Apply for Your Saudi Arabia Family Residency Visa From the UK

A Saudi Arabia Family Residency Visa allows a legally employed Iqama holder in Saudi Arabia to sponsor their immediate family members — including spouses and children — to live with them in the Kingdom on a long-term basis. The visa is processed partly in Saudi Arabia (the Yellow Slip) and partly in the UK (attestation, ACRO, medical, and final submission).

The Yellow Slip is the official Family Residency Visa Authorisation issued in Saudi Arabia. Your HR department in Saudi Arabia will guide you through booking the appointment to obtain it. The Yellow Slip is mandatory — without it, the visa application in the UK cannot be submitted.

Once the Yellow Slip has been issued, the remaining process is completed here in the UK by Continental Visa.

You need: a valid passport (6 months' validity with two blank pages), two passport-sized photographs, the Yellow Slip from Saudi Arabia, FCDO-attested marriage certificate (for spouse), FCDO-attested birth certificates (for each child), an ACRO Police Certificate, a Saudi-approved medical report, a copy of the sponsor's passport, and a copy of the sponsor's Iqama card.

Continental Visa can arrange the FCDO attestation, ACRO certificate, and medical examination for an additional cost.

Yes. If you are applying for a Family Residency Visa for a daughter who is over 18, you will additionally need a Single Status Letter signed by a solicitor or notary public. Continental Visa can arrange this on your behalf — please mention it during your initial consultation.

Normally, it is not possible to obtain a Family Residency Visa for a son over the age of 18. There are some limited exceptions (such as sons with specific disabilities under certain conditions), but in most cases adult sons would need to apply for a separate work visa or visit visa to enter Saudi Arabia.

Yes. Both the marriage certificate for your spouse and the birth certificate for each child must be attested by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) before submission. Continental Visa offers FCDO attestation at £85 per document, with standard processing of 2–3 working days.

The ACRO Police Certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. The Saudi-approved medical report is valid for 3 months from the date of examination. Both must still be in date at the time of submission to the Saudi Embassy — we'll plan the timing of these elements to avoid expiry issues.

Continental Visa charges:

£175 per visa (service charge) · £310 for medical examination · £85 per document for FCDO Stamping · £60 Tasheer visa fee per applicant. ACRO certificates and Single Status Letters are available on request. We also offer a Full Residency Visa Service for spouses at £695 — an end-to-end managed package bundling all the above.

Yes. Each applicant aged 6 and over must attend a biometric appointment in person at the Saudi Visa Centre in London. We book the slot and meet you outside the centre to assist on the day.

Yes. We accept document submissions from across the UK and internationally by Royal Mail Special Delivery, courier, or DHL. Your case is managed remotely with regular updates by phone, email, and WhatsApp.

Please note: applicants will still need to travel to London for the biometric appointment, as biometrics must be completed in person at the Saudi Visa Centre.

For non-UK marriage or birth certificates, the document usually needs to be legalised in the country of issue first (via apostille or that country's equivalent), and then submitted for FCDO attestation in the UK. Requirements vary by country — please contact us with details so we can advise on the correct route for your specific case.

Yes. To sponsor family members on a Family Residency Visa, you must earn a sufficient salary as defined by the Saudi authorities for your job category, and meet the professional requirements set by your sponsor. Your HR department in Saudi Arabia confirms eligibility before the Yellow Slip is issued.