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Exit to any country needs a visa, without visa airline will not allow to board.

Thank you Xtang and aliraza152.

Appreciate your help.

Dear Moin,

Please help I have same condition as u. My mother to leave on 10 april. Please give ur number. I’m living in Riyadh.
Khalid
0535541791

Hi All

Please Do Not waste time, effort and money to go to Causeway in order to get Exit/Re-entry for Multiple Family Visit Visas

I went to Causeway yesterday and it didn't work. Even though the Rent-a-Car guys at Causeway will say that they can get it done but it doesn't work anymore for Indo-Pak nationals. When we exited Saudi boarder at causeway they asked for Bahrain Visa and for Indo-Pak nationals on Family Visit visa in Saudi, cannot get visa on arrival at Bahrain border (as explained in above posts by 'XTang'). Therefore, Saudi immigration doesn't do Exit on your passport because they know you will exit and try to re-enter. They mentioned to travel by plane to exit Saudi

Since, I already got doubtful about Causeway option based upon 'mdmoinuddin' post from 30-Mar-2018 above (thanks to that post) so I planned a backup option

I arranged multi-destination air-ticket as below:

Dammam --> Dubai --> Riyadh

with Transit Connection of 3.5 hours via Dubai

Although, Airline staff found it difficult to understand and declined to issue boarding passes  in the beginning that why you are travelling like this, and you must get Dubai Visa, etc etc. .... but after explaining to them that Dubai Visa is Not required (being only connection there) as the destination is Riyadh and we have valid Multiple Family Visa for Saudi so they eventually understood and agreed to issue boarding passes.

Accordingly, the Exit stamp was done at Dammam airport and Re-Entry stamp was done at Riyadh airport

This option was much cheaper in price compared to travelling back to home country; for my case the ticket price was a little less than the ticket price to home country and back.

Obviously, if you find ticket cost to be similar to ticket back & forth to home country then this option is not worth the hassle (in terms of explanation to many individuals and still depending upon their mood to understand...)

Cheers - hope this post will help others

Hi All

Please Do Not waste time, effort and money to go to Causeway in order to get Exit/Re-entry for Multiple Family Visit Visas

I went to Causeway yesterday and it didn't work. Even though the Rent-a-Car guys at Causeway will say that they can get it done but it doesn't work anymore for Indo-Pak nationals. When we exited Saudi boarder at causeway they asked for Bahrain Visa and for Indo-Pak nationals on Family Visit visa in Saudi, cannot get visa on arrival at Bahrain border (as explained in above posts by 'XTang'). Therefore, Saudi immigration doesn't do Exit on your passport because they know you will exit and try to re-enter. They mentioned to travel by plane to exit Saudi

Since, I already got doubtful about Causeway option based upon 'mdmoinuddin' post from 30-Mar-2018 above (thanks to that post) so I planned a backup option

I arranged multi-destination air-ticket as below:

Dammam --> Dubai --> Riyadh

with Transit Connection of 3.5 hours via Dubai

Although, Airline staff found it difficult to understand and declined to issue boarding passes  in the beginning that why you are travelling like this, and you must get Dubai Visa, etc etc. .... but after explaining to them that Dubai Visa is Not required (being only connection there) as the destination is Riyadh and we have valid Multiple Family Visa for Saudi so they eventually understood and agreed to issue boarding passes.

Accordingly, the Exit stamp was done at Dammam airport and Re-Entry stamp was done at Riyadh airport

This option was much cheaper in price compared to travelling back to home country; for my case the ticket price was a little less than the ticket price to home country and back.

Obviously, if you find ticket cost to be similar to ticket back & forth to home country then this option is not worth the hassle (in terms of explanation to many individuals and still depending upon their mood to understand...)

Cheers - hope this post will help others

Thanks for the update @iraees.  So it's confirmed now that they will not let you "Exit" and "re-enter" at causeway if you don't have visa for Bahrain.  Interesting as they used to allow this in the past.

