For Tanzanian expatriates, professionals, and residents with immediate relatives living and working in Saudi Arabia, reuniting in the Kingdom is easier than ever. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) allows legal residents (Iqama holders) and Saudi citizens to sponsor their first-degree family members for short-term or extended visits.

Whether you are planning to visit family for a holiday, attend a family event, or perform Umrah together while in the Kingdom, this step-by-step guide covers how to apply for a Saudi Family Visit Visa from Tanzania, required documents, relationship attestations, and processing workflows in Dar es Salaam.

Step 1: Sponsor Generates the MOFA Invitation Letter in Saudi Arabia

The Family Visit Visa application must be initiated by your relative living in Saudi Arabia (the host sponsor).

• Saudi Resident / Sponsor

• Logs into the MOFA Portal via Nafath

• Inputs Visitor Passport Details

• Employer / Chamber Attestation

• Issues Electronic Invitation

Process for the Host in Saudi Arabia:

1. MOFA Portal Access: The host logs into the official MOFA Visa Platform using their Nafath (National Single Sign-On) credentials.

2. Submit Family Visit Request: They fill out the electronic application form with your exact passport details, relationship type, and desired visa type (Single-Entry vs. Multiple-Entry).

3. Sponsor Verification: For private sector employees, the host's company or the Saudi Chamber of Commerce must electronically attest the application.

4. Invitation Generation: Once approved, MOFA issues an Electronic Family Visit Visa Document / Invitation Letter containing a unique Visa Application Number.

Step 2: Legalize Proof of Relationship Documents in Tanzania

The Saudi Embassy strictly requires verified documentary proof of relationship between the visitor in Tanzania and the host sponsor in Saudi Arabia.

Note: Unattested civil documents missing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA Tanzania) stamp will be rejected at consular screening.

Step 3: Assemble Required Dossier for Consular Submission

Once the MOFA invitation letter is generated in Saudi Arabia and civil certificates are authenticated in Dar es Salaam, assemble the following documents:

Step 4: Consular Filing and Visa Issuance in Dar es Salaam

Because Tanzania is not on the instant eVisa list for non-GCC travelers, your visa file must be submitted through an authorized consular submission center or licensed agency in Dar es Salaam.

1. Pre-Submission Audit: Check that names, birthdates, and passport numbers on the Tanzanian documents match the details on the MOFA invitation document.

2. Medical Insurance Integration: Mandatory medical insurance covering Saudi health facilities is automatically generated and paid for during online application processing.

3. Embassy Submission: The physical file is lodged at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Oysterbay, Dar es Salaam.

4. Visa Stamping: Consular review and stamping typically take 24 to 72 hours.

Choosing Between Single-Entry and Multiple-Entry Visas

Common Reasons Family Visit Visas are Delayed or Rejected

• Incomplete Relationship Attestations: Submitting a standard birth or marriage certificate that lacks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA Tanzania) legalization stamp.

• Name Spelling Mismatches: Differences between the English spelling on the Tanzanian passport and the Arabic transliteration entered into the MOFA system by the host.

• Expired Sponsor Iqama: The application will fail if the host relative’s Iqama or Saudi re-entry visa is close to expiration.

Simplify Family Reunions with City Squares

Organizing relationship attestations across RITA, MFA Tanzania, certified translators, and the Saudi Embassy can be time-consuming.

Located in Upanga East, Dar es Salaam, City Squares manages your complete Family Visit Visa application end-to-end:

• Verification of MOFA invitation letters from Saudi Arabia.

• Fast-track document attestation with RITA, MFA Tanzania, and certified Arabic translators.

• Direct submission and passport collection at the Saudi Embassy in Dar es Salaam.

• Assistance with flights, medical insurance, and Umrah slot permits via the Nusuk app.