Most expats move to Saudi Arabia for just one reason: financial gain. Opportunities abound in the nation, and its industrialized economy gives expats a chance to make twice or even three times as much for the same job as they would back home. In addition to their pay and other financial perks, expat workers in Saudi Arabia can potentially save a major part of their income because of their tax-free income and limited costs. Besides, in contrast to other nations where only a small number of businesses provide housing and travel allowances to their expat employees, Saudi Arabian businesses are renowned for their fantastic housing and transport allowances. So if you have made up your mind to live and work in Saudi Arabia, you must first learn how to obtain a Saudi work visa and residency authorization.
A. Understanding Saudi Arabia Work Visa
All foreign nationals intending to work and reside in Saudi Arabia must have a work or employment visa from Saudi Arabia. The person who must sponsor a Saudi work visa for an employee is the employer or corporation. Sponsors can therefore be a Saudi company, a Saudi person, or a foreign organization with legal authorization to operate in Saudi Arabia. It differs from Saudi Arabia Business Visa in that the business visa limits the kind of job you may do, such as hosting meetings.
B. How Does a Saudi Arabia Work Visa Look Like?
It will comprise the following details:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Nationality
- Unique Iqama Number
- Employer & Job Title
- Issue & Expiry Date
C. Visa Requirements for Saudi Arabia Work Visa
To obtain a visa, employees will need a sponsor in Saudi Arabia. The sponsoring employer manages the maximum part of the application process, but along with this, the complete Saudi Arabia work visa requirements are as follows,
- A passport having validity for the employment’s duration
- Passport-sized color photograph
- Completed visa application
- Signed medical report- 3 copies
- An employment letter from Saudi Arabia’s sponsoring company that is certified via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Saudi Chamber of Commerce
- The employment contract signed copy
- Certified copy of an applicant’s university diploma that is validated through the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission
- Police report
The requirements may vary as per the type of visa and nationality. So, when you apply for Saudi visa from Dubai, the process might be simpler than one applying from London.
D. Age Criteria for Saudi Arabia Work Visa
Anyone who is fit physically, between 18 and 60 years, has the academic or professional credentials required by the Kingdom (presuming there is a dearth of citizens with those credentials), or fits the description of an employee needed by the Kingdom, may look for work in Saudi Arabia.
E. Application Procedure
The applicant for a Saudi work visa must be the employer. The procedures you must take in order to get a visa and a resident permit both in Saudi Arabia are as follows:
The sponsoring employer should register with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior, which will then open an immigration file with information about all of the employer’s foreign employees. The sponsoring employer will then submit an application for a work visa to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Labour. Then they will notify Ministry of Foreign Affairs when this application is approved. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in fact will provide a visa authorization number within two weeks. The employee will submit their application for an employment visa to the appropriate Saudi embassy together with the supporting documentation mentioned above.
The employee should apply for the residency permit/Iqama, with the Ministry of Labour in Saudi Arabia before travelling to Saudi Arabia. The embassy will grant the visa in one to three weeks. The Ministry of Labour will forward the accepted application to the Ministry of Interior, where the Directorate General for Passports will issue the Iqama Saudi Arabia. Employees must always have their Iqama with them as proof of their eligibility to live & work in Saudi Arabia. Employees who desire to enter or depart Saudi Arabia while doing their duties must apply for an exit/re-entry license with the Ministry. This approval often comes within a week.
F. Checking the Saudi Arabia Work Visa
Take a look at the Saudi Arabia visa status check process.
There are many ways to verify the status of your Saudi work visa. The most popular ways to check your Saudi visa online for both tourists and residents are listed below.
Saudi work visa verification using Iqama or visa number, Muqeem
It is straightforward and fast to check the Saudi Arabia visa using the Muqeem portal. You may check the validity of your visa without logging in as long as you have the necessary information available. It takes only a few minutes.
Visitors can use their visa number to check the status of their visa on the Muqeem site. By entering their Iqama number/visa number, expat residents may also verify the validity of their visas.
Saudi Arabian Work Visa Verification by Passport Number MOFA
On its web portal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers facilities for verifying the validity of visas by passport number. You can follow these procedures to determine whether your Saudi visa is still valid.
- Go here to access visa.mofa.gov.sa
- ‘Visa application’ should be selected as the enquiry type.
- Give your passport number and application number
- Properly type the Captcha code, then select ‘search’.
