Home » Saudi Arabia » Saudi Arabia – Work Permits and Working Legally

Saudi Arabia – Work Permits and Working Legally

Working Legally in Saudi Arabia

It is necessary for expats to obtain a work permit to work legally in Saudi Arabia. The application for the work permit must be made by the employer on behalf of the expat. There are no exemptions to this requirement

Types of Work Permits for Expats in Saudi Arabia

There are two main types of work permits for expats in Saudi Arabia:

  1. Iqama

The Iqama is the most common type of work permit in Saudi Arabia. It is a residency permit that is required for all expats who wish to work in the country. The Iqama is linked to the expat’s sponsor (employer), and the sponsor is responsible for renewing the Iqama

Eligibility: To be eligible for an Iqama, the expat must have a valid employment contract with a Saudi Arabian company and must undergo a medical examination.


Get Our Best Articles Every Month!

Get our free moving abroad email course AND our top stories in your inbox every month


Unsubscribe any time. We respect your privacy - read our privacy policy.


  1. Business Visa

The Business Visa is a temporary visa that is issued to expats who are visiting Saudi Arabia for business purposes. It is valid for 90 days and can be extended for an additional 90 days

Eligibility: To be eligible for a Business Visa, the expat must have a valid reason for visiting Saudi Arabia for business purposes and must have a sponsor in the country.

Procedure to apply for a work permit in Saudi Arabi

The procedure for obtaining a work permit in Saudi Arabia is as follows:

  1. The expat’s sponsor (employer) submits a request for a work permit to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development
  2. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development reviews the request and determines whether the expat is eligible for a work permit
  3. If the expat is eligible, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development will issue a work permit to the sponsor
  4. The sponsor will then submit the work permit to the expat

The entire process typically takes 2-3 months

Documents Required to Apply for a Work Permit in Saudi Arabia

The following documents are required to apply for a work permit in Saudi Arabia:

  • A valid passport
  • A medical certificate
  • A police clearance certificate
  • An employment contract
  • A copy of the sponsor’s identification card

Costs Involved in Applying for a Work Permit in Saudi Arabia

The cost of obtaining a work permit in Saudi Arabia is as follows:

  • A fee for the processing of the work permit application (approximately 2,000 SAR)
  • A fee for the medical examination (approximately 500 SAR)
  • A fee for the police clearance certificate (approximately 500 SAR)

Reliable Information on Working Legally in Saudi Arabia

For reliable information on working legally in Saudi Arabia, expats can visit the following websites:

  • Ministry of Labor and Social Development (https://mol.gov.sa/), the official website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development in Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabian Embassy (https://www.saudiembassy.net/), the official website of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in the United States
  • Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (https://www.sagia.gov.sa/), the official website of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority.


Latest Videos

Expat Focus

848 subscribers

Move abroad easily with Expat Focus.

Expat Focus
Writer and Editor Kirsten Raccuia is known for her Sand in My Curls blog, which until recently, was all about her expat life in Malaysia. We last spoke at the height of the global pandemic, when she and her husband were closing in on a decade in Penang. Fast-forward a couple of years, and they’re in a new country, Mexico. I’m chatting with Kirsten again to find out what factors influenced their decision to move, and why Mexico? And what it was like to close the Malaysia chapter of their life abroad.

Writer and Editor Kirsten Raccuia is known for her Sand in My Curls blog, which until recently, was all about her expat life in Malaysia. We last spoke at the height of the global pandemic, when she and her husband were closing in on a decade in Penang.

Fast-forward a couple of years, and they’re in a new country, Mexico. I’m chatting with Kirsten again to find out what factors influenced their decision to move, and why Mexico? And what it was like to close the Malaysia chapter of their life abroad.

YouTube Video UCB21b-C4O2aXm7H18_GsXMQ_2iutaBgsCRk

Moving From Malaysia To Mexico

Expat Focus 15 August 2023 3:23 pm

A topic that comes up quite often in our Facebook groups is moving abroad with children. What’s the ideal age? Especially if they're going to need to learn a new language? What about the best time of year to move? And how do you make the assimilation process, from learning new cultural norms to making new friends, as smooth and enjoyable as possible? My guest today is someone who can speak from experience. Sharon Green is the founding editor of online publication SHE DEFINED. And in 1998, just before she turned 12, Sharon migrated with her family from Durban in South Africa to Melbourne in Australia. Sharon’s going to share her experience of being a third culture kid, and how it has shaped her sense of belonging as an adult.

A topic that comes up quite often in our Facebook groups is moving abroad with children. What’s the ideal age? Especially if they're going to need to learn a new language? What about the best time of year to move? And how do you make the assimilation process, from learning new cultural norms to making new friends, as smooth and enjoyable as possible?

My guest today is someone who can speak from experience. Sharon Green is the founding editor of online publication SHE DEFINED. And in 1998, just before she turned 12, Sharon migrated with her family from Durban in South Africa to Melbourne in Australia.

Sharon’s going to share her experience of being a third culture kid, and how it has shaped her sense of belonging as an adult.

YouTube Video UCB21b-C4O2aXm7H18_GsXMQ_62EMRLnSni4

Growing Up As A Third Culture Kid In Australia

Expat Focus 26 July 2023 6:48 pm

When American, Samaki Dorsey Schneider moved to France permanently five years ago, the last thing the 44 year-old expected was to need to take a driving test. But that’s the reality for some expats who can’t simply exchange their existing driver’s license for a French one. Keep listening to find out why this is the case, what the testing process is like in France, some of the costs involved and the road rules that might be a little different to what you’re used to.

When American, Samaki Dorsey Schneider moved to France permanently five years ago, the last thing the 44 year-old expected was to need to take a driving test. But that’s the reality for some expats who can’t simply exchange their existing driver’s license for a French one. Keep listening to find out why this is the case, what the testing process is like in France, some of the costs involved and the road rules that might be a little different to what you’re used to.

YouTube Video UCB21b-C4O2aXm7H18_GsXMQ_hrrVi0XbYgg

How To Get A French Driver's License

Expat Focus 23 June 2023 2:29 pm

Load More... Subscribe
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Important: No API Key Entered.

Many features are not available without adding an API Key. Please go to the YouTube Feed settings page to add an API key after following these instructions.