How to get a Schengen visa from Saudi Arabia in 2026 (full step-by-step guide)

If you live in Saudi Arabia and want to travel to Europe, you’ll most likely need a Schengen visa. This applies both to Saudi citizens and to the large expatriate community legally residing in KSA on an iqama. Most applications are lodged through VFS Global centres in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam/Al Khobar, and many travellers worry about appointment availability, required documents, processing time, and the real risk of refusal.

The good news is that if your documents are complete, your insurance meets Schengen standards, and your itinerary is consistent, your chances of approval are strong. This guide explains exactly how to apply from Saudi Arabia, what you must submit, how much the visa costs, how long it takes, and how to avoid common mistakes — with clear, practical explanations rather than legal jargon.

What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa is an authorisation that allows non-EU travellers to enter and move within the Schengen Area, which includes most European countries with a shared border policy. Depending on its type, a Schengen visa can cover short visits, transit, or longer stays linked to a specific country.

The most common form is the short-stay Schengen visa (Type C), which allows travellers to stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. It is typically used for tourism, family visits, business meetings, short studies, medical treatment or cultural travel. With this visa, you can move freely between all Schengen countries, as long as you do not work and respect the authorised duration.

There are also other Schengen-related visa types, such as airport transit visas (Type A) for certain nationalities, and limited territorial validity visas (Type LTV) that restrict travel to specific countries. For stays longer than 90 days, or for purposes such as employment or long-term study, travellers must apply for a national long-stay visa (Type D) issued by the relevant country, which may later allow limited movement within the Schengen Area under specific conditions.

In practice, most applicants in Saudi Arabia apply for a Type C Schengen visa, but understanding the different categories helps ensure you apply for the correct visa type based on your travel plans.

As this visa requires strictly compliant travel medical insurance, many travellers in Saudi Arabia choose to compare Schengen-approved insurance policies online before starting their application. Using a comparison tool like HelloSafe allows applicants to quickly identify a policy that meets Schengen requirements, receive an instant insurance certificate, and avoid last-minute issues at the VFS appointment.

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Who needs a Schengen visa in Saudi Arabia?

From Saudi Arabia, most travellers need a Schengen visa before flying to Europe, whether they are Saudi citizens or foreign residents holding a valid iqama. Only nationals of a limited group of visa-exempt countries can travel without one. Visitors temporarily staying in Saudi Arabia on a tourist visa generally cannot apply from KSA, because consulates require proof of legal residence to submit an application locally.

Here are the travellers who most often apply from Saudi Arabia 👇

• 🇸🇦 Saudi citizens travelling for tourism or family visits
• 🌍 Expat residents with an iqama (Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Egyptians, etc.)
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Families travelling during school holidays or Eid
• 💼 Business travellers attending meetings & conferences
• 🧑‍🎓 Students and trainees on short programmes
• 🏥 Travellers seeking medical treatment in Europe

On a global scale, demand remains high: in 2024, more than 11 million Schengen visa applications were lodged worldwide, with an average refusal rate of around 15% — roughly 1 in 7 applications. Applicants from the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, tend to show strong approval trends, particularly when employment and residence ties in KSA are well documented.

One final rule determines where you should apply: you must lodge your application with the Schengen country that is your main destination — the place where you will spend the most nights. If your stay is evenly split, apply to the country of first entry. This will determine which embassy or VFS Global centre in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam/Al Khobar is responsible for your application.

How to get a Schengen visa from Saudi Arabia step by step?

Applying for a Schengen visa from Saudi Arabia follows a clear process. If you prepare your documents early and choose the correct consulate and VFS centre, the experience is usually straightforward — whether you are Saudi or a foreign resident with a valid iqama. Here’s the full journey 👇

📝 Step 1 – Prepare your Schengen visa documents in Saudi Arabia

Before booking an appointment, you should gather all required documents for a Schengen visa application. A complete file is essential, as missing or inconsistent paperwork is one of the most common reasons for delays or refusals. Here’s the standard checklist for short-stay Schengen visas from Saudi Arabia:

👉 Keep printed copies and ensure all dates (flights, hotel, insurance) are consistent.

📍 Step 2 – Find the correct consulate and VFS Global centre in Saudi Arabia

You must apply through the Schengen country that is your main destination — the place where you will spend the most nights. If the duration is equal across countries, you should apply to the country of first entry.

Most Schengen visa applications in Saudi Arabia are lodged through VFS Global. Here are the main centres 👇

ℹ️ Some embassies may still process a limited number of applications directly, but the vast majority of travellers in Saudi Arabia apply via VFS Global.

📌 Practical examples

• 7 nights in Paris + 3 nights in Rome → apply through France (via VFS France in KSA)
• 5 nights in Amsterdam + 5 nights in Berlin, first entry Amsterdam → apply through the Netherlands

This step determines where you submit your file and which online portal you use to book an appointment — Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam/Al Khobar.

📅 Step 3 – Book your Schengen visa appointment in Saudi Arabia

Appointments are made online before visiting a VFS centre. Each traveller — including children — must have a separate booking.

Here’s a localized overview of the main centres 👇

⏳ Timing matters

• In peak seasons (summer, Eid, school holidays), appointments may fill up quickly
• Try to secure a slot 6–8 weeks before departure
• Avoid last-minute bookings where possible

A well-prepared file + early appointment = far less stress.

🩺 Step 4 – Get Schengen travel insurance online from Saudi Arabia

Schengen rules require travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for emergency treatment and repatriation. It must:

• cover all Schengen countries
• match your entire travel period
• be issued by a recognised insurer

Many applicants in Saudi Arabia now buy their policy online and receive an instant certificate in PDF format. Comparison platforms such as HelloSafe allow travellers to compare prices, choose a Schengen-compliant plan and download the document required for VFS — often in just a few minutes.

