There is no government body that licenses study abroad consultants in Saudi Arabia. Verification is centered on the legitimacy of the university and the agent's legal status.
For Official Study Information: Study in Saudi Portal (Official)
For Ministry Information: Ministry of Education (MoE)
For Visa Services: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Visa Portal
Riyadh. The Ministry of Education and other key government ministries are headquartered in the capital city.
5 to 8 months. The timeline is long due to the multi-stage document attestation process and the internal visa authorization procedure between the university and government ministries.
Student Visa, issued based on a Visa Authorization Number from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After arrival, this is converted into a Residence Permit (`Iqama`), which is the student's official ID and residence card.
A student consults with an agent, who assesses their academic record, especially for top-tier universities which often offer full scholarships to international students.
The consultant helps the student select a program at an MoE-accredited university. They will also provide guidance on applying for scholarships, which is a common pathway for international students.
This is a non-negotiable prerequisite. The consultant must guide the student through the full legalization chain for their academic and personal documents.
Typical Attestation Chain:
1. Authentication by the Ministry of Education & Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the student's home country.
2. Authentication by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the student's home country.
3. A final verification stamp may be required from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Saudi Arabia after arrival.
The consultant submits the application through the university's online portal (or the unified "Study in Saudi" portal) with all required attested documents.
If the application is successful, the university issues an official Offer of Admission. If a scholarship is awarded, this will be detailed in the offer.
This is the core of the process. The university acts as the sponsor and applies internally to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). MoFA coordinates with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) for security clearance. Once approved, MoFA issues a Visa Authorization Number. The university receives this number and forwards it to the student. The student cannot apply for a visa without this number.
With the Visa Authorization Number, the student can now apply for their entry visa at the Saudi Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
Key Visa Documents: A completed visa application form, passport, passport-sized photographs, the Visa Authorization Number, the university's Offer Letter, attested academic documents, and a medical report from an embassy-approved clinic.
There is no formal, high-stakes visa interview at the embassy for student visas. The primary vetting and security checks are conducted internally by the Saudi authorities during the visa authorization stage. The appointment at the embassy is primarily for submitting the documents, providing biometrics, and verifying that the paperwork matches the authorization number.
The embassy places the student entry visa sticker in the passport. The consultant then provides a pre-departure briefing.
Upon arrival, the student presents their passport with the valid visa to the immigration officer at the airport.
Shortly after arrival, the university will guide the student to a designated medical center for a mandatory health screening. The student will also be required to provide their biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a center managed by the Ministry of Interior.
This is the most critical post-arrival step. After the medical results are cleared, the university's student affairs office submits all necessary documents to the General Directorate of Passports (`Jawazat`). The `Jawazat` then issues the official Residence Permit, known as the `Iqama`. The `Iqama` is a card that serves as the student's primary identification document and proof of legal residence in the Kingdom. It is typically renewed annually by the university.