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Saudi Arabia

TYPES OF SAUDI ARABIAN WORK VISAS

Anyone who wishes to enter Saudi Arabia will require a visa, with the exception of citizens of countries that are members of The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. These members include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, and Kuwait. There are three types of visas in Saudi Arabia:

1. Employment visas

2. Business visit visas

3. Family visit or residence visas

This guide will focus on employment visas, as these will be necessary for any employees who will be staying in Saudi Arabia on a long-term basis.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A SAUDI ARABIA WORK PERMIT.

To obtain a visa, employees will need to have a sponsor in Saudi Arabia. The sponsoring employer is responsible for most of the application process, but the prospective employee will need to supply all the necessary documents.

The following documents are required to obtain an employment visa:
a) A passport that will be valid for the duration of employment
b) A passport-sized photograph, in color
c) Proof of online payment of the visa fee through the Enjazit website
d) A completed visa application
e) Three copies of a signed medical report
f) A letter 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
g) A signed copy of the employment contract
h) A certified copy of the applicant’s university diploma, which must be validated by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission
i) A police report of any criminal record
j) An addressed, prepaid envelope

SAUDI ARABIA WORK PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS

The employer must begin the work visa application process. Here are the necessary steps to obtain a visa and residency permit in Saudi Arabia:
a) The sponsoring employer must register with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior.
b) The Ministry will open an immigration file with information regarding all of the employer’s expatriate workers.
c) The employer will lodge an application for a work visa with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Labor.
d) Once 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.
e) The employee will submit their employment visa application to the relevant Saudi Arabian embassy, along with the documents listed above.
f) The embassy will issue the visa within one to three weeks, at which point the employee can travel to Saudi Arabia.
g) In Saudi Arabia, the employee must apply for a residency permit, or Iqama, through the Ministry of Labor.
h) 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.
i) Employees should carry their Iqama at all times in order to prove that they are legally allowed to live and work in Saudi Arabia.

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.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes, Indian citizens must obtain a visa to visit Saudi Arabia. Indians can obtain a Saudi Arabia visa from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Tourist visas are not issued by the Embassy. You can visit Saudi Arabia only for business or to visit family and friends.
The Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia must approve the duration of your stay. It is usually limited to three months.
The processing time for a Saudi Arabia visa is usually five days.
A Saudi Arabia visa has single and multiple entry options. The type of entry will be determined by the type of visa application.
A Saudi Arabia family visit visa is valid up to a year.
You can apply for a Saudi Arabia visa is two months before the intended date of travel. It is advised that all visa applications must be submitted ten days before travelling in so that there is enough time for visa processing.
The Embassy has the authority to accept or reject your visa application. The decision of the authorities is final and refund will not be provided if your application is declined or approved for a shorter duration.
If you are Saudi Arabia on a business visa or family visit visa, you will not be permitted to engage in any paid employment.
Medical tests for polio, RBC count, HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis are required to obtain a visa for Saudi Arabia.
It is recommended to buy travel insurance as it covers unforeseen circumstances like baggage delays or losses, medical emergencies, cancellation of flights, etc.