This is especially useful when appointments move or plans change.

🛂 Step 5 – Submit your application at VFS Global and pay the fees

On the day of your appointment:

• arrive with your complete file & passport
• provide biometric data (unless already recorded in the last 59 months)
• pay the visa fee + VFS service fee
• optionally choose courier & SMS updates

The centre will forward your file to the relevant consulate.

Most visits take 15–30 minutes.

📦 Step 6 – Track your Schengen visa application and collect your passport

After submission, you can track your application online. Standard processing is:

• up to 15 calendar days
• but may extend to 45 days in busy periods or complex cases

Once approved, you will either:

• collect your passport from VFSor
• receive it by courier (if selected)

What are the Schengen visa requirements from Saudi Arabia?

Beyond the documents themselves, Schengen authorities focus on your overall situation: who you are, how stable your life is in Saudi Arabia, and whether your trip to Europe is credible and temporary. The table below summarises what consulates really assess when reviewing an application from KSA.

💡 What this means in practice

When applying from Saudi Arabia, your application is strongest when it clearly shows that your trip is temporary, well-funded, properly insured, and that your personal and professional situation in KSA gives you strong reasons to return.

If these elements are consistent and well supported, your Schengen visa application is generally considered low-risk and credible.

How much does a Schengen visa from Saudi Arabia cost in 2026?

The total cost of a Schengen visa from Saudi Arabia includes the official Schengen visa fee, VFS Global service charges, and mandatory travel medical insurance. All amounts below are indicative and based on common rates applied in KSA.

💰 Schengen visa costs for applicants in Saudi Arabia

*Indicative conversion based on €1 ≈ SAR 4.0. Final amounts may vary depending on exchange rates, insurer pricing and VFS centre.

In practice, most adult applicants in Saudi Arabia should budget around SAR 550–750, excluding optional premium services.

Many travellers choose to buy their Schengen travel insurance online to save time and money. Comparison platforms such as HelloSafe allow applicants to compare compliant policies, receive an instant insurance certificate, and in some cases benefit from a refund if the visa is refused — helping keep overall visa costs under control.

🧮 Total budget to expect

For a standard adult applicant in Saudi Arabia:

• Visa fee → €90 (~SAR 360)
• VFS fee → ~SAR 120–160
• Insurance → €20–60 typically

👉 Total estimated cost per adult: ~SAR 550–750 + optional extras

If you want to secure Schengen-compliant insurance in just a few minutes — with an instant certificate and even a refund if your visa is refused — you can compare policies directly through HelloSafe. This gives many applicants peace of mind while keeping total visa costs under control.

How long does Schengen visa processing take from Saudi Arabia?

From Saudi Arabia, Schengen visa processing officially takes up to 15 calendar days once the application reaches the consulate. In practice, timelines vary significantly depending on the period and demand. During busy travel seasons in KSA, processing can extend to 30–45 days.

Peak delays are most often observed around Ramadan and Eid holidays, summer school holidays (June–September) and year-end breaks (December–January), when both VFS appointment availability and consulate capacity are under pressure.

⏱️ Schengen visa processing time from Saudi Arabia – at a glance

⏱️ The processing time starts only when the consulate receives your file, not when you book your VFS appointment.

📆 When should you apply from Saudi Arabia?

You can generally apply up to 6 months before travel, which is ideal for summer or Eid trips.

💡 Practical advice for KSA applicants

• Book your VFS appointment early — centres in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam fill up quickly before holidays.
• Choose flexible or refundable bookings until your visa is issued.
• Monitor email and phone messages in case the consulate requests clarifications.

With proper timing and a complete file, most applicants in Saudi Arabia receive their Schengen visa smoothly — anticipation is the key factor.

Do you need travel insurance for a Schengen visa from Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Travel medical insurance is mandatory for all Schengen visa applicants from Saudi Arabia — whether you are a Saudi citizen or a foreign resident with an iqama. Without valid insurance, your application is normally automatically refused, regardless of the rest of your file.

The policy must meet strict EU requirements, summarised below 👇

In practice, most travellers purchase their Schengen insurance online before their VFS appointment. The process usually takes just a few minutes: choose your travel dates, select a compliant policy, pay online and download the insurance certificate required for submission.

Many applicants use comparison platforms such as HelloSafe to quickly compare Schengen-approved policies, obtain an instant certificate, and — depending on the insurer — benefit from insurance refunds if the visa is refused. This keeps both risk and costs under control while meeting consular requirements.

Get your Schengen travel insurance certificate in 2 minutes

💰 Refund if your visa is refused🔐 Secure payment📄 100% visa-compliant✅ Accepted by all consulates

Get my certificate

What are the most common mistakes and rejection reasons for Schengen visas in Saudi Arabia?

While applicants from Saudi Arabia generally benefit from lower refusal rates than the global average, refusals still occur for clear and recurring reasons. In 2024, around 5.9% of Schengen visa applications submitted from Saudi Arabia were refused, according to aggregated Schengen data analysed by HelloSafe. Many refusals in Saudi Arabia happen for the same predictable reasons. The table below summarises the typical causes — and how you can avoid them 👇

❌ Frequent rejection reasons & how to avoid them

📝 Common mistakes made by applicants in Saudi Arabia

If your profile is stable in Saudi Arabia, your trip is credible, and your file is well-prepared, your chances of visa approval are generally strong — regardless of which Schengen country you apply to.

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