23-Sept-2022
13 min read
Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is the fifth largest country in Asia. It is located in the Arabian Peninsula of Western Asia. It has one of the most stable economies in the Arab League countries. Its stable economy makes it one of the most desirable countries to work in for foreign workers.
The next issue you might be considering if you are an Indian national and have found a job in Saudi Arabia would be how you could enter and work there legally. You require a Saudi Arabia Work Visa or Saudi Arabia Work Permit, to put it simply. So, let’s learn more about the Work Visa to Saudi Arabia and how you can get one.
Indian nationals are allowed to work in Saudi Arabia for a set amount of time with the help of a Saudi Arabia Work Visa/Saudi Arabia Work Permit. Most of the paperwork associated with your application for a Saudi Arabia Work Visa is taken care of by your Saudi Arabian employer. An Indian with a Saudi Arabia Work Visa can also bring their family to the country to live with them during their employment period. However, they must apply for the Saudi Arabia Family Visit Visa first.
Depending on the purpose of your visit to Saudi Arabia, there are many types of visas you can apply for. Saudi Arabia Student Visas, Saudi Arabia Transit Visa, Saudi Arabia Business Visit Visas or Business Visa, and Saudi Arabia Tourist Visas are among them. If you want to apply for any of those, Atlys can assist you. However, the Saudi Arabia Work Visa for Indians is the main focus of this article, so that's what we'll examine in more detail.
Here, we'll answer your most pressing questions about the Saudi Arabia Work Visa For Indians below. After reading this guide, you will know everything there is to know about the Saudi Arabia Work Visa for Indians. We'll find out whether Indians are eligible to apply for the Saudi Arabia Work Visa, the fees, the processing time, the necessary paperwork, and much more. We'll answer the following questions:
What Are The Fees To Apply For The Saudi Arabia Work Visa For Indians?
Where Can I Apply For The Saudi Arabia Work Visa For Indians?
How Long Can I Stay In Saudi Arabia With The Saudi Arabia Work Visa For Indians?
What Are The Financial Requirements For The Saudi Arabia Work Visa For Indians?
When Should I Apply For The Saudi Arabia Work Visa For Indians?
As an Indian national, you can apply for the Saudi Arabia Work Visa if you intend to immigrate to Saudi Arabia for employment purposes. However, remember that to be eligible for the visa, you must have an employment offer with a contract. Therefore, traveling to look for employment prospects is not permitted when applying for a Saudi Arabia work visa. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development receives and processes applications for Work Permits from employers. On notification of approval from the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues you a Visa Authorization Number you can use to apply for your Saudi Arabia visa at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Mumbai or New Delhi, India.
Your employer will be liable for your Saudi Arabia Work Permit Fees when they apply for the permit on your behalf. The fees look are as follows:
152222.09 Indian Rupees (7200 Saudi Riyals) if your employer employs more than 50% of Saudi nationals. This includes 750 SAR for the Iqama, 6000 SAR for the Work Permit, and 450 SAR for health insurance.
177592.44 INR (8400 SAR) if your employer employs more than 50% of expatriates. The work permit fee increases to 7200 SAR and the costs for Iqama and health insurance remain the same at 750 SAR & 450 SAR, respectively.
There are different processing times applicable in your Saudi Arabia Work Visa application. This ranges from your employer’s application at the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development, to the processing of Visa Authorization Number (VAN) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, up to your application at the Saudi Arabian Embassy for the Saudi Arabia Work Visa.
Once your Saudi employer submits your work permit application, the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Developments processes it within two (2) business days. Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take 14 working days/ 2 weeks to issue the Visa Authorization Number. The VAN will only be issued if your employer’s work permit application has been approved.
After receiving your VAN from your Saudi Arabian employer, you can apply for your Saudi Arabian Work Visa from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in India. The Embassy receives and handles all Saudi Arabia visa applications through numerous registered agents. You must use one of those to apply for your Saudi Arabia Work Visa at the Embassy. The Embassy/Consulate processes your Saudi Arabia work Visa within 5 working days. If it is approved, you can then travel to Saudi Arabia for work.
Remember that within 90 days of your arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, your employer must apply for your residency permit, known as Iqama. The Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development processes Iqama applications within 1 to 3 weeks. After it’s approved, you must carry it with you at all times when in public spaces or work to prove your legal right to be in Saudi Arabia for work.
The following may cause delays in processing your Saudi Arabia Work Permit Application:
Your Saudi Arabia employer would handle your Saudi Arabia Work Visa on your behalf. Saudi Arabia employers hiring foreign nationals must register and do work permit applications for their expatriate employees on the Ministry of Human Resources Development’s website. On the website, they can submit new Saudi Arabia work permit applications, upload required documents and check the status of their employees' work permit applications.
Once the Ministry of Labour approves the Work Visa for Saudi Arabia, it notifies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which issues the Visa Authorization Number. You can then apply for your work Visa for Saudi Arabia at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in New Delhi or the Consulate of Saudi Arabia in Mumbai. Remember that to apply for the Work Visa, you have to use one of the many registered agencies found on the Embassy’s website
Different Work Visas for Saudi Arabia have different durations based on your employment contract’s period. Some Work Visas are valid for 6 months from the date of issue. The Saudi Arabian Iqama (residency permit) is valid for up to 1 year. All Work Visas for Saudi Arabia can be renewed upon expiry with the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development.
