MHRSD	Varies by activity & Nitaqat band	1 – 5 business days
MISA investor licence	MISA	Issue/renew fee suspended in 2026 (was ~12,000)	3 – 10 business days
Commercial Register (CR)	Ministry of Commerce / Saudi Business Center	~1,200 – 2,000	1 – 3 business days
Chamber of Commerce membership	Chamber of Commerce	~2,000 – 3,000 / year	1 – 2 business days
Iqama issue / renewal (govt portion)	Jawazat via Absher / Muqeem	~650 / year + applicable levies	1 – 3 business days
GOSI social insurance	GOSI	~21.5% total contribution (Saudi employee)	Monthly

All figures are indicative for planning only. Government fees, levies and VAT (currently 15%) can change, so always confirm the current amount on the relevant official portal before paying.

How the MOFA platform connects to the wider setup journey

The visa is one link in a chain. A typical inbound investor sequence in 2026 looks like this:

1. Secure a MISA investor licence (100% foreign ownership is available in most activities).
2. Register the company and obtain the Commercial Register from the Saudi Business Center and Ministry of Commerce.
3. Activate labour files on Qiwa and register with GOSI.
4. Raise a work-visa quota, then issue the entry visa on the MOFA platform.
5. After arrival, convert the entry visa to residency (Iqama) through Jawazat, managed on Absher and Muqeem.

The 2026 Commercial Register Law (effective 3 April 2026) simplifies part of this by introducing a single unified national CR with no expiry date — replaced by an annual confirmation — a five-year grace window, and permission to use English trade names. That makes the sponsorship side cleaner, but the MOFA visa step itself is unchanged in principle: quota first, then entry visa, then residency.

Common errors on the Saudi Visa Platform and how to fix them

Most rejected or stuck applications trace back to a small set of avoidable issues:

Passport data mismatch

Names and passport numbers entered on the platform must match the passport machine-readable zone exactly. A single transposed digit or a differently spelled name will cause a rejection at the embassy stage. Re-check every field against the passport before paying.

Photo rejected

The platform enforces strict photo dimensions and a plain white background. A photo that is too small, shadowed, or shows a coloured background is the most common upload failure. Use a compliant passport-photo size.

Applying before the quota exists

For work visas, trying to issue the MOFA entry visa before the Qiwa work-visa quota is approved will simply block the application. Confirm your Visa Balance in Qiwa first.

Payment reference lost

If the status does not update after payment, use the Inquiry screen with your SADAD or application reference rather than starting a new application — duplicate applications complicate collection at the consulate.

How to track and print a visa on the platform

Tracking is one of the most-used features, and you do not always need to log back into your full account to check status. On the homepage, open the Inquiry (“Estilam”) section and choose the field you want to search by:

1. Application number — the reference generated when you first submitted.
2. Visa document number — printed on the issued visa or e-visa.
3. Visa request number — used for applications still in process.

Enter the number, complete the CAPTCHA, and the platform returns the current status: under process, approved, issued, or rejected. Once the status reads issued, download the visa as a PDF and print it clearly in colour. Check that the name, passport number, visa validity and number of entries all match the traveller’s passport before they head to the embassy or airport — a mismatch discovered at the counter causes avoidable delays.

If a status stays “under process” longer than the indicative 3 to 10 business days, verify that the payment cleared and that no additional document was requested. For company-sponsored work visas, cross-check the corresponding record in Qiwa, because a hold on the labour side can pause the MOFA visa.

Renewals, extensions and staying compliant

Entry visas are time-limited, and once a worker is inside the Kingdom the compliance focus shifts from MOFA to Jawazat and GOSI. The entry visa must be converted to an Iqama within the allowed window after arrival, and the Iqama is then renewed annually through Absher and Muqeem, with a government portion of roughly SAR 650 per year plus any applicable levies. Business and visit visas that allow extensions are handled through their own service screens; overstaying a visa carries fines, so diarise expiry dates well in advance.

On the corporate side, keeping your files current is what keeps visas flowing. That means an active Commercial Register — now confirmed annually rather than renewed at a fixed expiry under the 2026 law — up-to-date Chamber membership, correct GOSI registration at the total contribution of about 21.5% for Saudi employees, VAT compliance at 15%, and ZATCA e-invoicing (Fatoora) enrolment. When any of these lapse, the government platforms can block new visa quotas until the file is restored, so treat visa capacity as a reflection of overall compliance health.