The option highlighted above is good.  The only other option is to get a visa for Bahrain which allows entry via causeway.

If anyone got Bahrain visit visa(for visit visa holder of KSA) before or if will get it in future then please update here the procedure as well to help others.

To get a Bahrain visit visa, you have three options:

Sponsored (Evisa or paper)
Un-sponsored (Evisa)
Visa on arrival (only if you are GCC resident or one of the nationalities eligible for visa on arrival)

Sponsored means what it says.  Sponsored is applied for on your behalf by a company, travel agent or hotel.  This can be electronic through evisa site or via paper.  This is usually easier to get as someone is sponsoring you.

Un-sponsored is based on your own means.  For visitors to GCC, the best option is to apply for a GCC visitor visa on the evisa.gov.bh site. 

I am just reproducing some conditions below for the un-sponsored visa but all of these you can see for yourself on the evisa site.   Basically, you go to the site, fill out the details, attach documents, pay the fee and wait.

However, personally, I would suggest to go for a sponsored visa.  More cost i.e. staying in a hotel and so on but much less hassle, higher likelihood of getting it and they may be able to get a visa valid for travel via causeway.  For elderly parents being supported by people; it is difficult to get a stamped bank statement and so on.

The other option is UAE tourist visa which can also be applied online or through airline.  Or the transit approach as mentioned by iraees.

Details follow below--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grant conditions:     
• Applicant must have a valid GCC visit visa.
• The visa is issued on the Internet.
• The visa fee is paid on the Internet, and no receipt is issued.
• Applicant's entry must not violate the security and national welfare of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Validity conditions:     
• Validity is 30 days. This means the visa must be used within 30 days of approval.
• If the visa expires before entry to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the applicant must apply again, and another fee must be paid.

Entry conditions:     
• You must not take up paid employment during your visit to Bahrain.
• Applicant must be able to support self (and any dependents) during the visit.
• Passport must be valid for length of time you will be in Bahrain, or the length of the visa, whichever is longer.
If your passport validity is in doubt, you may be denied entry to Bahrain.

Stay conditions:     
• The visa can be used for multiple entries and is valid for 1 month from the time of entry.
• Length of stay allowed is 2 weeks.

Extension conditions:     
• This visa can be extended one time at the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs office (NPRA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain on payment of a fee.

Document conditions:     You must submit the following documents with your application:
1. Copy of return air ticket.
2. Photocopy of the photo page of the applicant's passport plus a copy of the passport last page for Indian passports.
3. Copy of hotel booking in Bahrain. Alternately, in case you are staying with a relative, please provide a copy of their CPR Reader's printout.
4. Copy of a stamped bank statement under the visitor's name covering the last three months with an ending balance of not less than the equivalent of BD300.
5. Copy of GCC visit visa.

Optional document conditions:     You may optionally attach the following documents with your application:
1. Any USA, Schengen, UK or Canadian visa.

Hi everyone...i also applied for multiple entry visit visa for my mother last december 2017...We made her first extension of visit visa via king fahd causeway last march 16, 2018 but the bahrain immigration did not allow my mother to go through because she must need a visa to enter bahrain because family visit visa is issued only saudi arabia, i ask for help if they could exit my mother so to extend her stay...they asked me to make a u-turn and go back to saudi immigration...they just asked me to stay discreet and thats it...got my first extension 90 days for my mother's visa...i want to know if i can still make the same procedure on june but this time we will apply for an e-visa...because i already made a booking at hotel somewhere in bahrain...

Jeremiematias wrote:

Hi everyone...i also applied for multiple entry visit visa for my mother last december 2017...We made her first extension of visit visa via king fahd causeway last march 16, 2018 but the bahrain immigration did not allow my mother to go through because she must need a visa to enter bahrain because family visit visa is issued only saudi arabia, i ask for help if they could exit my mother so to extend her stay...they asked me to make a u-turn and go back to saudi immigration...they just asked me to stay discreet and thats it...got my first extension 90 days for my mother's visa...i want to know if i can still make the same procedure on june but this time we will apply for an e-visa...because i already made a booking at hotel somewhere in bahrain...

