Saudi Arabia Work Visa and Iqama Guide 2026

Written and reviewed by the EuroGulf Guide editor. Last checked: October 2026.

A Saudi Arabia work visa is always employer-led. A Saudi-registered company requests the visa through Qiwa, the labour platform of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD). You then complete the visa stage with the Saudi embassy or its authorised visa centre where you live, travel on that visa, and after arrival your employer issues your work permit (within 90 days of entry) and your residence permit, the iqama, through Absher Business. Under Article 40 of the Saudi Labor Law, the employer pays recruitment, work permit and iqama fees.

Below I explain each stage, what changed with the 2025 skill-based classification, what you should prepare, who pays what, your rights to change jobs and travel, and the mistakes I would watch for. Information comes from HRSD, Qiwa, Absher and the Saudi Press Agency, as of October 2026.

Why I care about getting this right: I have never worked in Saudi Arabia, but moving abroad with my family in 2025 meant months of gathering certificates, waiting for approvals and starting again from zero in a new country. In the Gulf, much of that work sits with the employer, so knowing which steps are yours makes the wait far less stressful.

Quick facts: Saudi work visa and iqama (as of October 2026)

Item	Details
Who applies for the visa	Your Saudi employer, through the Qiwa platform
Legal basis	Saudi Labor Law: no recruitment without Ministry approval (Art. 32), no work without a work permit (Art. 33)
Visa stage abroad	Completed with the Saudi embassy or authorised visa centre in your country of residence
Work permit deadline	Employer must issue it within 90 days of your arrival
Work permit validity options	3, 6, 9 or 12 months, renewable
Work permit fees	Free for the first 3 months of stay, then charged by duration
Residence permit	Iqama, issued by the employer through Absher Business
Iqama conditions	You are in the Kingdom, medical exam passed, fingerprints taken, health insurance, valid passport
Who pays visa, permit and iqama fees	The employer (Labor Law Art. 40)
Skill categories since 2025	High-Skilled, Skilled, Basic
Changing jobs	Allowed without employer consent when the contract expires, and in set cases during it

How the Saudi work visa process works, step by step

Step 1: Job offer and contract

Everything starts with a job offer from an establishment registered in Saudi Arabia. Article 37 of the Labor Law requires a written, fixed-term contract for non-Saudi workers. If no duration is stated, the contract is treated as one year from your actual start date. HRSD’s labour reforms rely on digital documentation of employment contracts, and Qiwa is where your contract is recorded and authenticated.

Step 2: Employer requests the work visa on Qiwa

Your employer requests a permanent work visa through Qiwa. HRSD’s instant visa service is available to establishments that meet conditions such as a valid commercial register, valid work permits for existing staff, compliance with the Wage Protection System and an adequate Saudisation (Nitaqat) band. A company in the red Nitaqat band cannot issue or renew work permits, which is one reason some offers stall at this stage.

Step 3: Professional accreditation, if your job requires it

HRSD runs a Professional Accreditation system with two parts. Qualification verification checks degrees and experience for managers, specialists and technicians (occupational groups 1 to 3). The Skills Verification Program tests skilled trade workers with practical and theoretical exams, and HRSD has linked work visas for targeted occupations to passing the test in the worker’s country. Registration runs through svp.qiwa.sa. Article 34 of the Labor Law adds that a work permit does not replace any licence another authority requires, so regulated professions such as healthcare also need registration with their own Saudi licensing body.

Step 4: Visa issuance at the embassy

With the visa approved, you complete the visa stage at the Saudi embassy, consulate or authorised visa centre in your country of residence. Exact requirements differ by country. Expect to need your passport, the employer’s visa details, a medical report from an approved centre, and attested educational certificates. Some missions also ask for a police clearance certificate. Ask your employer for the current list for your country before you book anything.

My advice: start attesting your degree and getting your police certificate as soon as an offer looks serious. Both depend on offices in your home country, and from my own family’s move I know these are the steps you cannot speed up once the clock is running.

Step 5: Arrival and border number

You enter on the work visa and receive a border number, which identifies you until your iqama is issued. Qiwa states the work permit is valid from the date you enter the country.

Step 6: Work permit within 90 days

Your employer must issue your work permit on Qiwa within 90 days (three months) of your arrival. The permit can be issued for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, though some occupations have restricted durations. Permits are free for the first three months of your stay, after which fees apply based on duration.

Step 7: Medical exam, insurance and iqama

To issue your iqama on Absher Business, the employer needs you physically in the Kingdom, your fingerprints and photo enrolled, a passed medical examination at an accredited centre, health insurance for you (and any family members with you), a valid passport, payment of iqama fees and any delay penalties or traffic fines, and, for many jobs, a valid work permit. Qiwa advises employers to secure medical insurance and authenticate the contract right after the first work permit, because both are prerequisites for the iqama.

