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Saudi Arabia Work Visa; Business Visas to Visit KSA
Visas to work in Saudi Arabia
If you are going to be working in Saudi Arabia then you will need a Saudi Arabian Work visa or a Business Visa.This article will discuss the types of visas that you need as well as the various problems that you may encounter;
There are several different types of Saudi visas that you can apply for but only the work visa allows you to work within Saudi Arabia. A business visa is often procured for people to work there, but this often being misused to get around restrictions that have been placed on the company.
This hub will detail out my experiences of getting a Saudi Arabia Visa and the MANY problems that I have encountered, I have been thrown out of the Saudi Embassy in London after I was insulted by staff, had documents destroyed, been forced to pay bribes and even ended up as an illegal alien that had to be smuggled out of KSA illegally.
Saudi Visas
Types of Saudi Visa
There are 5 main types of Visa that you can apply for when looking to enter KSA for either work or just to visit;
Saudi Business Visa;
This is for business men and women working for companies outside Saudi Arabia so that they can come into the Kingdom to work with or for a Saudi company. The duration can be one, three or 6 months. It can also be used by companies to bring you into the kingdom to work on a short term contract or to try you out during your trial period, although this is not what the visa is for. Often, if a company has problems gaining a work visa due to not being able to get authorization due to employing too few local Saudis they will bring an employee on this visa.
Saudi Work Visa;
This is for those that have been offered a contract to be working in Saudi Arabia, you will require to have medicals and submit educational certificates, all of which have to be legalized. Use an agent to do this as you will have to complete a large amount of paperwork. This visa is valid for 90 days at the end of which the company has to convert it to an Iqama which is your residency and work permit to allow you to stay and work in the country.
Saudi Holiday Visa
It is available, but unless you are Muslim with family in Saudi Arabia to sponsor your visit you are unlikely to get it! They do however want to develop the tourist industry so it will be interesting to see how this develops.
Dependent visa for Saudi Arabia
This is for the family of those that have an approved work visa. Please note however that only legalized marriage will be recognized, you can't bring your girlfriend even if you have been together for 20 years.
Umrah/Haj Visa
This is for those that wish to visit to make Umrah/Haj, religious pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca). This is only for Muslims and the visas are limited by number and through approved travel agents only.
Saudi Iqama
Your Iqama or residency permit has to be applied for within 90 days of your entering the country on a work visa. This entitles you to stay and work within the country for your sponsor (employer). Without an Iqama you will not be able to open bank accounts, send money out of the country or even buy a SIM card for your phone.
The application is pretty straight forward and should be done by your sponsor. You will have to undertake another medical which will be pretty straight forward. This should be paid for by your employer and will probably cost around 250 Saudi Riyals.
You will also be fingerprinted and your eyes will be scanned.
Iqama or Saudi Residency Permit
Saudi Azad Visa
BEWARE - There is actually no such thing as an "Azad" Visa but many people offer to sell these visas to people at a huge cost. The Azad visa is often advertised as a visa that will allow you to work freely within the kingdom, however this is far from the truth.
To get into Saudi Arabia you need to have a sponsor (employer) who can provide you with a visa, this has prompted a small industry to rise where many Saudis will sell a visa to an expat and then allow the expat to work where ever they wish to. Often this visa will cost between 10 Thousand to 20 Thousand Riyals.
However, you are not allowed to work for anyone other than your sponsor! This means that you cannot work for anyone else legally. There is, however a thriving black market for illegal workers and many people do find work, often on lower wages and with worse conditions than those legally employed. But the government is cracking down on these practices and if you are caught then you will be sent home and there will not be any refund of the money that you have spent! This is a very risky way indeed to work within the kingdom.
Far better to just apply for jobs advertised within the kingdom, if you are hired your sponsor will pay for your visa in full and you will be fully covered by Saudi Labor Law. Avoid the Azad visa as it really is a huge risk.
Useful Links for your Visa
- Saudi Embassy in London UK
This is the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London, You will find all of the information you require to apply for your Saudi Arabian visa here.
- The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Homepage US
Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington, information and requirements for your visa application.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), information regarding requirements to enter and work in Saudi Arabia, you can also track your Saudi Arabian Visa here using the visa reference number.
- Ministry of Hajj
Information regarding Hajj in Saudi Arabia, a handy website if you are looking to make Hajj allowing you to gain all the information for your Saudi Visa
Application for Saudi Visa
Whichever country you are coming from, read the requirements for the visa very carefully on the Saudi Arabian Embassy website in your country. On the whole you will be far better off using an agent to do the application for you and they can recommend the best places to get medical reports and so on that you will require. The agent can make sure that everything is correct rather than having it rejected by the Saudi embassy.
You will have to submit your educational certificates, all of which will need to be legalized. The process for doing so will be explained on their websites or by the agent, again, you can get the agent to do this for you, but the costs will start to mount – make sure that your employer will shoulder the expenses, as not all will!
Do not be surprised if no care is taken of your precious original certificates, my pristine, well kept degree certificate was sent between two sheets of stiff card to protect it, it was returned after having been totally screwed up and then folded in half to be returned! It is so badly damaged that it is almost unreadable in places! I have learned the hard way that many Saudis have no respect for any non-Saudis!
Get a Saudi Visa to view the Kingdom
The Reality of Applying for a Saudi Arabian Work Visa
The first time I got a visa for Saudi Arabia (KSA) in England was quite straight forward, I took all of my paperwork to the Saudi embassy in London and received it a couple of days later, no problem at all.
The Saudi Arabian visa was a business visa, good for 3 months, which was meant to keep me until they could sort out a residency visa (Iqama) for me. However, be careful, they do not tell you, you are supposed to just know, that this visa has to be stamped every month for you to remain legally in the kingdom. Failure to do so could land you in prison for a few weeks while the problem is sorted out, and believe me nothing is done quickly here!
The company that I was working for was having problems with getting work visas so I was sent home after 2 and a half months, the visa section said that I could only have 2 weeks of my last month!
Applied for my Saudi Arabian Business visa in the same way, again, no problem and was back in Saudi within a few weeks, back to work. Again visa being stamped every month. This time I was completely refused my third month, only having a week to get out (after pleading and begging!), so I had to cancel appointments and training courses that I was running which I rescheduled for about 3 weeks later. But; read on..
Visiting the Saudi Embassy
This application for a new business visa was a real experience;
I returned to England, completed my paperwork, went to the Embassy and handed it all over for processing;
This is what the conversation was like when I applied for my Saudi Arabian Visa
"You can't give that here," said the guy behind the counter.
"why," I asked..
"We have changed our process, you have to use an agent."
"Why does your website still show the old way of doing things with no mention of this?"
"I don't know, it's not my responsibility"
"Can you give me the name of an agent?"
"Why not?"
"You have to get it from the website"
"can't you just give me a name or print it out for me?"
"why did you change the system?"
"because everyone was coming in the office complaining that we were late giving them visas and they were missing flights, now they complain to the agents not us."
"How long will this take now?"
"I don't know, maybe 10 days" (it was 2 days before)
"Now I will have to rearrange my flight, you are not making things easy for us to come to your country"
"We don't want you shit in our country!" – He actually said this, I am not sure what my reply was, I know I was shouting and demanding to see someone in authority as the security physically carried me out!!
So, my second stay waiting for my third visa took over a month, I had to rearrange all of my appointments again, without being able to give a truly firm date! Not so good for business as you can imagine, my credibility was totally shot!
Finally returned to find that the company still could not get a Saudi Arabian residency visa and that I would be unlikely to be sure of even the second month of my business visa, clients were demanding that I resolve the issue or there would be no business with them! – Eventually I moved company so that I did not have this problem, the next company getting me a residency visa and my Iqama within a few weeks, which is what should happen, but I hear so very many many stories!
Get a Saudi Arabian Visa to see KSA
Dependant Visas
Not all jobs in Saudi allow you to bring your spouse or children (They now say that all jobs are allowed to bring their families but I still know some people who have been refused as the demand was just too great after this was announced!), check before you take the job if you will be able to bring your family before you travel or you may get a shock! Each visa declares the "job" that the person may be doing, mine stated that I was a "business analyst" (all in Arabic so you can't read it yourself), this is a professional position so I was entitled to bring my family. However some other professional types that I knew had Saudi Arabia Work visas that did not have job titles that reflected their actual position in the companies for which they worked in Saudi Arabia, these titles were often very basic and were not sufficient to allow them to bring their families!
Processing your visa application when you are in Saudi should be fairly straightforward. However not always, my friends that I know here have had no problems, I had nothing but problems – but then I found out why!
Bring your Family to Saudi Arabia
Problems getting a Saudi Arabian Family Visa
Most companies will have a government relations guy who will do all of the leg work with the various ministries and departments, he is the guy that usually will take your visas and so on to get them processed. Mine kept coming back with problem after problem, even though it was the same paperwork that was used for me to get my visa to come to the kingdom in the first place. This went on for a couple of months until someone suggest that I should be offering money!
I lost my temper with the government relations officer, after all the documentation was correct so why can't he get the visa for my wife without me offering money? He was very sympathetic, but said that it may be the only way, so in the end, I had to agree to paying whatever it would take – within reason!
It cost me 4000SAR ($1067) to get the visa processed, I have no idea if the money went to my company's relations officer or to the guy in the ministry, I have no way of knowing. But I was basically blackmailed into paying without any other options! I have heard similar stories from others, but not other westerners! It took one afternoon to process with the same paperwork that I started with! (And my degree certificate got lost!)
Arrival in Riyadh Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Visa Nightmare!
This happened to a "friend" (read between the lines); his business visa (because he didn't yet have a Saudi work visa) was not taken for monthly stamping and expired, therefore he became illegal, a colleague's family (wife and three children) were in the same situation unbeknown to them, and the husband was given some paperwork in Arabic to sign in amongst other unrelated business paperwork taking responsibility for the problem with his family! Thankfully, he asked someone else to read it all before he signed it, as you can imagine he was not too happy with the situation that the company had put him and his family in.
The problem could not be resolved, the visas could not be stamped, the advice given was to try to leave by a specific airport (Dammam) as they were not so good at checking, but if we were caught we could be jailed for 1 or 2 weeks, including my colleague's wife and fined (Although I now know that the fine would have been the responsibility of the company!) We said no as you can imagine – and asked them to find a solution!
No real solution was available, the issue could not be resolved officially once we were illegal that was it! So we had to have a way of getting it resolved that was not through official channels.