Hi, you can extend visa for next 90 days through MOI by paying 100 SAR, so total stay can be 180 days maximum, after that you need an exit.

We already did the extension before her 90 days stay last month at bahrain border...we exit her at saudi-bahrain border but we just nake a U-turn..

This is not consider an extension but exit reentery, now you have 90 days to stay and after that you can extend through MOI to make stay upto 180 days. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Sir im telling you that i already did extend her via king fahd causeway on her first 30 months last march 16 2018...

Hi everyone!

After speaking with @Jeremiematias last Thursday night, we finally decided to go to King Fahad Causeway to exit my mother.
Last Friday me and my mother went there, and the process was NEVER easy. When you reach the toll gates, tell them that you just need to exit the visa of your mother and will not go to Bahrain. After that, they will direct you to go to Hall 1 to give your full explanation. You have to park your car, ask the officers walking around where you can park. After that go to Hall 1, bring your mother/parents with you. Tell them exactly that you need to exit their visit visa. Tell them that you will not go to Bahrain (in my case) and you need to renew their visa because it reached 180 days. Show them your passport as well as proof that you are related.
In my experience, I first handed them my mother's passport and explained to them the situation. Unfortunately, their first answer was a big NO. I tried explaining to them the whole situation that I have a baby, etc etc. Maybe my mistake was I did not give them my passport immediately. I also applied for an exit re-entry just in case they will be needing it. So I gave my passport, together with my exit re-entry. And that was the time they realized that it was my mother. At that time, they reconsider, and the officer told me that it's all okay. He told me to get my car, make a U-turn then comeback to Hall 1 to get my mother's passport. After that, I asked them again and confirmed if it is already okay, just to make sure. They said that it's okay and can go to the immigration of Saudi for the re-entry stamp and confirmation. When we reached the saudi immigration, I explained again the whole situation since the immigration will ask if you entered Bahrain or not. After that the officer confirmed to me that my mother's visit visa has been extended for another 3 months and make sure to ask this to them gently. The officer is very accommodating as I also asked them if they could cancel my exit re-entry since it was not used at all. So they told me that they cancelled my exit re-entry, and waited for my mother's passport to be stamped for re-entry.
Then they told us to go straight to the custom and after passing all this paths, I immediately checked my absher to confirm the extension and it did.

If you don't want to experience the hassle, you can apply for EVISA for Bahrain ahead of time for your mother/parents as this will lessen the hassle. I can confirm to this as I've spoke with 2 Jordanians just outside Hall 1 and told me that they are on Visit Visa as well. They already applied for the Bahrain visa and the Saudi immigration only asked this to them.

Hope this helps with everyone.

Many thanks to all the members here in the forum who contributed their effort.

Please anyone explain to me. When 180 days finishes in multiple family visit visa  and i exit with wife to dubai, can we stay in dubai aiport for some hours  without going out to dubai and come back to saudi again?

If you don't have visa for dubai then airline will not allow you to travel.

Yes that is correct, Airlines in Bahrain will not allow you to board without a prior visa to Dubai, off-course depending on your nationality.

Hi dear rye7jen
Thank you very much for sharing your experience in renewal of visit visa. I have the same case, my mother's multiple visit visa will expire on mid of June 2018 and now I am inspired to go King Fahad Causeway in Dammam.

Moreover, dear rye7jen, when you cross the check post and take U turn again to come back means your exit re-entry visa is used, so how can they cancelled your exit re-entry visa ? Would you pls. explain.

