What Families Should Know Before Planning a Cross-Border Trip into Saudi Arabia

A trip as a family can create many memorable moments. And one way to make it even grander is by taking a cross-border trip. However, when planning a cross-border trip to Saudi Arabia, there are some things that you need to keep in mind.

Things like visa approval, health documents, vehicle permits, and so on can be crucial and need effective pre-planning. This blog explores this pre-planning aspect and looks into the best possible planning steps to take.

Key Things Families Must Know Before a Cross-border Trip to Saudi Arabia

Some of the most important aspects to plan for before commencing a cross-border trip to Saudi Arabia are:

• Valid passports and entry visas for every family member.
• Health documentation. This is especially crucial for children.
• Permits for the vehicle you’re traveling in and the vehicle’s insurance.
• Understanding of cultural compliance, especially dress code compliance.
• Restrictions on entry points based on your country.

Now, let’s deep dive into each of these requirements and create a proper plan for a family taking the cross-border trip:

Step 1: Valid Travel Documents for All Family Members

The thing is, even if you are traveling to Saudi Arabia as a family, the travel registration and documentation will require every member to be assessed as an individual. Thus, every member needs to carry a valid passport and a respective Saudi Visa. This will also include children and infants.

However, this country also allows a family to apply for a Visa as a group. This visa is referred to as the Saudi Family Visa. While this visa will grant a family passage into the country to visit relatives, it can also be used for tourism purposes.

The Saudi Family Visa, or the Family Visit Visa, allows foreign families to visit Saudi Arabia for a short period of time to visit family members. To be eligible for this visa, you need to have relatives in the Kingdom. So, if you’re not eligible, you’d need to look for group application options.

In both cases, here is a list of age-based document requirements for the Saudi visa:

Table: Age-Based Saudi Visa Documents Required

It is important that all of these documents are carried by all members of the family. This is necessary as the border agents strictly enforce the availability of these documents, even for minors.

Step 2: Know Which Border Crossings Are Open for Families

Once you have all the documents ready for entering Saudi Arabia, you need to know the right entry points. Since you are traveling by road, you’d need to opt for land-based Saudi Visa Ports of Entry.

The most popular land borders include those with the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan. However, not all of those ports are open to people from families outside GCC countries. The most common entry points that non-GCC families use to enter Saudi Arabia via land are the Al Batha border with Qatar and the King Fahd Causeway from the UAE.

But you need to ensure that you have the right documents for entry, as this will be enforced at the border. Without proper documentation, you will not be allowed entry, and this can be done even if only one member of your family does not have their documents in order.

Step 3: Vehicle Requirements and Insurance

For traveling by car to Saudi Arabia, you would also need to keep some important documents with you, as they will help grant your vehicle passage to the country.

In the case that you are driving your own car into Saudi Arabia:

• You’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) that will allow you to drive in Saudi Arabia with your own country’s license.
• The vehicle must be registered in your own name.
• You must also have papers in place for your vehicle’s insurance. This will also be valid if you are driving a rental.

Also, if you are trying to travel to Saudi Arabia by a rental car, you should know that the Kingdom does not allow rental cars registered in any other nation to be driven in it. However, there is a special exception for some Saudi Visa Ports of Entry. A prominent example of this is the UAE. If you can get prior permission, you’ll be able to drive it to Saudi Arabia.

Step 4: Health & Vaccination Requirements for Families

Traveling to Saudi Arabia will require you to show some proof of your health and vaccinations. The first and most important medical document that you’ll require to travel to Saudi Arabia is health insurance. You cannot enter the country without a valid health insurance document.

Also, there are several other health documents that you might need, some of which are even optional. These include:

• A polio vaccination certificate if you are traveling from a country where polio is endemic. (For children, the polio vaccination certificate is mandatory, especially for those under the age of 12.)
• A meningitis vaccination certificate.
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate, if you are traveling from a country with a recent yellow fever infliction.

Keep physical copies of these documents handy, and try to submit these proofs as components of the visa application process. Furthermore, this is important as incomplete travel documentation can delay your entry past the border.

Step 5: Understand Cultural Norms & Dress Codes

The most important aspect of visiting a country by crossing international borders is to maintain adherence to the cultural norms. And that is just as important when you are traveling to Saudi Arabia.

One of the most important cultural aspects that the Saudi government enforces when driving in or across Saudi Arabia in a car as a foreigner is that drunk driving is an extremely punishable offence.

Also, there are other basic cultural considerations that your entire family needs to maintain. These considerations include:

• Paying respect to the Kingdom’s modesty standards.
• Both men and women should wear modest clothing which covers their shoulders and their knees.
• Children are exempt from the modesty rules. However, it is still advised that they’re dressed appropriately by their parents.
• Also, even though you are traveling as a family, avoid displays of affection in public, as that is generally frowned upon in this country.

This is important as dressing appropriately can help you avoid unnecessary fines.

A Final Recap

To recap, you need to keep in mind these important things when traveling cross-border to Saudi Arabia:

• Make sure all members of your family have an approved visa and a valid passport.
• Do not miss out on any key health documents.
• Your car’s documents should be all in place when you get started on the journey.
•  Make sure to always adhere to the cultural norms in the country.

Essentially, just know that you should be well-prepared. Being prepared will ensure that your journey will be smooth, and something that will be memorable for your family.

Planning a Cross-Border Trip to Saudi Arabia?

If you’re planning a cross-border family road trip to Saudi Arabia, you could start planning now and apply for your visa for every member of your family! Just keep all the correct documents in place, including travel documents, health documents, and documents for your car!