Exit Saudi Arabia over Bridge to Bahrain
Escape from Saudi Arabia without a visa
Through a friend of a friend, we were introduced to someone who said that they could take us out of the country on a Wednesday night over the causeway bridge into Bahrain without any problem – "guaranteed". For a small fee, of course!
So we arranged to meet this guy in the service area on the causeway before all of the different check points on the bridge about a week later.
We arrived, my colleague, his wife and three children and myself and waited over an hour for this guy, he was late, did not answer his phone and we began to think that he had decided not to turn up, but eventually he arrived an hour later than expected. His English was very poor so we had little idea as to how he was going to achieve what he was going to do!
So we followed him onto the bridge towards Bahrain, us in a large vehicle with our driver and him in a smaller one, we progressed through the first checkpoint which is to check the ownership and insurance of the car before you move to the other checks which check your personal paperwork, customs etc.
After this first checkpoint this guy and our driver swapped cars so that we now had the "fixer" as our driver now that the car ownership point had been passed. We queued for about another 30 minutes heading towards to the next checkpoint, just before the next check he turned between a group of buildings in the center of the bridge down a small alleyway and came out on the opposite side of the bridge, the road coming into Saudi from Bahrain. At this point he drove against the traffic towards the checkpoint that checks the visas of people coming into Saudi Arabia. By this time my friend's wife was having great difficulty controlling her tears due to the worry of being caught, which of course was being picked up by the three small girls in the car also!
He stopped just before the checkpoint and were joined by one of the security people from the checkpoint, at this point our passports were taken and the guy paid to have an entry stamp placed in all of our passports basically making them legal as far as a brief examination was concerned!
We then were driven back to the other side of the bridge through another small alley between the official's buildings in the center portion of the causeway, emerging just before the final check for passports and visas. My college then had to get out and get the relevant paperwork for his wife to exit from a nearby office using the newly stamped passport, marriage certificate, etc. (A woman requires the permission of her husband or father to travel within and out of Saudi Arabia!)
Again his wife spent a very tearful 20 minutes or so while he went to get the paperwork done, thankfully no problem, and we continued towards the final checkpoint!
A tense 30 seconds were spent at the checkpoint as the guard opened and checked each passport before stamping each one with the exit stamp and waved us through, what a relief! I was never so glad to arrive at a hotel and have an ice cold beer!
Visas Checked and Stamped on Bridge between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
Bridge between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Visas Checkpoints
Companies Obligations with regard to your Work Visa in Saudi Arabia
Your employer is responsible for ensuring that your visa and residency permit (Iqama) is up to date and renewed, etc. But this does not stop you from having a major problem when they fail to do their job, often it is you that will suffer not the company!
There are many cases where workers (not normally western, but Filipino, Indian etc.) who have not had their residency permits or Iqama renewed by their employers making them illegal, these workers are then afraid to leave the safety of their workplaces, many living where they work, and thus they are kept almost as a prisoner by the employer. There are several cases of workers not going for medical treatment as they are scared that they will be reported as illegal if they go to one of the hospitals for treatment!
There are reported cases of workers being held like this for as long as 20 years, often without wages!
Saudi Exit Visa
If you want to leave Saudi Arabia you need to have an Exit Visa! You cannot leave without this, this has to be granted through your company. So if your company does not want you to leave, you can't leave. Once you are in, you are at their mercy, and many maids and the like who should be able to go home each year are not allowed to leave. I have also known westerners who have had their exit visas refused as the company does not want them to leave for various reasons.
When your contract is finished, your company will issue a final exit, when you try to leave they will do a full check of your details, if you have any debts, own a car, any fines, disputes or anything you will be detained until these issues are resolved! If your wife walked through the check ahead of you when this happens, she will be going home without you, always check your exit first!
But at the end of the day, who would want to leave??
Saudi Arabia Final Exit Visa
If you are going to be leaving your current sponsor/employer and leaving the country then you will need a final exit visa for KSA.
You need to make sure that everything is clear before you try to leave the country, everything!
You must pay all of your bills, phone, power, housing etc. Keep all receipts.
If you own a car you must sell it and ensure that the name is transferred to the new owner, if it is still in your name you cannot leave! Keep copies of all of the transfer and sales documentation with you.
Check if you have any traffic fines to pay and pay them (they now have speed cameras and you may not know that you have a fine!), again keep all paperwork related to this!
Cancel and pay any credit cards, pay off loans. Keep all paperwork and receipts to prove you have done this. Ensure you do this at least a month before exit if you can.
Empty your Saudi bank accounts, transfer the money electronically if you can or send via western union or equivalent. Do this well before departure to ensure you can check that the money has arrived where it was sent.
Use cash only for the last few weeks of your stay!
When you get to the airport for final exit you will have everything checked, if something is not settled you will be refused exit until it is settled, within my small circle of friends two were refused exit, one for traffic fines and the other for the car not yet transferred into the buyer's name.
If you have family with you, consider sending them home a few days before departure so that they are not inconvenienced or shocked if you are detained! Once the stamp is in your passport, you are out, so if your wife went before you and her passport is stamped and you are refused she has to leave you behind.
More Saudi Advice
Don't even think about applying for a Saudi Visa until you realize exactly what you are going to be letting yourself in for. Working in Saudi Arabia is not like going to the next town for a job with a few new faces. The culture and way of life in KSA are completely different to anything you will have experienced anywhere else in the world.
This guide to being a Saudi Expat will help you to better understand everything you need to know before you make that decision to enter the Kingdom.
Wow, what an extensive set of hubs on Saudi Arabia. Great job!
Extremely interesting and informative!
I have no plans to visit Saudi Arabia, yet I found this hub thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.
I've never had the inclination to work in KSA - if I ever did I know of a resource that will give me the information I need.
I wonder where that is!
Leanman, maybe you had so many problems being non Muslim or what's your origin ? I heard Saudis are not so friendly to non muslim visitors, is that true ? But no doubt you defintiely had a lot of courage to do all that but do you think after such incident you could have problem entering or exiting through any of the 6 GCC countries or especially KSA visa during next few years if you plan to visit next time ?
Great hub. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about visa for Saudi Arabia.
Excellent reference for Saudi Arabia Visas. The videos are great, too.
Very interesting and informative Hub!
Nice Blog Friend U hits
This should be a great help to those wishing to live and work in Saudi!
Hello, i am a muslim girl married to christian guy(civil marriage) my husband is british, has been working in Riyadh for three months now, planning to go to Riyadh to live with him, but i've been told that it's not possible to live in saudi if we have different religions? is it true that they will not grant me a visa unless one of us changes his religion? pls advise...
Hello, thanks for the info, I'm Lebanese and here in Lebanon religion is mentioned on our ID, the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon have asked for my ID, medical etc.... So i guess i will not be able to hide my religion, plus i'm sure that religion is mentioned on Iqama,incase i got the visa and then Iqama,don't want the Moutaweh to cause any trouble incase we were together and they find out our religions are different. My husband's employers said it's not a problem, but i don't trust saudis.... anyways, will see what will happen, hope i won't get stoned there :D
Many thanks for your reply.
vote for u
What an interesting read on Saudi Arabia. Truly enjoyed it and yea, money can get anything done!! I have seen this in India as well!!
rated up!!
Good Hub Indeed!!!!!!
The hub which describes extensively about the 5 main types of Visa that anyone can opt for, when he is looking to enter into the Saudi Arabia. The information like, we have to submit our educational certificates, which necessarily need to be legalized, is immensely fruitful for various aspirants who are wishing to enter into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Thanks a lot for sharing such a wonderful peace of text.
Good hub LeanMan with great information and background. A girlfriend has just arrived in Saudi to work at a University so I hope all goes well for her. It seems rather restrictive for women there. Good luck with your new job!
Is it worth working in Saudi? I see in TVs that many Indians were seen jobless and being thrown out from there.
I like your hub.You have a nice explanation about different visas for Saudi Arabia.Nice post! Thanks..
I had no idea it was like this. I was riveted to your story - great Hub!
This was a very good write on Saudi visas. I also was riveted to reading this story. Voting this one way up there. If it is so difficult why would one want to go there? Thank you for writing it, i did enjoy it! aloha
I pushed the buttons too. Great insight! Thank you!
hi, im a british citizen and my husband is a lebanese. we are both working in riyadh and would like to go to bahrain by car. i know we need to bring our marriage certificate in case they ask us at the checkpoint border. do we need to have it stamped or certified at the british embassy? i'm not sure what is their requirements for the married couples regarding marriage certificate. we got married in cyprus and the marriage is recognized in UK. thank you.
how likely is it to get a visa with an employment contract but no degree?
Hi, thanks for writing such a great post, I was not aware that on Business Visa you need to renew every month. Anyways I am in Riyadh, on WORK VIST VISA, my visa has the validity of 90 days, all I want to know is that does WORK VISIT VISA also require a renewal every month, if so then please let me know. And if you don't know and know someone who knows this let me know with their contact.
This response is a bit late, but this is a very useful guide. LeanMan, a question I have is with regards to the visit visa, would one be able to rent in a compound or outside using only a visit Visa that is continuously renewed or is this not possible at all?
Great information!!
I expect to enter the KSA with a work visa in approximately 8 months. The paper work processing will start in a couple of months. Will my wife be able to get a visa and enter the country at the same time, or will she have to follow at a later date?
I thank you sooooooooo uch for the information also thanxx for the topic that can give everyone agreat view of saudia ..~
my pleasure ,,
Saudi does not seem line a place I would like to visit
I like your hub.You have a nice explanation about different visas for Saudi Arabia.Nice post! Thanks..
Great information. But now can you help me? I have a job offer as a senior project manager. But I have no degree and very little qualifications apart from my 29 on the job. do you think i will have any trouble getting my iquama???
Hi LeanMan,
I need a small favour from you. I was offered a job in Saudi by a bank, I accepted it and my work visa is processed and my flight is after about 3 days. Now, a dubai based company has offerred me a better job, better profile and salary has been increased by 50%.
Now my question is, If I don't go to saudi and send an email to the company that I am not joining. Will they blacklist me from not entering Saudi at all?
Please help.
assslmu alykum ,,,, i got selection in one king hospital in saudi as a staff nurse ,,,,,,and i am waiting for visa from last 4 month ,,,till now my visa didn't arrived ,,, ministry is senting afew visa ,,,,around 160 candidates they selected through interview,,,,,, around that 40 reached there ,,,remaining still in india......... can we expect vissa,,, i already signed offer letter.......
Hi Can someone work on Business Visa. I Did all the contract paper work for an engineering position with a Saudi based company and I also did the medical as well. I am of Westerner Nationality but originally from a third world country. My religion is Islam. I am wondering if the reason they haven't given me the work visa and instead issued business visa is due to my background? or is this a common thing.