Is there any other latest story so far? Has someone got renewed his family visit visa in this way? Kindly share your experience here for others. I believe many of us having same issue and looking for a reliable/easiest way to renew it .

best regards

bdcell

What the poster is referring to is that he got an exit re-entry visa just in case i.e. if it had gone smoothly, they would have exited both him and his mother.  In which case, the exit re-entry would have been used.  However, the officer understood the problem i.e. it was only needed for his mother and asked him to do a U turn.  In this case, the exit re-entry was theoretically not needed for him and he requested for it to be cancelled and they obliged. So that theoretically means that he still has a valid exit re-entry which he can use later - if I am not mistaken?

So far, the scenarios that seem to be coming out from this thread are:

1) Saudi immigration asks for Bahrain visa and if you don't have it, they don't allow you to exit.  Most posters from India / Pakistan have experienced this.  Keep in mind that it doesn't apply to all people e.g. I travel every week on a business visa to Saudi and never ever have been asked to show a Bahrain visa or residency when coming back (Bahrain residency is on a different passport to Saudi visa) but I believe that it is due to nature of visa i.e. business visit vs. family visit (they know people extend family visit visas so they watch for that esp. sub-continent nationalities)
2) Saudi immigration doesn't ask for Bahrain visa, you exit and turn around before Bahrain immigration.  Everything sorted.  One poster from Philippines had this happen
3) You explain to Saudi immigration the issue and they may decide to help as in the case of the poster above from Philippines.  But it depends really on the mood of Saudi immigration - see the issues with posters in point 1 above

The only fool proof way is to get her a visit visa for Bahrain, drive across causeway and then come back.

Well, Thank you @ XTANG. It would be more clearer, if some one share his experience who has visited there recently for same purpose cuz one of the posters has mentioned that the system has already been changed just few days back; saudi authority are not allowing the peoples to cross the border without Bahraini visa.


If someone has more info / advice pls. call me.
055 0405 913

Yes that is the case for at least Indian / Pakistani passport holders (5th April post).  The only exception is the post above from a Philippines passport holder (8th April).  And not sure what you mean by recent as both of these posters have shared their experiences as in April itself i.e. this month - that is pretty recent .  And it seems that the process has changed - more people have posted about being turned back than getting through.

Personally, as I said before in many replies, it is better to get a Bahrain visa vs. rely on the mood of immigration on the causeway.

Thank you for clearing it out Mr. Xtang.

Additionally, to avoid the hassle of getting through the causeway border, it is advisable to apply for a Bahrain visa for your relative whose holding a visit visa. This is to lessen all the troubles (that I've experienced) since it will depend on the saudi immigration's mood. Though it is possible, I strongly advice for you to apply a bahrain visit visa for your mother one month ahead of time since I believe that it will take time to process in Bahrain embassy here in Riyadh.

To make it clear regarding exit re-entry, though it is not necessary, I still suggest that you apply for it. As I was explaining the officers the situation, they did not understand it until I showed my exit re-entry. When they grant the exit of my mother and did the U-turn, I politely asked the officers (exit booth) to cancel my exit re-entry since it was not used at all. Additionally, explain to them clearly that you just went there to exit the visit visa of your mother. My exit re-entry was not used since we did NOT enter Bahrain.

Hope this helps @bdcell.

And I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the contributers especially Mr. @Xtang and Mr. @Jeremiematias

Best of luck!

Since I posted this originally, I thought I should update on what happened next.

After I got rejected by the King Fahd Causeway to
extend the visa of mother in law, I went to Jawadath in Riyadh and they also said that there is no way they can extend beyond 6 months and we must exit through Airport before 12.00 am on the last day of visa expiry. To make a final try I also talked to Immigration help counter in the Airport and they also told samething. Remember that the violation in this regard will have a penalty of SAR 50,000/-

Then I gave up of trying further and then
took a flight to India on the last day with my mother in law.
We came back after 4 days without any issues since the multiple visit already valid for one more year.

Thanks for the update.

So the conclusion that seems to be coming to is that:

1) Visa cannot be extended inside Saudi and you must exit
2) Causeway extension option is not likely to work as they will not allow you exit without a Bahrain visa
3) Best option is to get a visa for a country nearby like Bahrain or Dubai and exit to those countries and come back

Thanks for the update mdmoinuddin.

