Anyone wishing to come to Saudi Arabia to work will need a visa, except for citizens of countries that are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. These members include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, and Kuwait.
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Short-term work
There are three types of visas for those who are going to Saudi Arabia for short-term work:
- Work visas
- Visas for a business visit
- Family or residence visas
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Work visa
This visa theoretically allows employees of foreign companies to work temporarily in Saudi Arabia for a period of 30 to 90 days.
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Visa for a business visit
This visa allows you to make business visits with a Saudi company. It is suitable for people who offer short-term services and limits the type of work you can do, such as holding meetings.
To obtain a business visa, you will first need an invitation letter from a Saudi sponsor. The processing time for a business visa application is up to seven business days.
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Family visas
If any employees plan to bring their spouses or children to Saudi Arabia, they will need to obtain family visas. This visa allows you to register family members as dependents if you have an Iqama residence permit. Family members must obtain permission from the authorities before working in Saudi Arabia.
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You can apply for a diplomatic or official visa
To obtain a Saudi Arabian diplomatic visa, applicants need a diplomatic passport along with a letter of invitation issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia (MFA). The purpose of the trip must be strictly related to the government.
Diplomatic passports are international identity documents issued by a country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to diplomats, such as heads of state, high-ranking government ministers, ambassadors and other civil servants and their family members, who are required to travel to other countries on behalf of their government for official purposes.
The Embassy issues two types of diplomatic visas for travel to the Kingdom. A single entry visa, valid for three months, and a multiple entry visa, which allows the visa holder to enter and leave the Kingdom several times within 6 months.
The main requirements for obtaining a diplomatic visa can be found here.
Government visa
You can obtain a government visa if you have been invited by a Saudi government department or institution (e.g., a government hospital, university, or ministry, etc.). To obtain this, you must receive an approved visa letter from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The main requirements for obtaining a government visa can be found here.
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What are the requirements for obtaining a work visa to Saudi Arabia?
To obtain a visa, employees must first of all have a sponsor in Saudi Arabia. The sponsoring employer is responsible for most of the application process, but the prospective employee will have to provide all the necessary documents.
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What documents are required to obtain a work visa?
- A foreign passport that will be valid for the entire duration of the work;
- A passport-size color photo;
- Confirmation of online payment of the visa fee through the Enjazit website;
- A completed visa application form;
- Three copies of the signed medical report;
- Certificate of employment from the sponsoring company in Saudi Arabia, which must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Chamber of Commerce;
- A signed copy of the employment contract;
- A certified copy of the applicant's university diploma, which must be confirmed by the Saudi Cultural Mission;
- Notifying the police of any criminal record;
- An addressed, pre-paid envelope.
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The process of obtaining a work visa:
The employer must start the process of applying for a work visa. Here are the necessary steps to obtain a visa and residence permit in Saudi Arabia:
- The sponsoring employer must register with the Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia;
- The Ministry will open an immigration dossier with information about all foreigners of the employer;
- The employer applies for a work visa to the Ministry of Labor of Saudi Arabia;
- After the Ministry of Labor approves the application, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will inform you of the result. Within two weeks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a visa permit number;
- The employee submits an application for a work visa to the relevant Saudi embassy along with the above documents;
- The embassy will issue a visa within one to three weeks, after which the employee can travel to Saudi Arabia.
If you are moving to Saudi Arabia to work for the medium or long term, you will need to obtain an Iqama residence permit that allows you to work for a certain time (up to two years).
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When to apply for a residence permit?
Within 90 days of your arrival, your employer must apply for a residence permit, which also includes a work permit. Iqama residence permit is a standard form of identification in Saudi Arabia, so you will not be able to perform tasks such as opening a bank account without it.
You should always carry Iqama with you. If you do not present your card on demand, you may be fined.
Iqama is limited to one or two years (depending on the length of your employment contract), after which the employer must extend it.
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What does a work permit look like in Saudi Arabia?
Your Iqama card will contain the following information:
- name;
- nationality;
- date of birth;
- your employer and job title;
- unique Iqama number;
- release date and expiration date.
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Applying for Iqama in Saudi Arabia
Your employer should be engaged in the process of applying for Iqama on your behalf. However, you will need to provide several documents, including the following:
- your passport;
- two passport-sized photos;
- two passport-sized photos of the employer;
- a letter from your employer/visa sponsor certified by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia;
- signed employment contract;
- certificates of academic and professional qualifications;
- updated police report with detailed information on any sentences;
- medical report from a licensed doctor.
Before you get permission, you need to take fingerprints and undergo a medical examination. This is necessary to make sure that you do not have any contagious diseases.
You can view the status of your Iqama on the Home Office website.
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The cost of a work permit in Saudi Arabia
Your employer must cover the cost of your residence permit. However, the total amount of commission depends on the percentage of Saudi citizens who work for your company.
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Change or renewal of work permits in Saudi Arabia
The responsibility for renewing your Iqama falls to your employer. The company should start this process in advance because if you do not extend it before the expiration of your current permit, fines will be charged.
Most of the renewal process can be done by your company online, although you will have to undergo a medical examination again before you get permission.
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Importantly, your Iqama is tied to a company that acts as your sponsor. Therefore, if you want to transfer between two Saudi employers, you will need to obtain a No Objection Certificate from the employer you plan to leave.
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If I need to travel outside of Saudi Arabia while working for a certain period?
If an employee wants to travel to and from Saudi Arabia while working, they will need to apply for an exit/re-entry permit through the Interior Ministry. This permit is usually issued within a week.
Depending on your work status, you may be asked to supplement the application with additional documents. If you are self-employed, in addition to the main documents listed above, you need to provide:
- Confirmation of the license for business activities (registration of the company);
- Statement from the company's bank account for the last 6 months;
- Income tax returns declarations.
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Work without a visa in Saudi Arabia
Penalties for illegal work in Saudi Arabia can be severe. Those without a work visa will have to pay a fine of up to 10,000 SAR and face arrest and deportation.
If your employer does not apply for a work visa, they may face a fine of up to 100,000 SAR, as well as the cancellation of their trade license.
In order to promote foreign investment and stimulate economic growth, the Saudi government has introduced an e-visa specially designed for investors coming to the country.
Foreigners wishing to explore business opportunities in Saudi Arabia can now apply for a special Visit Visa for Investors. Business trips will be made more affordable thanks to the innovation, as the new visa does not require confirmation from an Arabian company.
Who can get an investor visa?
The visa is available to investors from 60 countries, including Australia, China, France, Germany, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
How to get a visa?
The visa is issued electronically on the portal (https://visa.mofa.gov.sa/Home/Index) immediately after filling out the application.
How long is the visa valid for?
A visa can be issued for a single or multiple entry for a period of 90 days to five years.
The length of stay depends on the investor's nationality and visa validity: one trip can last 14, 30, or 90 days.
Applicants are advised to have the following documents with them when submitting an online application:
- Original passport with a validity period of at least six months and at least two consecutive blank visa pages.
- Medical insurance
- Bank card to pay the visa fee
For US citizens, the following supporting documents are required:
- A letter of employment confirmation from the applicant's American employer addressed to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., confirming the applicant's position and indicating "business" as the purpose of the trip on behalf of the company
- A copy of the company's business registration in Saudi Arabia and in the USA
Please note: additional documents may be requested if necessary.
Saudi Arabia