Can Saudi citizens get a 5-year Schengen visa on their first application?

For Saudi families who spend part of every summer in Europe, the EU made life much easier in 2024: qualifying Saudi citizens now receive a five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa, even on their first application. Here is what the rule actually says, who it covers, and how to prepare an application that gets the long visa.

Exchange basis: EUR 1 = about SAR 4.2 (24 October 2026).

Schengen visa for Saudi citizens at a glance

Question	Answer
Visa length	Five years, multiple entry, for qualifying applicants
Who	Saudi nationals residing in Saudi Arabia, applying in Saudi Arabia
Stay allowed	Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Fee	EUR 90 adult (about SAR 380), EUR 45 child 6 to 12 (about SAR 190)
When to apply	Up to 6 months before travel, at least 15 days before
Decision time	Normally 15 days, up to 45 days in some cases
Rule in force since	European Commission decision of 22 April 2024

What the 5-year rule says

The European Commission’s Implementing Decision of 22 April 2024 sets special rules for short-stay visa applications lodged with Schengen consulates in Saudi Arabia by Saudi nationals residing in Saudi Arabia. Where the applicant meets the normal entry conditions of the Schengen Borders Code, a multiple-entry visa is issued for five years.

This is a big change from the standard “cascade”, where most nationalities must first collect shorter visas before they can get a long one. Bahrain received the same five-year treatment for its nationals on the same day.

Two details that catch people out:

• Your passport limits the visa. If five years would go beyond your passport’s validity, the visa ends three months before your passport expires. Renewing an older passport before you apply is the simplest way to get the full five years.
• Citizens only, applying at home. Expats living in the Kingdom on an iqama are not covered by this decision, and Saudi citizens applying from abroad fall under the normal rules.

Entry conditions you still have to show

The five-year visa is not automatic: you still need to meet the standard entry conditions. In practice, a strong application includes:

1. Passport valid at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen area
2. Application form and a recent ICAO-compliant photo
3. Travel medical insurance covering emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation, with a minimum of EUR 30,000 under the EU Visa Code
4. Proof of the trip’s purpose, such as hotel bookings or an invitation
5. Proof of means, for example bank statements and a salary certificate
6. Proof you will return, such as employment or family ties in Saudi Arabia
7. Fingerprints, taken when you submit the application

Where and when to apply

Apply at the consulate (or its visa centre) of the country where you will spend the most nights. If your stays are equal, apply to the country you will enter first. Applications open six months before your trip and must be lodged at least 15 days before it. Summer appointment slots can fill up quickly, so for a July or August trip, book your appointment in spring.

Processing normally takes 15 days, and up to 45 days if the consulate needs more documents.

How much it costs

Applicant	EU fee	About in SAR
Adult	EUR 90	SAR 380
Child aged 6 to 12	EUR 45	SAR 190

Visa service centres charge an extra service fee on top, which varies by provider.

Using your 5-year visa well

• Count your days. The 90 days in any 180 is a rolling window, not per trip. The EU’s online short-stay calculator helps if you travel often.
• Same visa, many countries. One Schengen visa covers all Schengen states, so a summer can combine, for example, Austria’s lakes, Switzerland’s mountains and an Italian city.
• Keep insurance for every trip. Your visa lasts five years, but border guards can still ask for valid travel insurance each time you enter.

What about other Gulf nationals?

• UAE citizens do not need a Schengen visa for short stays.
• Bahraini citizens have the same five-year rule as Saudis, under a parallel decision of 22 April 2024.
• Omani, Qatari and Kuwaiti citizens should check the consulate of their destination for the current rules before applying.

Not ready for Europe this year? Georgia and Trabzon are visa-free for Gulf citizens and only a short flight away.

Planning the trip itself? Our sister site TripKompass has day-by-day plans for many European cities.