Work Visas for Saudi Arabia: New Quotas for Businesses

Saudi Arabia has updated the work visa limits for employers. The new quotas depend on how long the business has been operating. Learn more about the changes

Saudi Arabia has updated its rules for issuing work visas to businesses. The changes primarily affect newly established companies and employers planning to hire foreign employees. Fragomen reports on this.

We’ll discuss the revised quotas, conditions for various business categories, and specific provisions for participants in the Business Creation Program later in this article.

Are you planning to work in Saudi Arabia and don’t know where to start?

Visit World’s practical guide contains up-to-date information on visa applications, employer requirements, and documents needed by employees.

What has changed in the rules for issuing work visas?

Saudi Arabia has revised the work visa quotas for newly established companies. The updated regulations introduce clear limits based on the company’s length of operation and its participation in relevant programs.

These requirements are new and were not in place under the previous system. Employers should take these new conditions into account when planning to hire foreign workers.

Read more about the new work visa for Saudi Arabia by following the link.

How many visas are available for different categories of companies?

The updated quotas differentiate companies based on their length of operation and status. Below are the main categories and corresponding limits:

• Companies that have been operating for less than two years—up to five work visas.
• Businesses that have been in operation for more than two years—up to 50 work visas. These can be processed either through a single application or through multiple applications submitted within one week at the legal entity level.
• Participants in the Business Creation Program—initially two work visas, with the possibility of further quota expansion.

This classification allows for consideration of a company’s level of maturity and its labor force needs.

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Special Provisions for Participants in the Business Creation Program

Companies participating in the Business Creation Program start with a quota of two work visas. This quota may be expanded as the company progresses through the program and achieves a higher rating on the Nitaqat scale.

This approach encourages newly established businesses to grow in accordance with national workforce localization requirements. Achieving higher rankings on the Nitaqat scale unlocks access to a greater number of work visas.

About work permits in Saudi Arabia 2026 — read more in this article.

Remember! Applying for a work visa to Saudi Arabia requires meeting a number of requirements, ranging from employer quotas to employee documentation. The Visit World portal has prepared a practical guide to help you navigate the process of finding employment abroad and reduce the risk of rejection during the document preparation stage.

Order the guide from Visit World to get structured information and prepare for work in Saudi Arabia step by step!

Reminder! In a previous article, we reported that Saudi Arabia is opening the 2026–2027 Umrah season.

Photo: Magnific

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