The 2025 skill-based classification

Under Ministerial Decision 4602, HRSD began classifying work permits into three levels from July 2025: High-Skilled, Skilled and Basic. The criteria are educational qualifications, professional experience, professional skills (through Professional Accreditation), wage thresholds set for each economic activity, and age. High-Skilled permits are limited to occupational groups 1 to 3, such as managers, specialists and technicians, and must meet a minimum wage threshold. Your classification is visible in your employer’s Qiwa account. Ask your employer which level your role is expected to fall into, because the threshold depends on salary as well as job title.

Documents checklist

Your employer and the embassy set the final list. Prepare these early:

Passport valid well beyond your planned travel date, plus copies
Recent passport photos to the embassy’s specification
Signed job offer and, later, the contract documented on Qiwa
Degree and diplomas, attested as required for your country
Experience letters from previous employers
Medical report from an approved centre, if requested at the visa stage
Police clearance certificate, if your embassy requires one
Professional Accreditation or skills test result, if your occupation is covered
Professional licence or registration for regulated professions
Marriage and birth certificates, attested, if you plan to bring family later

Costs: who pays what?

Cost	Who pays	Notes
Recruitment fees	Employer	Labor Law Art. 40
Work permit issue and renewal	Employer	Free for the first 3 months of stay, then fees by duration
Iqama issue and renewal, and late fines	Employer	Including fines caused by delayed renewal
Change of profession fees	Employer	Labor Law Art. 40
Exit and re-entry visa fees	Employer	Labor Law Art. 40
Return ticket at the end of employment	Employer	Unless you are unfit for work or leave without a legitimate reason
Fees for dependants	Not listed in Article 40	A monthly dependant fee has applied since July 2017; check your contract and the current amount on Absher
Document attestation and police certificate at home	Usually the worker	Check your offer letter

The dependant fee was introduced on 1 July 2017 at SAR 100 per dependant per month and increased on a published annual schedule. Because it affects family budgets so much, check the current figure through Absher or your employer’s HR team before you plan a family move.

If I were weighing a Saudi offer this year, I would ask HR for a written breakdown of which fees they will cover for my family, not just for me. The law is clear on the worker’s own permits, but family costs are often where expectations differ.

Your rights: changing jobs and travelling

HRSD’s Labor Reform Initiative, in force since 14 March 2021, applies to all expatriate workers in the private sector. It allows you to:

Change employers without your employer’s consent once your contract expires, and during the contract under set conditions, including a notice period.
Request an exit and re-entry visa yourself through Absher or Qiwa. Your employer is notified electronically.
Leave on a final exit visa after your contract ends without the employer’s consent. If you leave before the contract ends, you bear the contractual consequences.

The Wage Protection System and the digital contract are your main evidence if a dispute arises.

Alternatives to employer sponsorship

Saudi Arabia also offers Premium Residency, managed by the Premium Residency Center, which provides residence routes not tied to an employer sponsor. Products and fees change, so check them directly on the official portal at pr.gov.sa before relying on any figure you see quoted elsewhere.

Timeline

Stage	Typical order
Offer accepted	Start attestation and police certificate in your home country
Visa request	Employer applies on Qiwa
Skills or qualification verification	Complete before the visa stage if your occupation is covered
Embassy stage	Medical report, documents, visa issued
Arrival	Border number assigned
Within 90 days of arrival	Work permit, health insurance, medical exam, fingerprints, iqama
Ongoing	Renew work permit and iqama before they expire

Common mistakes to avoid

Working on a visit visa. Article 33 of the Labor Law requires a work permit for any work.
Paying an agent for the visa itself. Recruitment fees are the employer’s responsibility under Article 40.
Leaving attestation until after the offer. It depends on offices in your home country.
Ignoring Professional Accreditation. For covered occupations, the visa is linked to passing the test.
Not checking the employer’s status. A company in the red Nitaqat band cannot issue or renew work permits.
Budgeting only for yourself. Dependant fees are separate and can be significant.

Saudi procedures are updated often, and I would rather fix an error than leave it online. If you notice anything out of date, write to contact@eurogulfguide.com and I will review it against the official platforms.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a Saudi work visa myself?

Not for standard employment. The employer requests the visa through Qiwa. You complete the visa stage at the embassy or visa centre after the employer’s request is approved.

How long do I have to get my iqama after arriving?

Qiwa requires the employer to issue your work permit within 90 days of arrival, and the work permit is needed for the iqama in many jobs. Your employer handles both on Qiwa and Absher Business.

Who pays for the iqama?

The employer. Article 40 of the Labor Law puts iqama and work permit issue and renewal fees, and fines from late renewal, on the employer.

Can I change jobs in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Since March 2021, private sector expatriates can transfer to a new employer without the current employer’s consent when their contract expires, and during the contract under specific conditions.

How does Saudi Arabia compare with the UAE?

Both are employer-sponsored, and in both the employer pays core visa costs. Read our UAE work visa guide to compare steps, or look at European routes such as the Germany Opportunity Card.

Official sources

Saudi labour and residency rules, fees and platform procedures change frequently and can differ by occupation and nationality. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your employer, HRSD, Qiwa, Absher and the Saudi embassy in your country. Last checked October 2026.

Saudi Arabia Work Visa and Iqama Guide 2026: Qiwa, Work Permit and Residence Steps