How to Obtain a Saudi Work Visa and Residency Permit: A Complete Guide for Job Seekers

Saudi Arabia is a popular destination for job seekers. So here is a complete guide to Saudi Work Visa. The attractive benefits of Saudi Arabia, offers, such as high pay and tax-free arrangements. There are a variety of job opportunities available in fields such as construction, engineering, IT, and many more. However, before relocating to Saudi Arabia, it is essential to learn how to obtain a Saudi work visa and residency permit.

Importance of work Visa:

A Saudi Arabia work visa is an essential document for all foreign residents who intend to work in the country. Employers or companies are responsible for sponsoring Saudi work visas for their employees. Sponsors may be a Saudi corporation, an individual, or a foreign organization with the necessary permits to conduct business in Saudi Arabia.

Visa Security:

To secure a visa, employees require a sponsor in Saudi Arabia. Although the sponsoring employer handles most of the application procedures, prospective employees must still submit all necessary documentation. This includes a passport that will be valid for the duration of their employment, a passport-sized color photograph, a completed visa application, three copies of a signed medical report, a letter of employment from the sponsoring company in Saudi Arabia, a signed copy of the employment contract, a certified copy of the applicant’s university diploma, and a police report.

Health and Age for Visa:

Anyone who is physically fit, between the ages of 18 and 60, with the professional or academic credentials necessitated by the Kingdom, or falls under the category of employees required by the Kingdom, may seek employment in Saudi Arabia.

The employer is responsible for making the Saudi work visa application. To obtain a visa and residency permit in Saudi Arabia, the sponsoring employer must first register with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior. The Ministry of Interior will open an immigration file containing information about all of the employer’s expatriate workers.

Authorization of Visa:

Once the employer lodges an application for a work visa with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Labor and the application is approved, the Ministry of Labor will notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within two weeks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a visa authorization number. The employee will then submit their employment visa application to the relevant Saudi embassy along with the documents listed above. The embassy will issue the visa within one to three weeks, at which point the employee can travel to Saudi Arabia.

Apply for residency permit:

Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, the employee must apply for a residency permit, or Iqama, through the Ministry of Labor. The Ministry of Labor will forward the approved application to the Ministry of Interior, where the Iqama will be issued through the Directorate General for Passports. It is important to note that employees should carry their Iqama at all times to prove that they are legally allowed to live and work in Saudi Arabia.

What is an exit & re-entry permit?

If the employee would like to travel in and out of Saudi Arabia during the duration of their employment, they will need to apply for an exit/re-entry permit through the Ministry of Interior. This permit is generally issued within one week.

Checking your Saudi work visa:

There are several ways of checking your Saudi work visa. You can check the validity of your visa through the Muqeem portal using your visa number, or by providing your Iqama number or visa number. You can also check the validity of your Saudi visa through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs online portal by providing your application number and passport number.

Work Visa Cost:

The cost breakdown for obtaining a Saudi Arabia work visa is SAR 7,200 if the workforce of the company sponsoring your work visa consists of more than 50% Saudi nationals. The cost includes SAR 750 for obtaining an Iqama, while the work visa and insurance cost SAR 6,000 and SAR 450, respectively. However, the total cost will increase to SAR 8,400, with the work visa fee being SAR 7,200, should your sponsoring company employ more than 50% foreign nationals.

In conclusion, obtaining a Saudi work visa and residency permit is a crucial step for anyone planning