The following page will show all the information pertaining to your Saudi visa if you have accurately provided all the needed information.
G. Fees for Saudi Arabia Work Visas
The total Saudi Arabia work visa price will start from SAR 6000, depending on your sponsorship.
H. Saudi Arabia Introduces New Work Visa- Temporary Visa
The former “Work Visit Visa” has been replaced by the new “Temporary Work Visa,” which was just announced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new visa is intended to make it simpler for businesses to hire foreign workers for temporary positions. Hereafter, it should make it easier for enterprises to staff their company operations.
Foreign employees may work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days with the possibility of an extra 90 days with the Temporary Work Visa, which must be utilized within a year of its issuance. The personnel can enter and depart the nation as frequently as they need throughout the 90-day term because the visa is good for multiple entries.
Temporary Work Visa- Benefits Galore
The main benefit is that the temporary work visa may be issued immediately and does not require the employee to provide any supporting documentation (such as certified certificates). While the holder remains inside the nation, it might also be extended. It is not primarily limited to technical workers (such as engineers) & is not in practice solely available to males (as the former Work Visit Visa was).
Another benefit of the visa is that it may facilitate greater mobility within multinational employers by allowing foreign employees to try working there before relocating or making a more permanent move. This would be advantageous given the Kingdom’s record growth & hosting few of the biggest projects in the world.
Eligibility Criteria
The following prerequisites must be satisfied by an employer requesting for the Temporary Work Visa (this application should be submitted via Qiwa):
Except for operations that do not need a commercial registration, the establishment must have a current Commercial Register (CR); it must also have the status “Existing”;
The establishment must meet three criteria in order to issue visas: it must have a Nitiqat grade of medium green or above; it must not have any critical comments made against the Wage Protection System; and it must have balance.
An employer’s application will be rejected if they have expired pre-existing visas.
Processing Time
The employee must provide the embassy with an application form & the listed paperwork. Processing periods range from 1-3 weeks but depend on the embassy. A person may go to Saudi Arabia once the embassy grants a work or employment visa. The stay period covered by the Employment/Work visa ranges from 14 to 90 days.
I. Working without Saudi Arabia Visa
In Saudi Arabia working illegally may result in harsh sanctions. Without a work visa, a person may be charged a fee of up to SAR 10,000 & is also likely to be arrested and deported. Your employer might be subject to a fine of up to SAR 100,000 & lose their trade license.
Additional Considerations
While working in Saudi, employees should always have their Iqama (residency permission) as it may be examined at any time. A re-entry permit, which may be obtained from the Ministry of Interior, is also required for anybody who wants to leave & re-enter the nation.
Finally, international workers must be aware of the cultural variations in Saudi Arabia. As a country with a significant Muslim population, employees must adhere to several stringent rules and traditions. For instance, women are typically obliged to wear religious garb, such as a headscarf, and conservative clothes should be worn every time. These guidelines, along with others, are severely enforced, thus, adherence is advised.
J. Business Culture
Foreign employees in Saudi Arabia must be mindful of the country’s very hierarchical and patriarchal corporate culture. Building solid personal connections is crucial to earning the respect and trust of local contacts. Meetings can entail heated debate with raised voices, therefore it is crucial to maintain civility and diplomacy even while talking about sensitive subjects. Take additional time to comprehend these issues before beginning work in Saudi Arabia.
Customs and Cultural Customs
If you are thinking about working in Saudi Arabia, keep in mind the following key traditions:
- In business, a lot of people speak English.
- The dress code is formal, especially for ladies, who should wear covering, modestly-lengthened attire.
- When meeting someone new, handshakes & eye contact are customary pleasantries.
- It is nice to give and receive presents, but they should not contain alcohol or anything related to pork.
- It is also necessary to address individuals by their titles and keep a courteous attitude during encounters.
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia is a desirable location for people seeking to take advantage of high pay and cheap living expenses. It also provides a distinctive cultural history and delectable regional cuisine. It is definitely worthwhile to think about relocating to & working in this interesting kingdom given everything there is to learn and gain. So no matter it is applying for Saudi Arabia work visa from Dubai or any other country this detailed guide has got you covered. Hurry go get your dream job here.
A travel influencer, adventurer and blogger on a mision to dicover the hidden gems of this beautiful planet. For me traveling isn’t a hobby, but a way of living.
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