Hello,

Can  you update if you recently tried and refused to take exit and U Turn at King Fahd causeway. I have a similar case.

Read the thread.  2 members tried to do this in April and were refused.  That is pretty recent.

Hello Xtang,

I have read the above thread ,  i would still need some clarity. My parents are currently  in Saudi Arabia - who have come with a ''Multiple Visit Visa'' of 180 days , the Visit Visa stay period is 30 Days - expiring on June 15 2018. I have already extended their visa today, now  the new validity is July 15 2018.

My Iqama Profession is ''ELECTRICAL ENGINEER'' and I have a Multiple Exit Re-Entry Visa of 6 Months. I would like to travel to Bahrain along with my parents , during first week of July 2018.

Please advise ,

1) If they can travel to Bahrain along with me ? via Bahrain Causeway without a valid Bahrain e-Visa , (considering my Iqama Profession).

2)If yes, would the next Visa Stay Validity - extension be renewed ? in case they travel again by this means- in the month of August .

Await your reply.

1) No.  As they don't have an Iqama.  GCC countries including Bahrain only give visa on arrival to Iqama holders, not visit visa holders.  They need to apply for Bahrain evisa.  Your profession only matters for you and your dependent Iqama holders (not the visit visa holders you sponsor)
2) The answer is no.  You have to get them to exit and re-enter

Hi, Can Saudi Multiple Visit Visa holders can travel to Bahrain through Cause way for their extension of Visa period?

Dear XTang,

Please answer my question.I have a 2 years multiple exit and reentry visa for family of 3 persons. I wanted to travel to Bahrain (I have Iqama as Computer Technician) along with them. If i apply for an E-Visa for them, so can i be able to travel with them though cause way?

So if we have Bahrain EVisa for the Saudi Visit Visa holders and exit reentry for an Iqama holder, then is it possible to make the Uturn at Saudi Counters? If they allow to travel to Bahrain (Being holding Evisa), otherwise we can simply return back to Saudi right? Then in this case, the Visa can extend automatically?

if they are holding evisa of Bahrain then there should not be any issues. Not sure what did you mean by extending?  if you mean extending your saudi visit visa i dont think its possible.

T&R

Hi, Thanks for the reply. Let me simplify my Question. I have brought my family (wife & 2 Kids) to Saudi on Multiple Visit Visa for 2 years. They just need to leave the country after completion of 6 months (180 days) as Visit visa cannot allows to stay continuously more than 6 months. I wanted to apply them Bahrain E-visas. We would like to travel by King Fahad Causeway to Bahrain. So is it possible for them to travel through causeway?

Yes Bro....

Hi Binu, Thanks for the reply. Are you sure that "Saudi Visit Visa holder can travel to Bahrain through Causeway if they have Bahrain E-Visas"? Did you come across this or heard from the people you known? Please let me know.

Read all the replies on this post carefully, you cannot extend the visit visa using the cause way, it was possible earlier on case by case basis but recently people were sent back. You will need to exit the country via airport only is what people have told.

T&R

naveen.harathi wrote:

Hi Binu, Thanks for the reply. Are you sure that "Saudi Visit Visa holder can travel to Bahrain through Causeway if they have Bahrain E-Visas"? Did you come across this or heard from the people you known? Please let me know.

Bahrain e-visas are not valid for the causeway.  Only for the airport.

Only e-visa valid for the causeway is one applicable to GCC residents only.

Hi Naveen,

Did you tried for causeway entry for your family with e-visa of bahrain. Please let me know what is the status. I am also facing the same issue.

Hi  all friends.. today we were traviling from al khobar to bahrain through the causeway and i want to inform you all people dont miss guide anyone please ....Alhamdulillah i extended my visa without any problem or any dificuilty . there were very helpful persons and very polite they didnt made any problem and i extended my visa within 10 minutes.just be sure only you have exit re entry visa no need any e visa or any thing for more info please contact with me ..