Hi Can someone work on Business Visa. I Did all the contract paper work for an engineering position with a Saudi based company and I also did the medical as well. I am of Westerner Nationality but originally from a third world country. My religion is Islam. I am wondering if the reason they haven't given me the work visa and instead issued business visa is due to my background? or is this a common thing.
Hi Lean, I have a unique question for you.I hope you ll be able to help me out.I am already working in Saudi Arabia at a senior management position from the past 7 years.I need to immigrate to Canada with my family .I have got a plan to stay there only for 3-4 years only and come back again to Saudi Arabia.I am 52 years old now ,after 4 years I will be 56+ years,do you think due to my age I might face difficulties in getting a work visa.
Does Saudi law has any maximum age restriction for expat workers?
Some people have suggested me that it depends upon the specific employer,but I need to know what does the Saudi law says about it.
Thanyou for your time.
I am planning my visit these days to saudia riyadh you article helped alot... thanks
I came to saudi arabia 4 months ago on work visa. i have one year contract with my company....it is a good category company ...up to 1000 employees. well i want to leave this company and job after my contract is over as im getting much better offer from other company with 3 times more pay than what i am getting now and my own IT field. But i came to know that according to new rules i must spend 2 yrs with current company even if my contract is over. this is very upset situation for me. Can somebody suggest me what is the best for me in such a situation. what if i get exit and want to come back on other company visa...can it be an option? would i need NOC from current company?
Iam currently working in Saudi Arabia. I am a professional but my job title on my iqama is that of Labor. I want to go ahead and change my job title on iqamaa as on labor visa you cannot bring your family.
I have my degrees from UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN USA.
Can someone tell me what is the procedure to do so and also they have asked for erified degree.
Do i need to send my degree to Saudi Consulate in USA and what are all the other document they will require.
Please kindly email me answer at firstname.lastname@example.com
asslam alai kum
i am muhammad niyaz
i wanna good job in saudi arabiya in jeddah plzzz help me guys and
my cell nomber is 00919956719738 plz
help me sir and mam
i had a difficult inquiry that i know you could help me through i resiside here at the philippines and planning to go in KSA to work bu unfortunately i would like to cancel my visa that was stampped at my passport because i had a greater beed fro the other agency whioch has a great slarary pay, would you think is there would be any problem about that and how the process would go please help thanks
Hi Lean, Topics are very interesting and it is very true, I am from Philippines and I encountered this VISASTER ISSUE, yesterday was my flight date Sept. 21 going to Riyadh KSA, departure time from manila is 3:40pm, I got stock on the immigration checking for some interview, due to my Business Working Visit Visa, I spend 4 hours wasted from this immigration personnel asking me to go back there and ask for this docs, and ask for exit clearance and in the end they disapproved my exit,I offload my baggage and refund the tax payment and cancelled my flight I had no choice but to go home, this flight was waited for almost 4 months, with agent for the stamp and to much documents to deal with, but still a big problem for me, now I am waiting for a new visa a employment one. so sorry for writing a story just want to express my feelings, thanks.
Hi, I have received a visa for 90days.It says "AMAL" meaning work. Occupation is something else. But below it says "AMAL" which means work in Arabic. I even heard if the occupation is mentioned as Amal,it means labour.Is there anything like work visa and labour visa? So basically what do we know whether this is a work visa or .....? I have got an offer as Restaurant Manager.A probabtion period of 3 months exists in the contract.And the contract is for 2 years. I wanted to know why the visa says 90days?Will the employer change it when i reach there?This is for an American based Organization.
i came to saudia working just as a secretary. where as i was IT Manager in Pakistan. My contract is one year. i want to change my job after one year. but i came to know i can not transfer employer before 2 years. what options i have now. if i have an offer, can i go bak to pakistana dn come back immediately on another visa if offered???
About visa details
Hi Leanman
Thank you so much for the above info. I am currently in working in Saudi, a remote place. I have been offerred employment in another GCC state. I have told my current company that I wish to resign. They are refusing. I have an exit/entry into another gulf state only(UAE), if I run, and enter with an employment visa into the UAE, still with the KSA visa in my passport, will I get arrested?
My female friend would like her spouce / children with her. Does she simply take her paperwork, etc, to the visa office/ agent ? Her employers don't know how to do it but probably would not interfere. I tell her that there are fairly standard levels of profession/salary plus the mood of the office worker on the day and not to be put off.
Can anyone tell me what are the rules to be followed for the person on dependent visa inside KSA, if this dependent visa is for male( father) . Will he be allowed to work there? Need some information on the duration of this visa and related information....Can anyone provide the link
Could you confirm that Saudi visit visa will issue one time in a year? or same visitors can be enter multiple in a year if applied...........? please reply.......
i want to intiate my carrer at saudi arabia...so what type of visa is suitable for me....i m from india...plz reply me..on...email@example.com
i want work visa for saudi arab. please tell me the visa agency contact details.
Hello Leanman,
After reading various articles on KSA visa, I found this one best to my knowledge. I need your desperate help.
I am from india and my fiancé is too. She went to Saudi in NOV 2009, she is a nurse and she is working in the saudi government hospital. She is on 3 yrs contract bond w/ this hospital. She went to saudi via agent from india.
Now, we are planning to get married in next 6 months. She alredy have completed almost half of the bond and little more when she comes back. She has her residency permit (Iqamma). As per KSA visa rules all her original documents are kept w/ them.
Now my question to you is. What if she deceides to come back to india, leaving her bond? Can she do? What if she does not have exit visa stamp? Will it affect in future, if we want to settle out side india after 2 /3 years like in USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA< UK, etc.
She is affriad that, if she does not have exit stamp. she will get "blacklisted" and will not allow to any conuntry??? Is that true????
Can you help us, how to go ahead about this, we really don't want to stay apart , you know how this is hard...
pls suggest some steps or any agent who can help. we are ready to pay the fees....
Pls help
Mr Worried
I was working in saudia and then i went on holidays and could not return back now my iqama is expired and i am in pakistan since 1 year after completion of my iqama it was not my final exit can i can come to saudia again with different visa and different company please help me out in this regard
Hi LeanMan, that is very good information about Working in Saudi Arabia, moreover, there are many of agencies at Saudi Arabia helping and supporting Expats or interesting businessman or even Job seekers to enter the Saudi Arabia with business visas. They are good in doing business visas and open a business opportunities.
I recommend on of them as below:
I hope this will help someone,,,,,,,,
Sir i want to check my visa saudi arabia so tell me web sid......im w8ing your Ans....?
my Id
hi leanman my name adil i live in Karachi Pakistan wish to work in Saudi Arabia but here in my country so many recruitment agencies they charged very much amount for work visa and also they make fraud's and cheat people and use wrong working contact which is changed when the person reached in KSA
hi leanman i am syed adil hussain please note
MY ID email@example.com
92 21 312 2180895
my family and are interested in traveling to bahrain in order for myself and my children's time on our family visit visa to "restart". The problem is my husband is a student here in saudi with an iqama.His school is not issuing exit/re-entry visas at this time. What I need to know is can he purchase an exit/re-entry visa at the border or does he need on prior to Leaving saudi? We are all American by the way..
i`m on business visa in Saudi, i have found different company which i will going to work with them. Question is, if i can work with this visa with different company or i need new business visa.
hi leanMan.. I have received a visit visa valid for 90 days from a company in KSA..i want to know that can this visa be extended into a contract or do i have to exit the kingdom first??
thanks...actually i am a bit confused by the complications of the process.. The company is sponsoring my visit even my airline tickets..is there any way for me to know whether it is a visit visa or work visa?? i am a professional engineer... and can it be converted to iqama as an engineer.i mean engineers do get sme previliges..kindly let me know..i am all confused.. :-(
actually i am confused by the complications of all this process... so is it possible for me to know what type of visa is this?? the company is sponsoring me and even my airline tickects... i am a professional engineer..so if it is a bussiness visa or that probation period you are talking about..can it be converted to stay as an engineer.as engineers do get special previliges..kindly help me out..i am all confused :-(
Thanks alot..you really cleared my mind.. just one last question though... will it be clearly mentioned on my passport that what kind of visa it is?? work visa or Business visa?? coz i am sure now it is not visit..
And also if it is a work visa for 90 days..will it be necessary for me to get my degrees attested and also pass the medical tests?? agency here is not helping at all..everybdy got a different point..
My friend works in Saudi. He has taken a bank loan there. I am living in india and would like to transfer some indian rupees to him (INR to SAR).
I checked on internet and could not find good info on sending money to saudi arabia from india. If you have any posts or forums can you update those here.
Is there any limit in sending in Riyals for personal use?
Which is safe wire transfer or paper cash outs from one country to another.
Where can i get a good deal in the exchange rates?
If you try to reply early this will be helpful.
i got married 6 month back,my husband lives in saudia he has got labour visa,,can u plz guide me how i can get there,i have got my nikkah nama translated and attested by saudi govt,what r the possibilites for me to get a visa
Excellent hub man.
I actually look forward to open a butcher in Riyadh......any ideas.
thank u very much for reply,i have got MBA degree and vast experience in school admin,n i have heard that husband can not call his wife in saudia as per laws if he has got labour visa and earning is limited
Hi Thanks for sharing the details,
I am an Indian working in Bharain.I wolud like to visit saudia. Can you help me and let me know how can I get visit visa for saudi arabia? Can I get visa on arrival also in saudi.
im waiting for visa for other company, if the visa release.. i going to leave my current company... maybe , how long it takes they can release the visa form other company.?
I am working in architectural cunsulatcy .i m an architect engineer.i get the good offer from an other office,then i go on exit without NOC and then i want to come back within month,then wat is the procedur.is it possible to enter in the kingdom without noc on diff sponcer.
Actually my employment contract in my current sponsor ends this nov. 25, 2011... if the visa is release.. i will resign immediately and come back with new visa, is it possible? do i need a NOC letter for it.
can you guide me how can i get work visa???moreover,,i heard that saudi govt do not issue visas during hajj,,if so than can u tell when do they open again for visas
Hi there,my brother was a civil engineer in Saudi Arabia and was on two year contract.He went on vacation to his back home on 23 rd month of his contract and officially his contract was not terminated .He never returned to Saudi Arabia again and now can he go back to Saudi or any other Gulf countries on employment visa.His iqama is already expired.Is is true that if you go to the Saudi embassy in your home country,they would cancel your Saudi visa? I will really appreciate your thoughts on these concerens.thanks
Hi LeanMan,thanks a lot for the advise.You are awesome.