There are no additional stringent financial requirements that your Saudi Arabian employer must meet to get your Saudi Arabia Work Visa besides proof of payment of the Saudi Arabia Work Visa fees. Of course, Saudi Arabian companies must fulfill some strict requirements before their request to hire you is approved. However, the payment of the necessary Saudi Arabia Work Visa costs and various supplementary fees associated with your residence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is mostly your employer's.
The Saudi Arabia government does not permit minors to be engaged in formal labor. That is per the Saudi Arabian laws and other global child labor laws. However, you can bring your child to Saudi Arabia on a Family Residency Visa. Your employer would also have to assist you with that application.
Yes, getting an extension on your Saudi Arabia Work visa is possible. You can get your 3 months Temporary Work Visa extended by another 3 months. The Iqama or residency permit can be renewed according to your employment contract before expiry.
Your employer should apply for your Saudi Arabia Work Visa while still in India. We advise that you start with your application for the Saudi Arabia Work Permit at least two months before your trip to Saudi Arabia. This is to provide the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development and other relevant Ministries enough time to process your Saudi Arabia Work Permit application.
As previously mentioned, your employer must first apply to hire you as an expatriate Indian employee with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development. They will require the following supporting documents for the application process.
For Embassy applications, you will simply need to submit the following documents to the chosen registered agency:
You may be required to meet other Work Visa requirements not mentioned here, but we hope we have covered the most important ones you must meet.
Before applying for a Saudi Arabia Work Permit For Indians, you must confirm that you meet all requirements and have all the required supporting documents. Also, remember that applying for the Saudi Arabia Work Permit before you enter Saudi Arabia is your employer's responsibility. The steps you and your employer/sponsor (if appropriate) would typically take while applying for your Saudi Arabia Work Permit are listed below.
Let's look at each of the above-mentioned Saudi Arabia Work Visa application steps in detail:
Your Saudi Arabian employer/sponsor (whichever is applicable) will require your work visa supporting documents so they can apply for the Saudi Arabia Work Visa on your behalf. We have listed them under the supporting documents section. You must supply them with these documents to enable them to do your Saudi Arabia Work Visa application on the Enjazit Website
After you have supplied your Saudi Arabian employer with all the required & relevant supporting documents, they will be able to do your Saudi Arabia Work Permit application online. Your employer must be registered on the Saudi Arabian Ministry Of Interior’s Website to apply for your Saudi Arabia Work Permit. However, they would apply for it on the Enjazit website. After applying for your Saudi Arabia Work Visa, they'd be able to check the status of your application on the website from time to time.
Suppose the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development approves your employer’s request to hire you as an expatriate employee. In that case, they’d notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (also known as the Ministry of External Affairs) of that decision. The Saudi Arabian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs would then further process the application on its end for the Visa Authorization Number. Once they issue that, you can proceed to the Embassy in New Delhi or Mumbai to apply for the Saudi Arabia Work Visa. Of course, you’d need the Visa Authorization Letter from your Saudi Arabian employer to do that.
Remember that the Embassies in India receive visa applications through registered travel agencies. You must use their visa services to apply for your Work Visa For Saudi Arabia. Their list is available on the Embassy’s website
Suppose your Saudi Arabia Work Visa application is approved at the Embassy. Then, you can go travel to work in Saudia Arabia. However, within 90 days of your arrival in Saudi Arabia, you must apply for the Saudi Arabia Residency Permit or Iqama. According to your contract, Iqama will grant you permission to stay and work in Saudia Arabia for a long time.
You will be required to obtain your Iqama within 90 days of your arrival in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, most Covid-19-related health restrictions have now been eased in the country. That means no need to present your proof of vaccination or negative Covid-19 test on your arrival. You’ll obviously have to present your valid Employment Visa at the airport.
Also, ensure that you conduct yourself respectably. For example, as an Indian man or woman, do not wear clothes that reveal your skin too much, as Saudi Arabia is an Islamic State that adheres to Islamic laws, including the dress code.
There is no reason why you shouldn't move to Saudi Arabia and take advantage of the numerous employment opportunities the country provides to Indians and other nationalities. With the information we have given you in this guide, we hope it’ll be simpler for you to obtain your Saudi Arabian Work Visa and start working with the Saudi company of your choice.
Yes, you can do so. You’ll also need your employer’s approval to do so. You can do so by getting them a Family Visit Visa. Note that if the Family Visit Visa is approved, your family members/spouse cannot take up employment with it. They would have to apply for their own Indian Work Visas to work in Saudi Arabia.
Yes, you can change employers while on a work visa in Saudi. That must be done according to the applicable Saudi Arabian labor laws. Your new employers would have to file documents for your transfer through the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development. You’d also need your Iqama for that to be approved.
We strongly encourage you to buy travel insurance to protect yourself in unanticipated medical emergencies or flight cancellations.