Student visa for Saudi Arabia, for students from Syria

A visa is normally needed

As a citizen of Syria you will normally need a student visa or residence permit for Saudi Arabia before your course starts. Some nationalities may enter Saudi Arabia without a visa and apply for the residence permit there instead; check the official page below for the rule that applies to your passport.

The full Saudi Arabia guide What a year costs

The numbers

Money you must show: No fixed national figure
Visa fee: No fee published on the official study portal
Work while you study: No official rule published for international students
Stay after you graduate: No post-study work visa published

The visa

The Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs launched a dedicated study visa service on 1 March 2024, run through the Study in Saudi platform. There are two types:

Short-term visa: study, training or short programmes of up to six months, extendable for a further six months
Long-term visa: degree study (bachelor's, master's, doctorate) or research of more than one year, valid for one year and renewable annually

Requirements for both:

aged 16 or over, with guardian consent if under 18
a passport valid for at least six months from the intended entry date
an acceptance letter from an accredited Saudi institution
financial proof or a guarantee

The long-term visa also requires a medical report confirming you are free of infectious diseases, medical insurance, and proof of language proficiency (not required for Arabic-language students).

The money. No fixed amount is published. You need financial proof or a guarantee; for scholarship students, the university's scholarship is the guarantee. If you are self-funding, ask your university exactly what evidence it will submit with your file.

The fee. The Study in Saudi platform does not publish a visa fee. Ask your university's international office or the Saudi mission handling your case. For KAUST fellows, visa costs are part of the relocation support.

Where to apply

At the embassy or consulate of Saudi Arabia that covers Syria, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.

Official pages: studyinsaudi.sa · studyinsaudi.sa · studyinsaudi.sa · spa.gov.sa · moe.gov.sa · admissions.kaust.edu.sa. Checked 2026-09-24. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.

Questions students ask

Do students from Syria need a visa to study in Saudi Arabia?

How much money do I need to show for a Saudi Arabia student visa?

No fixed national figure. You must provide financial proof or a guarantee. A scholarship from your university counts as the guarantee. (source: Study in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Education), checked 2026-09-24).

Can I work while I study in Saudi Arabia?

No official rule published for international students.

This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.

What next?

1Universities in Saudi ArabiaPlaces to study, with what each teaches 2Scholarships for students from SyriaEvery scheme open to your nationality 3Work out your first yearTuition, living and visa money, in your currency