Hi LeanMan Thanks for the article, i have a complicate case i hope you can advise me haw to follow it, i got a commercial multiple visa for KSA on September 9th, when i checked the first time i got it , i found that the validity is written 30D while i checked the duration of stay mentioning 180 days and written multiple entries, i checked with the guy at the saudi embessy and he advise that is not an issue and the important that duration of stay is 180 days,i traveled in september i spent 30 days in KSA and everything went fine , yesterday i traveled again and i did the checking from my home country i took the flight as usual and during the bording at the transit country for the flight departure to Riyadh , the guy at the gate told me that my visa is not valid "or better to say as i got it in the report wrong visa " , the point here my wife was with me and she got a single entry visa and it is written in her passport that she is in my company and her visa was issued reference to my visa, they refuse as well to let her to travel alone despite her visa was 100 per cent correct , i tried to explain them that if the visa is wrong why they have allow me to take the first flight and they provide me the boarding pass also why they have allow me to travel in september if the visa is wrong "it is the same airline" and it is my 6th trip to KSA with this airline bt before i was getting a single entry visa, anyway they requeset me to try to contact to Embessy and to get a fax from them explaining that it is miss tape, it was impossinle for me to get the embessy as it was a weekend , i spend a night in the hotel of the airport and i booked a way back to my home country so far the mistake of 30 days has cost me 1200 euros . my question here normally we have wright or wrong visa but not something between? and if i will calim all the cost accumlated do i need to claim them against the airline or the Embessy? , i will follow up with the embessy om Monday and i am interested to take this to the court against the airline company as the way haw i was treated is so rude, Thanks for your advise.
LeanMan much appreciated for the kind answer!i will let you know the answer from the Embessy.
Hi leanman, thanks for your informative hub. i have a friend from US marine corps whose presently based in London and would like to visit me here in jeddah, ksa before the year ends. i have no idea if it would be possible for him to come here, i know the difficulty in obtaining a visa. can you advise what he can do? thanks and best regards.
Hi LeanMan,
AM working in saudi arabia from last 8 months....i want to resign from my present job and want to go to europe. if the employer is not giving exit can i go in exit rentry visa.my contract is for 2 year...will be there any probelems for me.
hi hub, nice work man actually i want to work in saudi arabia , i completed my college , and also having 1 year of experience as a office assistant , so please guide how to come and work in saudi arabia with full details please..
Hi leanMan, I have received a temporary work visa valid for 90 days..i just want to know wether it can be converted into permanent residence or iqama..my profession being engineer..it is also mentioned on my visa..or do i have to leave the kingdom and re-enter with iqama..cuz i am not giving any medical reports now..so how can they convert my visa to iqama without checking my medical records..m confused :-(
thnx for replying..is it possible for me to know from the invitation letter i got from the company in kingdom?? or when my visa is stamped?? on the invitation letter it is written "ziyaara amal laday"..i donot know what it means..
if it is business visit shdn't it be like "ziyaara al-tijaara" or smething..the agency isn't co-operating at all..nd the company isn't reponding to my messages..i donot want to get stuck in the kingdom..nd m afraid that on a business visit they might not even pay me..
Asalam Aleykum!. Thank you very much for sharing your experience in KSA that might be very useful for people who are interested in working there. May God bless you for helping others.
My husband and I are planning to move from the US to Saudi with our kids. We are a muslim family and our intention is to reside in an islamic country, In God's willing. He has no company sponsoring him, since he works in retail here, no college degrees either. He has a cousin who lives in Riyadh on a labour iqamma and has told him, that since we are american citizens, we can go on a visit visa, and once we're there, get a job and later turn the visa to work visa. Sounds very hard for me to believe that. I would really appreciate it if you can tell me if you've heard about this, or if we have any other choices. How about setting a bussiness there?? Is there any minimun amount of investment required for a foreigner??. Thank you so much in advance :)
Hey LeanMan,
You seem to know more about this subject than our Saudi HR guy!!!
I am a British national working currently in Riyadh and probably will leave before my 2 year contract expiry. I am not sure if you would know anything about my query below.
If I leave with a Final Exit from my company, will I be able to come back on a new VISA and how soon?
Thanks a million in advance.
i want work visa for saudi arab. please tell me the visa agency contact details. my e mail adress is. email@example.com or cell phone number o3244405057
Cheers mate...
Hi LeanMan,
Thank you for sharing.
I have 2 questions for you:
If you are given 180 days visa, does that begin with issue date for the visa or when you first go to KSA?
If I go by the end of these 180 days, can I stay a day or two after it is over or do I have to leave before no matter what?
hope some one can help me giving advice regarding this below issue. my friend left baharain on holiday but after sometime riots starts there so he couldn't go back ,the company he worked lost their business as well.now he was trying to go to another country so he called up his sponser to cancel his visa but he refusing to cancel his visa.is there any other option to cancelhis visa with his old sponser please advice...
hello guys. i have a question regarding to saudi visa. my employer asked for a visa in saudi arabia, he only aksed for my passport copy. is that enough without the medical check to obtain the visa?
Hi LeanMan
Thank you for your informative hub and for sharing your experiences and providing all your advice.
My husband works in Saudi Arabia and has been there since February this year, in and out on the various visas. He has been working there on his iqama for the last 6 months, which unfortunately reflects that he is labour.
After months of waiting and a year spent apart, all documentation has recently been submitted for my dependant visa but his company has just informed him that the rules have just been changed again and under no circumstances will wives and children be allowed to join their husband who is in the country as labour force. Are you aware of this recent change having been implemented?
How do we go about dealing with this and who would be the best party to speak to in terms of motivating or even paying for it if need be.
Thanks for your help.
hi leanMan.. i am a fresh civil engineer..my cousin in saudi arabia is willing to send me an "azad visa" or "independent visa"..what it is?? and do i have to consider somethings before actually buying it..it's cost is 15000 SDR...is it also by profession..it is for 3 years..if i get a job in some company can i transfer it immediately...plzzz help..it's a big decision for me.. :)
my one friend is wanted (Harouf) form his sponsor,
and he want to go back home country,
so , my question can he come back in saudi arabia on new visa, if yes then , is there any special requirement from his ex-sponsor.
Your reply is appreciated.
Hi LeanMan,
i have one question!
My one friend is working in riyadh, his sponsor living in hasa, his sponsor gave the Harouf (wanted) without any reason. it means his visa has been expired.
now, what shall he do, i told him go back pakistan and come again with new visa from another sponsor,
so, i want to make sure with you, is it possible or not.???
Hi , i'm a British national on a 90 day business visa in Dammam , and i'm considering taking a new contract in another Gulf country .
The issue is that my sponsor wants to extend my business visa for another 90 days without me leaving KSA , ( he says this is possible ) and i want to ask you if this , or do i have to go to Bahrain for 24 hours and re-enter ?
if i decide to leave the country and go to another gulf state , do i need a final exit stamp even though i'm on a 90 day business visa - Do i need permission from my sponsor to leave the country on a business visa ?
if not , do you think the authorities in another Gulf country would stop me entering on the basis that my saudi business visa is still valid ?
Also , my sponsor hasn't been taking my passport to get it stamped every month , and its due to expire in 3 weeks . can they imprison me for this ?
I had no idea about the monthly stamping process before reading your comments to others ;
many thanks !
khalid from Bournemouth
Dear Mr. LeanMan
thanks for your effort so far.
As you discussed above, Actually his sponsor is regret now, and he is agreed with him to send him back home, and also he is ready to give him N.O.C (no objection certificate). in that way, i think he can come on new visa on the same passport without any difficulty. In Addition, he don't have any police case, like murder, rubbery, so 5 years bond case are also not applicable on this person,
Pls suggest,
waiting for your reply.
Many Thanks.
Hey leanman , thanks for your quick reply ! Just one more thing .... if another firm within saudi wanted to employ me could i realistically transfer over to them if i'm on a business visa ? i know that you explained that i could leave the country without my sponsors written consent , but could i re-enter immediately on a new business visa and go work with another firm in another saudi city for a better salary ?
is there anything to stop this happening , and would i have to go back to Britain in order to get the new business visa to work for a new firn , or could it be done by going to BAHRAIN ?
my current boss has stated in my contract that if i try and leave i will have to re-pay all expenses and that he will try and claim compensation if i work for one of his competitors up to 2 years from the date that i leave him but in reality , could he find me and implement this - especially if i switch firms and cities within KSA ?
many thanks
I need your help. I have worked in Saudi Arabia fir 2 & Half year. I have signed my job contract for 2 Yrs. After completion of Job Contract employer has offered me new contract which i have refused. After that employer has informed me that my new contract offer is under reconsideration. Before verbaly they informed me that you will get good salary & post in your new revised contract. After that for SIX month there was no any message from the HR department. When i was doing follow up with HR dept. they have given same answer like your new contract is under reconsideration. After that my vacation came & i went on vacation. Before coming back from INDIA after vacation HR people has informed me that there is no any change in your Revised contract. So i have refused the new contract & informed them that i will not come back. Now i don't have EXIT visa & i want to know how i can get the EXIT visa. I have contacted my employer for NOC but they are not ready to give. Now i have one JOB offer in K.S.A. & i want to go again in Saudi Arabia but i am not able to enter because i don't have EXIT/NOC. Please tell me how i can get EXIT/NOC. Thanks : Sajid
i need your help. i got new visa from a company and i want to go and comeback in new visa. my current employer ready to make final exit without any problem. my i am afraid for saudi new law (nidaqat). becz i am here already 8 years completed. kindly advise me is there any problem in i am enter in saudi? i hope you will give good advise.
thanks for good answer. and i want to asked to you one more.now days saudi government ruling nidaqat program. it will deffec the new visa comer or not?
When i am enter in the airport Nidaqat program will stop my enter ? becz i am here 6 years completed. i heared about that. kinldy clear me plz plz
my son is under my sponsorship and my wife an other company sponsorship. i want to come back again new visa so i want to transfer my son under my wife sponsorship it can be or what document we have to submitted?
hi leanman
thats a grt thing u doin in clearing doubts that might not be answered otherwise correctly by many.
i just need to know if the profession on the visa is changeable aftr a while on entering saudi.
Is it possible to buy a company visa for an engineer in kingdom?? if someone is settled there..can he do that?? nd to be clear i am not talking about the "Azad Visa or independent visa"... the company contract based visa for an engineer..is it possible??
