Saudi Arabia announces new work visa rules effective from today

The new norm states that pre-verification of professional and academic qualifications to get the work visa is mandatory.

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
January 14 (STC): Saudi Arabia has tightened the work visa rules for Indians in line with their labour sector reforms. Now they will need to complete a pre-verification of their professional and academic qualifications to get the work visa, says a report. Professional verification will become one of the mandatory requirements for issuing work visas with effect from today (January 14).
Indians expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, as per the Ministry of External Affairs, is stated to be over 2.4 million residents. This is second after Bangladesh.
Notably,Saudi Arabia’s broader reforms as per reports aim to introduce as “more flexible employment contracts” for expatriates.
Stricter certification processes for specific professions are also part of the updated framework.
As per a circular issued by the Saudi mission in India quoted by a section of media, “professional verification procedures for issuing work visas will be implemented from January 14.”
Meanwhile, the kingdom has also announced a rule upgrade for expats renewing their Iqama, or residency permits, and extending exit and re-entry visas.
In a post on X, Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports announced that dependents of expats as well as domestic workers located outside the kingdom can now renew their Iqama.
Expats outside Saudi can also extend the period of single or multiple exit and re-entry visas.
Requirements for applying work visa in line with new guidelines issued by Saudi Arabia are list below:
•⁠ ⁠Obtain employment from a Saudi-based company willing to act as your sponsor.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Receive an invitation letter from your employer certified by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Saudi Chamber of Commerce.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Get necessary documents prepared such as a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Two recent passport-sized photographs with a white background to be submitted along with Visa application form.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Signed employment contract.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Attested educational and professional certificates.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Medical certificate confirming fitness for work.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Police clearance certificate.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Submit visa application and documents to the nearest Saudi embassy or consulate.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Pay visa fees. For single-entry work visa, the fee is SAR 2,000. Multiple-entry work visa fee is SAR 3,000. For One-year work visa, you have to pay SAR 5,000 and for two-year work visa SAR 7,000.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Obtain mandatory health insurance.
•⁠ ⁠⁠Visa processing usually takes 1 to 3 weeks.
•⁠ ⁠⁠You can apply for Residence Permit (Iqama): Within 90 days of arrival.
(STC Online Desk)