How Noble Core helps with visas and Saudi setup

Navigating MOFA, Qiwa, MISA, GOSI and Jawazat in the right order is where most first-time investors lose weeks. Noble Core manages the full sequence for you: the MISA licence, the Commercial Register, Chamber registration, labour-file activation, work-visa quota, the MOFA entry visa, and the eventual Iqama conversion — coordinated as one project rather than seven disconnected logins.

Our end-to-end company-formation packages start from SAR 36,999, and our visa and Iqama service handles the platform steps, document preparation and government payments on your behalf so nothing stalls between authorities. We keep you compliant with 2026 rules — the new unified CR, the suspended MISA licence fees, GOSI at roughly 21.5%, VAT at 15% and ZATCA e-invoicing (Fatoora) — and confirm every current fee on the official portals before you commit.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Confusing the tourist e-Visa with the MOFA business track — a commercial purpose needs the MOFA business/work visa route, not the leisure e-Visa.
• Issuing the entry visa before the Qiwa quota is approved — the sequence is quota first, then MOFA visa.
• Entering passport details that don’t match the document exactly — the single biggest cause of embassy-stage rejection.
• Uploading a non-compliant photo — wrong size or a coloured background will fail the upload.
• Assuming quoted fees are fixed — MOFA visa fees vary by nationality and duration; always confirm the live figure on visa.mofa.gov.sa before paying.
• Starting a second application when one is stuck — use the Inquiry screen to track the existing request instead.
• Letting the Iqama step drift — the entry visa must be converted to residency through Absher and Muqeem within the allowed window after arrival.

Used correctly, the Saudi Visa Platform is a fast, well-structured system — and when it is coordinated with the rest of your MISA, Qiwa and GOSI files, your team can be in the Kingdom and working within weeks rather than months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Saudi Visa Platform in this MOFA guide?

The Saudi Visa Platform, covered in this MOFA guide, is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs system at visa.mofa.gov.sa (long known as Enjaz, now refreshed as KSA VISA). It issues, tracks and prints entry visas to Saudi Arabia for business, work and visit purposes, and connects to Qiwa, Muqeem and Absher across the setup journey.

How do I apply on the Saudi Visa Platform step by step?

Following this Saudi Visa Platform MOFA guide, open visa.mofa.gov.sa, choose the individual or business login, register with an email and mobile, select Apply for Visa and pick the visa type, fill in passport and sponsor details, upload a compliant photo, pay the MOFA fee, then track and print the visa in the Inquiry section within roughly 3 to 10 business days.

How much does a Saudi visa cost on the MOFA platform in 2026?

MOFA visa fees are indicative SAR 300 to 2,000 depending on nationality, reciprocity and duration, so confirm the live figure on visa.mofa.gov.sa before paying. Related company costs include a Commercial Register around SAR 1,200 to 2,000 and Chamber membership near SAR 2,000 to 3,000 per year. MISA licence issue and renewal fees are suspended in 2026.

What documents does the Saudi Visa Platform require?

For a business or visit visa you generally need a passport valid at least 6 months, a white-background photo in the specified size, and an invitation or business reference. For a work visa, the sponsoring company needs an active Commercial Register, a MISA licence where applicable, an approved Qiwa work-visa quota, and the employee’s passport, photo and contract. Confirm exact rules on the portal.

How long does a MOFA visa take to be issued?

Most electronic visa outcomes on the Saudi Visa Platform are returned within 3 to 10 business days once documents and the MOFA fee are confirmed. Work visas take longer overall because the company must first secure a Qiwa work-visa quota, typically 1 to 5 business days, before the entry visa can be generated on the MOFA platform.

Is visa.mofa.gov.sa the same as Enjaz or the tourist e-Visa?

The MOFA platform at visa.mofa.gov.sa is the same system historically called Enjaz, now presented under the KSA VISA interface, and it handles business, work and visit visas. The separate tourist e-Visa on the Visit Saudi portal is for leisure travel. A commercial purpose such as hiring, investing or business meetings uses the MOFA business track, not the leisure e-Visa.

How does the visa platform link to work permits and Iqama?

The sequence runs quota first, then visa, then residency. A company raises a work-visa quota on Qiwa and MHRSD, issues the entry visa on the MOFA platform, and after the employee arrives converts it to an Iqama through Jawazat, managed on Absher and Muqeem. The Iqama government portion is around SAR 650 per year plus applicable levies.

How can Noble Core help with the Saudi Visa Platform and setup?

Noble Core manages the full sequence, the MISA licence, Commercial Register, Chamber registration, Qiwa labour files, the MOFA entry visa and the Iqama conversion, as one coordinated project. Packages start from SAR 36,999, and our visa and Iqama service prepares documents and handles government payments while keeping you compliant with 2026 rules, GOSI near 21.5% and VAT at 15%.