Hi Mr. LeanMan,
Your comments, views and experiences were very much helpful to Hundreds of readers...my sole question is that; I was recently (7th December to be precise) shortlisted by Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah for a Skype interview which I attended online, 2 days later, I was also directed to take a proctored written assessment test online, which I also did, the next email I received from them was that I should send my passport for them to be able to process a visit visa for me to come for "Selection Interview" in January, this I was not clear with, so I contacted the guy that proctored me for the written test, he told me that, that is good news for me, but what I am curious of now is that this is my 'FIRST' time of hearing anything such as "Selection Interview" what are all the previous ones conducted called? anyway, the issue in contention is: with this visit visa, does that mean I would have to get out immediately after their so-called "Selection Interview" or if I continue staying, does that make me illegal?
Ubaid, Nigeria.
Why would anyone want to visit in such a hate filled, backward, gender apartheid, racist, terrorist and racist teaching(read what they teach to their children in schools), fundalmentalist teaching, slavery , inquisition and witchcraft era tactics filled country. The soon the US gets out and all expats get out the better the world will be without Saudi or it's disgusting clerics. Let them live or die on their own without the west's help or interference. GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS COUNTRY. STOP FUNDING TERRORIST.
Thanks for all the information. As a Muslim I find it really heart breaking to see such a country going against fundamental teachings of Islam. And then everyone starts to view Islam as a fanatic religion because of it's misrepresentation. Allah (The One and Only God) has a severe warning for those who oppress and spread injustice whether it be against muslims or non muslims.
Please watch this video
have a good day :)
Thank you for all this beneficial information! My question is, if you are in Saudi on a business visa for 3yrs and your sponsor continues to have your visa stamped every 30 days, are you able to stay for that entire duration? Will they begin to think that you are trying to reside there and force you to leave?
Thanks for the useful information. I have recently received a "work visit visa" invitation letter from a saudi company. On the invitation letter my profession, name and nationality etc are mentioned (in arabic). There is also a column for validity or duration ( m not sure cuz written in arabic)..It says "30 days-single entry"..now i want to know that my duration of stay in kingdom is same as the validity of visa?? i am confused.please help..
And also i have heard that now they are also issuing "work visit visa" for 11 months also..do you have any intel on that?
thanks. yes "work visit visa" is new type of visa. It is same as "business visa".. bt it specifically for work purposes for an employer not for business..my profession states " Quantity calculator".. i am an electrical engineer..and one condition is to have a degree in the profession stated..i am not sure in which category this job lies..will it be a problem..my uncle forwarded my CV in the company and they sent me the invitation letter through email..so what's your say on the profession issue?
and regarding "work visit visa"..it is clearly stated on the invitation letter issued by mofa..in the "type" column.."zyaara amal" which means "work visit".
im interested in a filipino girl but she is christian im muslim.. i wana marry her.. is there any legal way in saudi arabia??
Hi Mr. LeanMan,
That was a great article I have ever read so far about Saudi Arabia aside from the topic of bad driving. It is very informative and I couldn't agree more esp. about lost certificates. My husband's company lost all of his precious certificates and blamed it on some agency. But at least, they finally came up to a solution after my husband went to the roof for their carelessness. I am a Filipina living with my husband (who is an American) here in Riyadh. He is working as Director which made us eligible to bring my mother from the Philippines to visit us here in Riyadh for several months. My question is, since it will be my mother's first time to enter the Kingdom, will there be no problem if we fly her from Philippines to Bahrain passing through the causeway to enter Saudi Arabia? We have a friend (American) who is also working here in Saudi, brought his wife and kids for a one month visit through Bahrain coming from London, and there were no problems at all, and he said it was a lot easier and faster as compared to arriving in Dammam or Riyadh airport (im sure you know how Saudi Arabia airports are..). Does family visit visa owner needs to be issued iqama or of some sort? He said his wife and kids were taken some pictures and did some documentation but were not clear on what documents were issued to them. Another thing is that, our friend's wife and kids are British citizens, and my mother is a Filipina, I am afraid that Filipino citizens who are first time to enter Saudi Arabia needs to be arriving in Saudi airports for registration purposes. Honestly I am thinking that if our friend's wife and kids can enter without any problem, why would there be any for my mother? But sadly, it's not always the case, especially for a Filipino.... If you can give me any information or advice about this matter, it would be gladly appreciated. Thank you so much.
I just wanted to thank you so much for all the patience and help you have rendered all these people on here! Your The Man, LeanMan!! I would love to move to Medina, how easy is it to find an apartment and what kind of income would I need to make to live comfortably with 4 kids, and any info on schools in Medina?? Thank you! Thank you so much in advance Goodman
Hi, My daughter wishes to go to work as a nirsu in Saudi and she has been offered a job by a compamy there. The problem is that she has received all the necessary Visa's and paperwork associated with her job, but now they are insisting that she has to travel to Kenya to get her Nursing Certificate stamped, and this is apparently only done in Kenya. This means that she has to travel from UK to Kenya just to get this stamp. Do you have any idea or suggestions regarding this. My e-mail is email@example.com if you have any suggestions for me to pass on to her. Thanks
dear sir assalam oalaikum i ma muslim ineed warkvisa to saudiarabia jaddah for 1year visa
Good day! I would just like to ask if it's possible for my employer to get a visit visa for my girlfriend and find a job here in saudi? actually we have 2 kids but cannot marry cause we are both legally married. This is a big problem for us and also I want to bring my kids here
dear sir
i need your help.can you send me reply about saudi work visa how many days before we can renewal.
thanks & regards
Is there any way we check our submitted visa status online by IQAMA number??
Hi Lean,
I had been living in KSA from 1985-2007, then I moved to my country and now I live in England.My friends parents who are in Bangladesh now are wanting to get a visa for Hajj, however, it seems difficult for him to afford a hajj visa for his parents.Can you please suggest me on this as I do not know the visa rules nor do i know if companies sponsor a hajj visa....
my email id is email@example.com
your suggestions will be highly appreciated
Hey Lean,
After long research on net, i found your blog is the best help i can get.... I am married and my wife is working in one of the Saudi government hospital as nurse in ICU. Her bond is for 3 years and that will get complete in AUG 2012.
But due to family issues, I have asked her to give emergency resignation and she is trying for the same. NOT sure here how soon they will leave her.
The hospital staff told her bunch of non-sense as follow
1 They can not accept emergency resignation? They are saying it's a new RULE.
2 If they do, then she will not get the EXIT stamp.
3 She will loose her gratuty money for her 2 years and 6 months service.
4 She will not get the experience letter from hospital.
5 She will not get the NOC letter.
This is most worried as we are planning to settle down in USA, USK or AUS. So in future she wants to work. But we think since we don't have NOC letter from Saudi no one will give her the job, Is this true?
6 She can take a experience letter from a doctor from the hospital, but does that hold any value?
Pls help us to provide the answers. We are really worried and they have asked us to take a decision in 24 hers. Hence we need your blessings.....
Pls help us, we are waiting for the answers eagarly.....
Mr Worried.
I have joined the company 7 months ago at Riyadh. I got the Iqama but the contract was not signed may be due to the reason that the company has new setup in KSA. I was asked for signing on fres offer letter 10 days ago.
I have better job offer from other company giving good salary and profile.
Please advise on how can I proceed?
Your support will be highly appreciated!
This is Akbar, i was applied Saudi visa but still i am not get it, please tell me , how to do check my online status
Firstly, thank you so much for your article and responses, I have read them all! My husband is British and has been in Saudi on. 6 month business visa, but has to leave every month and re-enter. I am an Australian living in the UK and would like to visit him. Is he able to sponsor me on a business visa for a visit? I rang the Saudi embassy in London today and the lady said I would need a letter from the MOF and his employer and fill in the online form. I am not sure she uderstood me, but I did say he was on a business visa. Can he still sponsor me to visit him if he doesn't have his iqama? We are both Muslim and if I was granted a visa to visit him, do you know if I would be allowed to join him for umrah while I am there. Your help is very much appreciated, thank you!
Hi LeanMan,
My wife is a teacher, I am retired and both British Citizens. My wife has been offered a position in Riyadh by a recruiter. The recruiter has sent this message last week:
Are you aware of the laws in Saudi Arabia?
your husband will not be able to accompany you to Saudi Arabia for at least three months if you get the job.
My wife has responded with the following as yet no reply:
I would be very concerned not being able to travel with my husband as it part of my culture that married females are accompanied by their husbands.
Reading your hub and the embassy visa section it seems that as long as my wife is sponsored, I can be added as a spouse on that same sponsorship. I would just submit my paperwork with my wifes for entry into Saudi.
Or am I being to simplistic, will my wife have to travel to Saudi, then submit paperwork for me from within the country or should this be done before she travels.
Great informative site.
Thank you in advance.
A warmth thanks to your informative hub.
I have one question. Does it really require to settle my credit card before leaving/exiting the kingdom? can i pay it back home? thank you very much.
Salam alaykum , i want you to help me in getting the saudi arabian visa .. can yu help me ?
Hi LeanMan,
My sister is working in Saudi ministry as a nurse. Now she resigned and got the final exit. She is Indian nationality. My question is whether she can exit to any other country or final exit to home country (India) is compulsory? She is planning to visit UAE in a visit visa. Can she come directly from Saudi???
Thank you soo much for your quick responds Leanman!! Thanks
What is the maximum age to get labour visa for saudi arabia. Pls give me correct age some one waiting for visa.
Hi. I want to know " Is visa validity and duration of stay the same??..in case of visit visa?? and both of these are mentioned on passport or just one??
Can i get driver visa in 22 years old age
Dear friend ,
By god's grace you are so helpful .Helping all those who had issues. Thank you very much..
Is it possible to extend saudi visit visa without leaving the kingdom?? what's the procedure and how long it can be extended?
Hi, Very good article and helpful too... Im not sure if someone has queried this already, but does the company take your passport and keep hold of it?... i am about to pay an agent for a contract in tabuk KSA. They want all documents ofcourse and im paying 500 quid for everything... hope i dont get ripped off.
Hi, wonderful article and info there.. interesting missions you have gone through too. I have been accepted for a Job in Tabuk KSA. The contractors forwarded me the agent they deal with. I am to go and provide the necessary docs. plus i have to pay 500 pounds for the medical report visa etc from my own pocket, so i hope its not a rip off. I was wondering do companies keep employee's passport once in ksa?..i would rather have it in my posession.. i dont want it all screwed up and folded and returned to me in the end. Do you know any info regarding this?
Thanks for that info Leanman...wow i did not really want my passport to be taken and covered in stickers and staples lol. It just makes one feel a little insecure. Yes it is working out to be expensive here in London. I did do as much checks as i can to see if the agent and clinic they are sending me with is reputable, hope im not wrong. Thanks alot for being helpful, your time is much appreciated.
