Jeddah

U.S. Consulate General

History

The American Mission to Saudi Arabia began as a legation in Jeddah in 1942. Full diplomatic relations commenced in 1949 and the U.S Mission, located in a traditional house in the old city center, became an Embassy. The Embassy moved in 1952 to the Al Hamra district Consulate General location, which at the time was an isolated, beach-front property far to the north of the city limits. Along with all other foreign missions, the Embassy was transferred to Riyadh in 1984. The former Embassy compound in Jeddah housed the Consulate General until 2019, when the Consulate was relocated to its present site in Al Muhammadiyah.

Known locally as “The Bride of the Red Sea,” Jeddah lies at about the same latitude as Honolulu and Hong Kong, and it shares their hot, humid climate. Tradition has it that the city derives its name (meaning grandmother, in Arabic) from the legend that the biblical Eve was buried here. Since nearly the inception of Islam, it has been the main point of entry for foreign pilgrims intending to perform the Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah. Ottoman caliphs personally selected it as the ideal locale over rivals to the north and south. Jeddah’s advantage was that it already was an established port with a history of facilitating the pre-Islamic pilgrimage and spice trades in the Hejaz, the western region of what is now Saudi Arabia.

U.S. Citizen Services

The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit at the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah provides assistance to U.S. citizens in the Western region of Saudi Arabia, including the provinces of Tabuk, Medina, Mecca, Asir, Al Bahah, Jizan and Najran.

In cases of emergency travel (life, death, medical emergency of an American citizen only), please first schedule an appointment and then send an email to the ACS section at whichever post you are applying to with a detailed explanation as to the nature of the emergency travel. Riyadh – Riyadhacs@state.gov; Jeddah – Jeddahacs@state.gov; Dhahran – Dhahranacs@state.gov

During business hours, telephone calls are answered for emergency issues only. Routine inquiries or visa questions are not accepted by telephone or by the duty officer.

For American Citizen Services emergencies during business hours, the Embassy and Consulates General can be reached at:

For assistance with serious emergencies outside normal business hours, U.S. citizens can call the above phone numbers to reach the nearest embassy or consulate. You will be transferred to a duty officer.

Public Access to the U.S. Consulate General Jeddah

The public entrance for all consular services (visas and American Citizens services) is located on the west side of the new consulate on Al-Safa Street.

Please arrive fifteen minutes before your appointment to clear security. Applicants who are more than fifteen minutes late for the appointment will be asked to reschedule for another day.

Visas

The U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah provides Non-Immigrant Visa services to Saudi citizens and third-country nationals residing in Saudi Arabia. Non-immigrant visas are required for travelers who are going to the United States on a temporary basis, such as for tourism, studies, business, or medical treatment. The type of visa required will depend on the purpose of your travel.

Please visit our Global Support Services (GSS) website for complete information on applying for a non-immigrant U.S. visa, including a directory of non-immigrant visa categories.

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh provides immigrant visa services to anyone residing in Saudi Arabia, provided the Department of Homeland Security approves the Immigrant Visa petition first.

Information for Visa Appointments in Jeddah

Security

It is not possible to bring the following items into the Consulate General. Please leave them at home or in your car:

Weapons or hazardous materials of any kind;
Mobile phones, iPods, iPads, Kindle/Nook or pagers of any type;
ALL electronic devices;
All beverages, including bottled water (please see below for infants);
Shampoo, lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, perfume or similar toiletries; and
Suitcases or large handbags.

The following items will be allowed under the specified condition:

Baby formula, food, milk or juice, as well as sanitary items essential for an infant; and
Medication and medical items prescribed to the applicant and essential for the visit.

For frequently asked questions related to the Consulate move, please click here.