Saudi Arabia Work Visa Types 2025

As Saudi Arabia accelerates towards Vision 2030, diversifying away from oil and developing major projects (like NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Riyadh Air) atpi.com +5 centuroglobal.com +5 globalization-partners.com +5 saudivisa.com +3 en.wikipedia.org +3 en.wikipedia.org +3 , it continues to refine its visa programs to attract global professionals, investors, and skilled workers. Here’s an in-depth look at all major work-related visas in 2025: 1. Employment Visa (Iqama) What it covers: Long-term employment backed by a Saudi employer acting as sponsor; tied to a 1–2 year contract khawajamanpower.com +3 globalization-partners.com +3 centuroglobal.com +3 Conditions & process: Employer must be registered, meet Saudization (Nitaqat) quotas centuroglobal.com +1 en.wikipedia.org +1 , and apply via Qiwa/Absher. Employee needs a valid passport, medical exam, police clearance, attested credentials saudivisaoffice.com +9 guideconsultants.com +9 centuroglobal.com +9 After arrival: Converts into Iqama (residency/work permit); allows opening bank accounts, renting property, and sponsoring dependents. 2. Temporary Work Visa Ideal for short assignments: Introduced in May 2023 for project-based work, training, or consultancy en.wikipedia.org +4 centuroglobal.com +4 saudivisa.com +4 Duration: Initially up to 90 days; extendable once—maximum 180 days. Valid for multiple entries over a 12-month period centuroglobal.com +1 saudivisa.com +1 Eligibility: Requires sponsoring Saudi firm with valid commercial registration, medium-green Saudization rating, no negative WPS remarks, and available visa quota fragomen.com +8 centuroglobal.com +8 visasaudi.sa.com +8 . Fee: ~SAR 1,000 (~USD 266) premiumresidency.com +3 centuroglobal.com +3 en.wikipedia.org +3 Limitations: No Iqama, no dependents, non-transferable, non-convertible to long-term visas. 3. Business Visit Visa Purpose: For meetings, conferences, negotiations, but not for working smithstonewalters.com +6 saudivisa.com +6 guideconsultants.com +6 Duration: Typically 30–90 days, single or multiple entries; may extend up to 6–12 months depending on nationality . 4. Premium Residency (“Saudi Green Card”) Overview: Sponsor-free residency allowing work, property ownership, business launch, and freedom to move/access without employer permission monshaat.gov.sa +5 en.wikipedia.org +5 khawajamanpower.com +5 Two types: Permanent (Unlimited): One-time fee SAR 800,000 (~USD 213,000) saudivisa.com +4 en.wikipedia.org +4 linkedin.com +4 Renewable Annual: Fee SAR 100,000/year (~USD 26,660) linkedin.com +9 en.wikipedia.org +9 fragomen.com +9 Benefits: Sponsor-free work, family sponsorship (spouse, children <25, parents), visa-free entry/exit, property/business ownership, fast-lane airport access centuroglobal.com +7 saudivisa.com +7 reddit.com +7 Eligibility: ≥21 years old, clean criminal record, medical clearance, financial solvency (capital, investment/property worth SAR 4 million) centuroglobal.com +3 saudivisa.com +3 khawajamanpower.com +3 Residency duration: Permanent or linked to property ownership; renewable if criteria remain met khawajamanpower.com +2 saudivisa.com +2 premiumresidency.com +2 5. Block Work Visas – Temporary Suspension What happened: In May 2025, Saudi authorities temporarily suspended block (bulk) work visa quotas for 14 countries, including India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Kenya, and others timesofindia.indiatimes.com +1 navbharattimes.indiatimes.com +1 Clarification: Only mass quota issuance is paused; individual work visa (Iqama) still available as usual saudivisa.com +2 linkedin.com +2 centuroglobal.com +2 Reason: Linked to Hajj pilgrimage administration, security, and immigration compliance—not targeting specific nationalities timesofindia.indiatimes.com 🧭 Quick Comparison Visa Type Duration Sponsor Needed? Work Allowed Dependents? Convert to Iqama? Employment (Iqama) 1–2 years (renewable) Yes Full-time Yes Already Iqama Temporary Work Visa ≤180 days Yes Yes (project) No No Business Visit Visa 30–90 days (up to 1yr) No (invitation) No No No Premium Residency 1 year or permanent No Yes Yes Sponsor-free Block Work Visa Suspended temporarily Yes (bulk quota) Yes Typically no Depends ✅ Final Tips for Applicants Saudization (Nitaqat): Employers must maintain green status to qualify for any work visa issuance linkedin.com +1 en.wikipedia.org +1 saudiembassy.net +7 centuroglobal.com +7 linkedin.com +7 Document attestation: Degrees, employment letters, and criminal records must be authenticated by home country authorities and Saudi missions globalization-partners.com +1 saudivisa.com +1 Use official platforms: Employers apply via Qiwa (temporary) and Absher (Iqama); premium applicants use the PR Center online portal centuroglobal.com +1 saudivisa.com +1 Plan ahead: Block visa quotas are paused for now. Consider individual work visas or premium residency routes. ✨ Conclusion In summary, navigating Saudi Arabia work visa types in 2025 reveals a diverse, purpose-driven system—from the long-term Employment Visa (Iqama) and flexible Temporary Work Visa, to the premium, sponsor-free Residency (Green Card) option, and the standard Business Visit Visa. While the recent temporary suspension of block work visa quotas may have caused uncertainty, it only affects bulk hiring—not individual visa routes globaltaxnews.ey.com +11 fragomen.com +11 linkedin.com +11 Whether you're seeking a full-time role, short-term assignment, investor freedom, or business opportunities, the Kingdom’s visa framework now offers clear, tailored paths. To choose the right one, consider your goals—duration, sponsorship needs, and whether you want to bring family. Stay updated—policies around block visas and quotas change seasonally—and consult with trusted legal or immigration advisors before applying.

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