Thank you, yes i received the contract from AL KHALEEJ UNIVERSITY...I signed the contract and sent it back. They then sent me some documents such as the medical report form and visa form that i have to take with me on monday when I have my blood tests etc. The agent who is processing my visa said they charge that much because they do things quick and their clinic is registered to be accepted my saudi. They also told me to bring my passport, i guess i will receive it through the post once stamped... sometimes i feel like im asking basic questions that should be obvious, but i like to make sure as some countries just dont do things you expect.
Thanks a lot for that, you actually made me feel better :)
I better not complain then as you have had it harder and yet appreciate the benefits you received. I will go along with it..I told my friends i just found a great hub with all the answers....how kind of you... appreciate it!
All the best to you too..thank you..i shall give an update once i get there..should be interesting, hopefully! :)
hello my Friend, i need advice from you regarding DUBAI visit visa, well am working in KSA since 10 months in private firm as MARKETING MANAGER my iqama profession is BUILDING ELECTRICIAN, I want to visit Dubai for 5 days for some personnel work. i would like to know the procedures of getting visit visa to Dubai.
thank you Mr LeanMan, i appreciate your advice and your blog :-)
Mr Leanman, thank u very much for ur advices, really amazing, God bless u..
My husband is working in saudi on a labor visa, we got married in my country (morocco) n of course its not possible for him to bring me on a family visa, so he bought me a maid visa..m actually so worried n aksing lot of quetsions, i hav an MBA n work experience and my husband doenst appreciate teh idea of me working there..m actually afraid of any complications once i am there, my husband keeps telling me that he wants me there fast and that i shouldn't worry, that once i am there we will get married again in saudi n he will transfer me on his iqama..
what do u think of this situation..thank u:)
we have saudia visas for people seeking jobs in saudia.in case of anybody with interest contact me on firstname.lastname@example.com or from 0725701613 {kenya}
Hi, Please letme know if there will be any problem in future for getting UK/US/EUROPE visa stamping if my passport is having Saudi Visa stamped. I came to know UK/USA visa gets rejected if we work in Saudi. Thanks
need an advise from you Mr LeanMan.i am from mauritius.. i am trying my best to settle in saudi arabia with my husband and 2 kids please help me sir what should i do to get a minimum 3 years visa
hi ,
im working in a Contracting COmpany in Saudi Arabia. Im on Student visa & Working illegally , One day Suddenly some labour officers came n took my iqama & took a copy of it with them. so will i be facing any penalty or direct exit?
Hi Leanman... its me again.. ok i have another query if you know....apparently i was told by the agency that before i go to the clinic for the medical report i might as well wait for a letter from the institute in saudi. The letter they are referring to is called a 'power of attorney' ..why would i need that?... they have not replied to me yet. thanks
Thanks LeanMan, i was curious as to what the power of attorney would be used for?.. the company seem legit as far as i can see...but that just confused.. the agent who are dealing with the visa said they are waiting for a visa block number as well...i was wondering what would be a standard check list after a company offered a position to get a visa? i know the obvious passport.. certificates.. medical report and letter of confirmation to say i have been offered the job. I have not paid anything yet.. i will double check again i guess... thanks a lot.
Oh ok thanks a lot.. what you say makes sense.. hopefully they mean a sponsorship letter and not power of attorney... i will give them a call later and hopefully clear things up.. appreciate your time..thanks!
i would like to inquire is there any restriction impose on issuance of work visa on certain cetegories, if so which are those jobs against protection of local peoples job.
Hy dear respected sir my question is just new over there he dint like the job there mainly what agent person promise him about job he dint get job can he return with in two days back to country or stil he need to take exit visa from his sponser or what please suggest me how he can come back to india my family is to worry about him
Hi Lean man...great hub and great info.thanks.Just wondering, I have been offered a teaching position in Saudi for a year but I dont want to stay for a year for a umber of reasons. 3 to 6 months is ideal. If you leave after this amount of time, can an employer stop you....or if it after the 90 days, are you alowed to leave to get your permanent visa. Do employers usually retain a percentage of income to lock you into the country as well as refusing exit. What is the best way to play it if you want to go for a short stint? Is that possible? thanking you for your answer in advance.
Hi, just to follow up on my previous question, the company is Aramco. Doe it make a difference which employer you have to make it easier to leave after 3 months? I have heard that after 3 months you need to leave the country and go back to the UK to get your permament visa. If so that would be perfect for me but I am wondering how easy it is to cut adn run at that stage. Thanks again.
I only have a degree from a brasilian university, and im having trouble getting it attested. Would it be worth trying with a fake degree and attestment? Or would that have dire consequences?
Hey i applied to Aramco..i would love to take the contract if they gave me a job... most positions want male...but if you dont want the contract pargar...hand it over to me lol. By the way i got the visa block number for Al Khaleej Tabuk University. There is no power of attorney letter... i think they confused the wording.. Now all of a sudden i have read some negative reviews ...oh well i guess there is only one way to find out huh.
Hi Lean,
Great job, Could you kindly help me by advising me that
I have received and accepted an offer from saudi company. Do you know, How long it takes to my sponsor to send me visa slip for Electrical enigneer.
Warmest Regards
Until now, It has taken a month approx.
Any way thanks a lot for your response.
Keep it up.
take care
I am offered a visa as a driver while I am being hired as a Manager Admin. How tricky is it? I am told that their factory is still under construction and only once it is operational will the VISA's be issued for regular employees. Is it true? I smell something fishy here. I am thinking of not accepting the offer. Am I right?
hi sir my husband is working in ksa as an accountant i want to go there with my 3 years old baby so plz tell me the process of visit visa and requirement peper.
Hi LeanMan,
Can a Saudi company apply for a visit visa directly from the MOFA in KSA. They want me to visit them for an interview. However when applying from another GCC country, in my case Qatar, they require a no objection letter from my sponsor here. (kind of difficult to get a no objection letter from them for a visit to KSA for a job interview i could imagine). Hoping you know
thank u very much 4 ur help
I am currently working in UAE and my company has offered me a job in one of our new projects in Jeddah and have agreed to transfer me to KSA. The offer is good and I want to move to Saudi. I don't want to cancel my USE residence visa and I want to know whether I can get keep my UAE residence along with the KSA work visa?
Hi, leanman great job man.I have one question. I was workinh with a contracting company in KSA with 2 years contract.The company ended his last project in november and was nat have any more project hence there was no over time infact the salary was not paid properly, so I declare emergency and came back to my home country on my own expenses on exit/re-entry.now I am at my home from last 2 months my re-entry is expire also my iqama is expire. now can I apply for new wok visa in KSA or any other gulf country plz reply
Hi Mr.Leanman, Just got home last Jan.20,2012 with final exit From KSA. Now I got a new employer, sent all my documents & passport for stamping but was rejected due to no middle name in my passport.I already presented my previous passport& my birth certificate but still rejected.I have worked for almost2.3yrs already how come i was given a visa Before and now they keep on rejecting it..Any suggestion for my situation? Any possible documents need to show them?
thnks again..Godbless
hi sir
i want to do job in ksa so what kind of job i wii find there as a foreign girl.can i do teaching there? how can i find job there
Hi Leanman,
Hoping to get some advice on my girlfriend who is employed as a private nurse (still domestic helper). She is a Filipina national and wants to get out of KSA immediately. She contacted the Philippine consulate and spoke to someone in their POLO division on what options she might have. Basically she is without many options. Seems like it is up to her sponsor on whether she is released. Just wondering if you have any suggestions for someone to get deported very easily. Her indentured servant job needs to end soon. I look forward to your advice.
Thanks for this very informative article. I would like to ask you that what is the minimum time taken to return to Saudi Arabia, if someone goes on Final Exit from a company and wants to return on the work visa of another company.
Very nice job dear, hats off to you. what i have noticed that getting a Saudi work visa is something very tough. you are getting people aware, that's worth praising.
actually i am from Pakistan, and want to work in Saudi Arabia, but im afraid i cant stay there for years, i want to have a work visa that allows me to come back to my country at-least twice a year. can you tell me if this is possible?..... and addition plz it u can tell me how much a business graduate can earn monthly while working on an entry level job being a fresh graduate. Regards....
Thanks alot dear,
Thanks! This was very helpful info.
this is not so much of helpful,because i just searched for the age limit for any employee who want to go for some employment from Indian region,but it was missing and lot was missing here and sorry to say,it is not that much helpful who search for some thing in practical sense so try to inject useful information in professional manner...
hi i would like to ask for your advice. I am going vacation with a reentry visa and i might not come back if i will be hired in kuwait but i have a loan in the bank. I do not want to escape from that loan. I really wanted to pay it but after 1 year. is it possible for me not to come back to kingdom but i will pay the loan after one year if ever i will get hired in kuwait?
Hi LeanMan, you are putting great information very useful. i only keep reading ur comments these days.
Please guide me.
I am offered a one University Teaching job in Damam, What things i shud be careful. Also tell me My passport is valid upto 2015 but it is full with other visas only one page is left balnk for the next visa which i keep for saudi arabia..is it oki for them please respond
Dear sir please sanctioned and approved an appointement in Jiddah Airport
Dear Lean ..Its a great job u r doing.Your hubpage is really a treasure for the seekers.Hearty congrats!!..I am planning to start a business in KSA and I got a sponsor also.We are 4 partners and the sponsor is one among us.Is there any legal contract in KSA to be registered with Govt. which protects the interests of the investors?..Its a workshop we are launching and is it difficult to get indian visa? (I am an indian).The visas provided by our sponsor was rejected since they were unskilled category (House driver and plumber) as we already worked in Qatar as engineers which is skilled category .The embassy people ask why an engineer in Qatar want to go KSA as a plumber now..How to over come this problem??.. Pl advise...
Many thanx Lean...This is really helpful and of course I will be seeking your comments for the problems to come
Hi Mr Leanman,
Remeber me 4 months back lol... I finally received my visa last week and my ticket. Gosh, i started off smooth and had some blocks to jump in the way... it took them 3 months to correct a typo that occured their end. I even told them to cancel everything and return my 550 quid i spent for my medical and attestations etc.. but somehow they managed to correct a letter. YEY!.. now lets see how things goooo.. here goes.. wish me luck!
Just thought i'd let you know :)
Thaks again!
Hi Leanman,
Very Helpful info.
Can a Business visa be converted to work/iqama staying within KSA, i mean not returning back?
My wife and kids are not on my ICAMA and they are in India. But can I bring my mother on a Visit Visa?
