🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Quick answer
Foreign workers are sponsored by a Saudi employer; the employer obtains a work-visa authorisation (block visa), you get the work visa at a Saudi mission, and after arrival you receive an Iqama (residence permit) and complete medical and Qiwa/Absher registration.
Work visas require an employer (sponsor) and a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD); MISA supports investor and skilled-talent visas.
- A work visa requires an employer sponsor and an HRSD work permit.
- The Premium Residency ("green card") offers long-term residence without a sponsor.
- Saudization (Nitaqat) rules affect hiring ratios in many sectors.
Step-by-step
- 1
Secure a sponsored job
Secure a job with a Saudi employer that will sponsor you and hold the necessary work-visa quota.
- 2
Employer obtains the visa authorisation
The employer obtains a work-visa authorisation (block visa) from the Ministry of Human Resources and the relevant authorities.
- 3
Complete attestation and medical
Attest your degree and documents, and complete the required medical examination.
- 4
Get the work visa at the mission
Apply for the work visa at a Saudi embassy or consulate with the authorisation number.
- 5
Enter and get the Iqama
Enter Saudi Arabia; the employer processes your Iqama (residence permit) and registers you in Qiwa and Absher.
- 6
Renew and transfer if needed
Renew the Iqama and work permit; sponsorship transfers are possible under the labour-reform rules.
Checklist
- Sponsored job with a Saudi employer
- Work-visa authorisation (block visa)
- Degree/document attestation
- Medical examination
- Work visa at the mission
- Iqama (residence permit)
- Qiwa + Absher registration
- Renewal / transfer rules noted
Official authorities
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD)
Work permits and labour.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Iqama?
The Iqama is the residence permit that lets a foreign worker live and work in Saudi Arabia; the employer processes it after arrival.
Do I need my degree attested?
Yes — for many professional roles your qualifications must be attested before or after the visa is issued.
Can I change employer?
Under the labour reforms, job mobility and sponsorship transfers are possible subject to conditions.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Saudi National Portal (my.gov.sa) — Saudi government services portal
- Absher (Ministry of Interior) — Residency (Iqama), visas, and entry/exit services
- Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) — VAT, zakat, and customs
- Ministry of Investment (MISA) — Foreign-investment licensing (formerly SAGIA)