Dear LeanMan Thank you very much
Hello LeanMan
thank you very much for your great effort on this page, God bless u
can u pls help me on this m really confused.;
my husband has a student visa, so to join him here, he got me a maid visa, when i first arrived few months back, my sponsor was at the airport alone with my husband to receive me, and so far all is well, i hav absolutely no contact with the sponsor n im kind of having a normal life here, however, i miss my family a alot n i would liek to go and visit them in my country, should my sponsor be present again in the airport to receive me everytime i leave this country? fyi, m still on his sponsorship...
thanks a lot
Am about taking up an appointment with a leading airline in KSA, as I will be eligible for staff travel which will afford me discount tickets to travel home regularly, what hiccups do you forsee with getting anf exit/re-entry visa live once in a month.
Thanks Leanman.
Is there a price tag associated with the exit/re-entry visa and for how long do you think the average request time for this takes with the organization?
I also seem to get the opinion that one needs to resign from one's present employment before I can be issued with a business visa, is this correct as it would be sucidal to resign from from current employer from my home countryand present this with my visa application. then what happens for whatever reason, your visa gets rejected
can a women under age 25 get a bussinesss visa to ksa.
Can you please tell me how much does it cost an employer to arrange a Visit work visa or Ziyarat Amal visa for a employee.
I am in a situation where an employer from Pakistan arranged a visa stated "Ziyarat Amal" for me to work in saudi Arabia on their project, but due to some uncleared facts and their refusal to send me a contract copy through email for my review I refused to go, As I am in a different city and the employer is in some other city of Pakistan. I have also paid him Pak Rs. 60,000 for this visa. Now i had asked them to return my Passport back and they are saying that it is not possible without clearing their dues as they had paid charges to saudi embassy for issuance of visa and its processing. on actual visa 200 Riyal is written as its fees. can you please guide me what are the total of charges includes in issuance of this visa by employer?
pls. how can i track down a fraudster soccer agent who stay in jedah saudi arabia. he collect money for visa and i.v for soccer trial, and promise to get them the deal ,but got a fake visa and a fake i.v ,which the player cant even use to travel. the name of an agent is doucoure mohamed,with email address Real Talent. arabian football firstname.lastname@example.com......pls. you can get back to me through this email address wakeupbigtymeryahoo.com.thx.
Hi, Lean Man,
First off- please forgive my venting, but reading from your experiences, I am sure you will understand. I truly appreciate the time that you took to write all of this useful information. I wish I had found your site before coming here. 4 months ago I took an Education Specialist job here, making twice as much as I did teaching back in the US. My husband also took a job here, making double what he made back in the US also. His parents and brothers even live here. While single, we both traveled the world and lived abroad. So we wanted the same for our children.Yet, we are both so unhappy with our decision to move here. The main reason-our children's international school...which we are paying a ridiculous amount of money to.Its just not quality education. The kids are happy in school and learning much about other cultures here. However, the education can in no way, be compared to the quality in the US. The schools here are merely businesses, without the children being the priority-just the money is. On the other hand, I am still on a visit visa, which is being renewed by my job each month. I am continually told that my work visa is in the process and that I will get my iquama soon. Why do I think it is just lies? I am getting so frustrated that they do not seem to have the power to get our iquama's, that it makes me just want to leave KSA altogether. I mean, what are gaining from it-- just money? My visit visa is not even multiple entery/exit, so I literally feel trapped. Now, I just want to leave for a week and take a mini-vacation, just to get my head on straight, and they told me that it may not be possible, if my visa is not approved. However, my visit visa expires during Hajj, meaning it needs to be renewed next week...meaning I will have no passport to take a mini-vacation during Hajj. I am so tempted to just leave, but then my tickets would most likely not be paid for. Oh, my, I think KSA is making me crazy. The job is so great, as well as the pay. I am normally a patient person, but I dont' want to be involved in anything illegeal. We just furnished our home and also paid 1/2 of the school year for the kids school. It would be crazy for us to leave, but that is all I can think about. Please advise in any way you feel you can. Thanks in advance!
Hi LeanMan,
I just wanted to give you an update. It is now November 10-weeks after Haaj. I still have no Visa, but have been told that I will be getting a 6 month iquama. On all the website from Saudi, I see no such thing. I see the residence visa-but that does not permit one to work. So again, my employer is either lying to me, has no power to get me the right visa, or has no intention of it. However, I have super news! During my frustrations, instead of leaving the country and continuing to mope here-since I really couldn't leave anyway.....I have been offered a new job. It is KAEC and has a wonderful school with accomodations for our family and free tuiton for our children! However, I am just waiting for my passport to be returned and to see which visa will have been given to me. I would love any advice or suggestions you may have, in regards to resigning. Thanks so much! -habibimom
i have been working saudi arabai last six years in govt field, now i looking to bring my family to saudi by visit visa. is possible to bring?
Hi LeanMan
Im a Sri Lankan and I got job offer from a leading company at KSA. My job proffession is "Marketing Specialist". This is a family visa status. My question is, If i want to travel Baharain for once in a month or twice, what kind of a Visa i should have? Can I travel their with ordinary Working Visa or do i need Multiple Entry Visa?
Hi Lean Man,
Update-I was dying to leave KSA the last few months. My company got my iqama and exit re-entry for me and my children and now I feel more at ease. It took 6 months for this all to be done even though I am working under a top Saudi family and am a US citizen. So, for everyone reading-I just wanted to share that patience here is different than anywhere else. I think now that I have realized that things get done 10 times slower here-it doesn't mean that it won't get done. Now, I will move forward and try to find positives for every negative that is encountered.
Very informative. I wanted to travel to KSA, and this helped a lot.
Hi, I am a doctor and I was offered a job in saudi arabia in november last year that i accepted. i got my visa stamped in december and then the agent told me to wait for the air ticket that my sponsor was supposed to send. unfortunately somehow i didnt get the ticket and the agent was telling a new story each day . i told him that i can buy myself this ticket but he showed me paper from the sponsor stating that "please do not send anyone witout our issued tickets". this kept on going untill yeaterday when my agent called and said that i should buy myself this ticket and leave. my visa is expiring tomorrow so i asked him to get visa extended that he said cannot be extended. and if i will not travel on this visa than i will be blacklisted by the embassy for the next 2 years. now somebody told me that i should get some no objection certificate from the sponsor that is ministry of health but i have never travelled to saudi arabia so how can i get any such certificate.
is there any way i can get this visa extended or get it renewed? or i am just blacklisted for 2 years?
i shall be thankful for your time
Hi LeanMan,
Am not happy with my company/sponsor.
If i leave KSA with Exit/Re-entry?
How long will it take me to get another job back here?
Hi LeanMan,
Thanks very much for posting your experience and sharing your knowledge base. It certainly has helped me to understand the visa process and the risk with certain types of visa.
I am an IT professional well settled in Canada, a multinational ICT consulting company has offered me a permanent position based in Riyadh. They wasnted to pursue the option of business visa and then iqama in 6-8 months of time. Which means I will come back to Canada to apply for the employment visa after 8 months or so and return to Riyadh upon successful visa stamp. I raised concerns over the Business Visa and showed unwillingeness to accept the offer, so in return they offered something called temporary work visa and visit visa for my family, which I do not see any different than a business visa option. This would require visa renewal/stamping within KSA every month (done by an outsource company specialised in this area) until they get iqama from their quota which they claimed to get every year.
Now my question, is there still a quota system for companies there. As I understand "nitaqat" system has totally changed the game there. and ICT consulting firms there have very limited saudis working due to the nature of thier services. Otherwise how will they be able to issue employment visa (iqama) as they may never be able to maintain saudis required ratio. Additionally, visa renewal every month appears to be a bug risk since I will be moving there with my family including school going kids.
Hi Lean Man,
Thanks for your quick reply to my post.
Yes, thats exactly my point that if the company has problems issueing visa at this time then what will change in 8 months? I asked this exactly to the company, and they said that they also have a quota for each year that they will be issueing the visa from.
Anyways, I have declined the offer as I do not think their offer was worth the risk that one has to take.
Best regards,
Hey, thanks for the post. I read most of it, but haven't had a chance yet to read it completely in detail. I am a physician and am looking to find work in KSA. I have two options, find a hospital, likely in Madina, or open my own clinic. I like the "my own clinic" idea but need advice and resources for both options:
#1 - how do I start the process of opening my own business, what are the requirements? Where can I read more about this?
#2 - how do I find hospitals that are looking for Docs? Where can I find placement agencies that will do this for me?
Thanks in advance....
Hi Lean Man,
Two weeks after I declined the offer, the company came back with an option to also apply for dubai residency as a contingency in case of any unforeseen issues with saudi visa stamping until they apply for iqama based visa. In this case I may also be able to open a bank account in Dubai. It's obvious that the company is facing trouble getting talent to help them with a national level project in saudi.
Although it certainly gives some contingency, but I am still unsure whether to proceed or not. They have got some quotas for other countries but Canada and they expect to get canadian quota in 8-9 months.
Hi LeanMan,
Thanks a bunch for responding to my message. I have finally accepted the offer. The company will be covering all expenses for any unforeseen issues related to the visa. Also they will process my family visa along with my visa so they will stay with me from start. One caveat which I still need to resolve is getting my child admitted to a good school. I understand a valid Iqama is a requirement there but I heard schools are quite relaxed on this condition as along as sponsored company provides all required reference letters.
Also no bank account could be an issue but I think I may be able to open a bank account in Dubai after I get the residency visa.
hi i want a saudi visa for AUTOCAD Operator
As i am writing this now, my temporary work visa expires after 5 days from now and Iv not heard anything from my company. Whats gonna happen to employee if in case the company has not been able to process my Iqama?
Hi LeanMan,
Are family members allowed to work in KSA? I have a job contract and will be coming to Riyadh but not sure whether my wife can also work.
is it possible to seek severals employer at thesame time?for more option..tnx
Is date of arrival in KSA not paid by the employer?
Hello Leanman,
My employer is in a hurry and has asked me to enter on a visit visa and also says that in the meantime the work visa process will go on. Is it good to accept this and enter on a visit visa. How will the salary and payment be done in this case as i read somewhere that if we are to receive any income, the business visa does not work. Please advice.
Hai sir, I came in saudi arabia 4 months ago in a company labour visa (2year contract). supervisors mentally torture me,so I want go for exit.
I am an indian female....please tell me the needful information
Hi there! Thanks a lot for that useful information! Just one question regarding the final exit. I went on a final exit on October this year (2 months back) and came back with a new Labor visa (company said we will transfer it to your profession in 2 weeks). I have been working here for 6 weeks now but the company is not providing me what they promised i.e. Iqama with correct profession and family visa. So i have decided to resign and go back on final exit again. So my question is that if i leave in a months time, will i be able to come back on a new visa given my circumstances, or is it better to come on a business visa for the first 3 months?
One question I will be doing one last interview in KSA for this company. Considering I am unemployed in order to speed up the visa application process the headhunter has asked me to get a letter from a spanish company saying I work for them when I don´t. I have spoken with a couple of friends and they refuse to write this letter in the company's name due possible legal implications
Are there any other options to get a visa for this job interview? Should I leave the responsability to the company or the headhunter?
Thanks a lot for your help,
Is there a need of exit clearance if you have a dependent or visit visa
hello ...can you help on this...my friend is a filipina and already in dubai having a tourist visa..then one of her friend help her to find a job , but unfortunately it is in saudi arabia . she will be a domestic helper of one of the residents there ...what are the steps to do so she can go to saudi as a legal worker tnx
sir can a married woman get visa for saudi arabia with her child?
Sir my husband already in jeddah for 2 months with business visa. The problem is how can I visiting him since he cant write to me invitation letter ( no iqama, his company based in dubai not saudi)
Hi my husband is on a 90 day working visa. If he gets no iqama can heexit the country withaut his employers permition or will? He is working near jeddah. Please advise me as I am really worried. T
even if have an opportunity to earn millions of dollars , I will not go and live in Saudi Arabia .
Hi Lean,
How are you doing?
I born and brought up in KSA and lived there for 18 years then moved to UK.
I really enjoyed reading all of it.
I been to KSA last year when my dad sponsored me for family visa, i stayed there for 3 weeks. This year i am planning to visit them again, i was wondering if my brother can sponsor me for family visa? He is a doctor.
Hi Lean,
Thanks for your reply.
I one more question on ID card (iqama). My dad has been living there for over 40 years now, he is 65 years old no longer working, his iqama is going to expire in Aug this year. His company has asked him to do the transfer as they no longer need him.
Can my brother bring him under his sponsorship or can son become a kafeel of his father in saudi arabia? I heard that its 50/50 and it all depends on ministry.
Many thanks for your advise.
Could you also please advise on finding IT jobs in KSA? I live in UK and found it very hard to get a jobs in KSA even they can't be bothered to reply, may be its their mentality . In UK, hr department at lease let you know about the outcome of your application.
I am earning decent wages in UK but like to work in KSA for a decent company, my observation is that there are already too many south asians living in KSA who are willing to work on low wages so why companies want to hire someone from overseas unless there is really a shortage of certain skills.
I think doctors and Engineers are in high demand.
Sir I need a visa for Saudi Arabia and I m work in Saudi Arabia
Hello sir....
I am from india I have a degree in electrical engineering recently I gave an interview for the post of electrical engineer for MARINE FORCE CO. contractor company of MODA (ministry of defence & aviation) saudi Arabia but the problem is that they issue a helper (labour) visa instead of engineer visa is it safe to work in labour visa as an engineer. ......please suggest me what to do......if possible give information about the company.
I am waiting for your response.
My mail.id is email@example.com
Hello sir,
I have been living in KSA for almost 2 years now under a family visit visa. I have to renew the visa every 3 months by leaving the country, so I travel to dammam by plane for cheaper flight and then take a bus to Bahrain to start the renewing process and then wait in Bahrain for the next bus ride to KSA. Last time we renewed the visa, we took a taxi and the driver happens to know the process well. We were able to do the process without having to get into Bahrain ...just going through some windows and stuff on the border. Are you familiar with that? If so, can you please tell me what the steps are because it was our first time and we forgot where to go and what to do and we want to go with a relative this time.
Waiting your reply...thank you!!
hello sir am raj come from india thru agent am pay for work visa saudi 8000 rial in india then am come thear It happen my owner change many driver last five year.now am drive his car for last 2 month his pay me only 12 days slry only every saudi thinking other country pepple are dog sry sir i have no words for explain so many prob
hi sir i got British nationality im in Saudi now got 6 moths business visa . someone told me i can change my current visa to iqama if i can find the right person to do the work for me . any advice for me plz?
Hello LeanMan,
Thanks for the information. I recently completed my MA in TESOL and I started applying for jobs in Saudi....I haven't heard from any of the jobs yet but I was wondering if my 3 children and husband will also be granted a visa? I know men can easily get visas for their wives and children but can wives also do that? I also heard that anything is possible in Saudi but what is the likelyhood of getting my family to move with me at the same time?
My husband does not have a degree so he cannot apply for a job there. He has his own business now....if he get to come with me is he allowed to a business there?
Thanks much!
We have a Manager age above 60 Years how to apply business Visit visa and what are the requirement
Dubai - UAE
Thanks for the quick response. It's a scary move to make specially with three little kids it would be tough to move back if things don't work out.
Hi LeanMan,
I like your profile pic, you seem like a really cool helpful guy!
Would you by any chance know or confirm if..... I marry in KSA as a non saudi to a non saudi... Do i have to transfer my sponsor onto the husband
I mean i have my own sponsor I was told i dont have to and then i got told i do.
Yes, that is why i do not want to transfer, i will not be able to work legally etc. Thanks.
Now I have to get a letter of no objection or power of attorney from my father in UK to give me permission to marry. Apparently, I have to get it translated and stamped by UK foreign office and saudi embassy. I am 30 odd but i still need written permission. Have you heard of this before?
i have a work visa not yet expired, and i haven't Iqama, i need to leave the country, is it possible or i wait the exist from th employer ?
sir kindly tell me is it possible to issue a working visa for 50+ male person?
quick one for you... I'm in Saudi on business and I've been offered a job with a company out here is it possible to change my business visa to a work visa without having to go back to England and applying again?
Hello Lean man. Hope this will grab your kind attention. Need some advice on changing my employment now in K.S.A, from the current employer who brought me in here on a business work visa,obviously against our agreement during interview. Now they show real bossism and demand me to wait until mid next year to get me in a position I can bring in my family. I haven't signed a appointment order since I came in, and seriously thinking about finding a new employer. Do you think I am inviting trouble for me with this way of dealing with it? waiting for your kind advice...
That is great Master. Thanks a lot!
Amjad Khan
Hello Lean Man,
I have arrived in KSA last week with a Bussines Visa which has a validity of 180 days , multiple entries, and duration of stay of 90 days. It is required for this visa to be stamped every month or to be stamped after 90 days? And where do I have to stamp it?
Thank you for your response Lean Man.
I have to ask you another thing: the visa was issued from the embassy in my home contry on 26.11.2014 and I arrived in KSA 0n 4.12.2014. The 90 day period duration of stay starts from 26.11 or from 4.12?
Thank you for your response.
how many days waiting for processing by agency for working visa stamping?
hi Leanman,
there are many victims like Your friend, i am getting offers from India for Saudi Arabia, I would prefer Dubai, Qatar or Oman in the middleeast who are bit cultured, atleast they would not say, "we don't want u to shit in our country". Thanks for your post god Bless you.
HI Mr. LeanMan...
Our company bringing some workers under work visit visa from India to KSA next week. It is Multiple visa, validity 90 days and Duration of stay is 30 days and we are planning to keep them for 3 months. It is understood that we have to do the exit/re-entry before each 30 days. My doubt is whether we can do the visa extension without going to nearest country for exit/re-entry every 30 days? Also kindly let me know if you have any agent/travel agent in KSA? Please help by giving your comments.
Hi Tony!/Leanman! I find your site very interesting! That experience you had in that Saudi nightmare was stressful just by reading it. I imagine how the family felt during those times. Good thing you found that guy. Anyways I will be working in KSA soon as a nurse and I already have my visa. However, the date in my visa was way back 02/12/14 and the validity is 90D. Would you know if I can still use this visa or do I have to get a new one? Your reply would be very much appreciated. Thank you!
Thank you Mr. LeanMan. I will try with the Jawazat for the renewal of Work Visit Visa without exit/re-entry. Anyway thank you so much for your commends and suggestions...
Hi Mr. LeanMan
I have recived my work visa and it's mention validity is 90days and duration of stay 90days.. and i got some problem with my passport ECNR and my visa validity is over so i can not enter saudi arab? Please do let me know..
Hi Mr. LeanMan
I have recived my work visa and it's mention validity is 90days and duration of stay 90days.. and i got some problem with my passport ECNR and my visa validity is over so i can not enter saudi arab? Please do let me know..
what about government issued visit visa's?
On a work visa to work in Saudi Arabia states you have to have updated shot records, physical from your doctor, police records. None of this was done. Is my visa legal that was given to me from my employer ?
On a work visa to work in Saudi Arabia states you have to have updated shot records, police reports, and a full medical physical from your doctor or the company doctor. None of this was done. Is my visa legal ?This visa was provided by the company I work for.
My company wants me to pay for my working visa (as they say) for the sum of 6600SAR is it really necessary?
Hoping for your reply.
If a person has a business visa with 90 days validity (Multiple Entry - 30 Days Stay). Does that mean he has to leave Saudi Arabia at the end of 30 Days and Come back again into the country. Or is there another alternative process or step that can be done to avoid traveling out of the country.
Dear Sir,
i have a question regarding my visa. I received a work visa from my sponsor in saudi arabia to work for him which consist of 90 days, I have passed almost 1 and a half month in saudia but i want to travel back to my country (Pakistan) for some family reasons is it possible to do so? and i dont have a akama (resident card or permit ) yet?
My cousin got a job opportunity in Riyadh. He is electrical engineer having 8 years of experience in Pakistan. All his documents have been sent by company. The problem is that he is unable to get protector certificate due to a plastic surgery scar on his neck. He was burned 12 years ago in an accident and had a plastic surgery thereafter. When he go gor GCC medical examination, Dr. said to my cousin that if employer gives him NOC (no-objection certificate) then he will be allowed to go Saudi Arabia. is it still possible for my cousin to go abroad?
First , thank you and good job this is all quite informative and helpful. After reading all this I feel like I have an idea of what to expect. I am a female sports teacher of African descent. I have been offered a job as a swimming instructor by a Saudi leisure company, they say they will pay for the air ticket, and visa fee but medical will be on me...They also said they cannot offer a work permit at the moment and will instead offer a business visa(I am so hoping that this does not mean that my visa will be indicated labor but professional as this is skilled labor). I now know that with this visa I cannot get a phone, I am paid in cash and I cannot send money. How then does one survive? keep 3 months salary in cash in the house, is internet easily available? I guess I am just looking for someone to tell me that all will be well. Who can I complain to in case of a delay in salary, or medical insurance cover? Thanks again