Saudi Arabia Work Visa 2025: Complete Guide to Requirements & Application Process
The Saudi Arabia temporary work visa grants easy access for foreign workers looking to bring their talents to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation
21 March 2025
Saudi Arabia’s new Temporary Work Visa provides easy access for foreign workers looking to do business in Saudi Arabia.
It was introduced in May 2023 to allow short-term access for foreign nationals employed by Saudi-registered companies who need to work in KSA for a limited period. This will typically benefit those undertaking project-based assignments, training, maintenance work or short-term consultancy.
Beyond Vision 2030, this new visa is part of a more significant push to make Saudi Arabia more attractive to foreign workers and tourists. The visa system is one prong of a strategy to help transform Saudi Arabia from an oil-based economy into a diversified regional powerhouse and hub for foreign direct investments.
Eligibility requirements for Saudi Temporary Work Visa
An employer applying for a Temporary Work Visa must meet the following conditions:
- The establishment should have a valid Commercial Register (CR), except for activities that do not require a commercial registration;
- The status of the establishment should be “Existing”;
- The establishment must have a Nitaqat (Saudization) rating of medium green or higher
- The establishment should not have any negative remarks concerning the Wage Protection System (WPS)
- The establishment should have a visa issuance balance.
- An employer with expired pre-existing visas will have its application denied.
Typical Use Cases:
- Short-term technical assignments or projects
- Equipment installation or repair
- Short-term consultancy or training delivery
- Overseas employees coming to work on a specific task for a Saudi partner/client
Costs and Fees for a Saudi Work Visa
Applying for a temporary work visa in Saudi Arabia will cost SAR 1,000 (USD 266).
What is the Duration of a Saudi Temporary Work Visa?
The visa grants a holder access for up to 90 days, extendable once for another 90 days (maximum 180 days in total).
Application process for the Saudi Temporary Work Visa
To apply for the Temporary Work Visa, the company or a commissioner must submit a request on the Ministry of Human Resources‘ Qiwa platform Employers should follow the steps below:
- Log in to the organisation’s account
- Select temporary work visa service from the e-services option.
- Click on Submit temporary work visa request.
- Fill in the details on all the fields.
- Submit the request for a temporary work visa.
Benefits of a Saudi Arabia Temporary Work Visa
- It allows firms to bring people in quickly and with flexible resourcing. In some projects, companies may not want to necessarily have people on the ground all the time, especially for projects in remote areas.
- It enables more people to work in Saudi Arabia on projects more efficiently. Entities in Saudi Arabia can swiftly supply their labour force with specialists as needed This reduces administration, creates more flexibility, and speeds up progress on projects.
- The main drawback of the visa is that it can’t be converted to long-term residence within Saudi Arabia. However, it allows workers to test the waters of working in the country before they commit to a more long-term contract.
Key Considerations for a Saudi Temporary Work Visa
A few regulations govern the issuance of Saudi Temporary Work visas.
The visa must be sponsored by a Saudi-registered company, and the company issuing it must be active and have a valid commercial registration. However, certain activities, such as those relating to technical and scientific services, require special permits from security authorities rather than a commercial registration.
Moreover, the enterprises under the same unified number must not have expired work permits and have sufficient credit in the national unified number of the enterprise on the Absher account.
Workers do not receive a resident permit (Iqama), making this distinct from longer-term work visas.
The temporary work visa is issued immediately through Qiwa and does not require any documents.
Reasons cited for rejecting a request for the temporary visa include an insufficient balance in the unified number of enterprises on the Saudi government’s Absher app, and a rejection from the Interior Ministry.
Limitations of a Temporary Work Visa
The Temporary Work visa will not be the right option for all business purposes.
- It is not suitable for long-term employment
- It cannot be converted into an Iqama inside Saudi Arabia
- It is restricted to the specific employer and job description
- Visa holders cannot bring dependents
Some companies mistakenly use a business visit visa for short-term work, which is not legal for hands-on tasks. The Temporary Work Visa is the correct route for short-duration labour where actual work will be performed on the ground.
The temporary work visa balance package can be cancelled, and government fees can be refunded. The business owner or a commissioner must submit the cancellation request.
Other Types of Saudi Arabia Work Visas
An array of other visas, including the Premium Residency Visa, business licences for Project HQ and the upcoming GCC Unified Visa, now provide access to business travellers, employees and those seeking opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
Here are the most relevant visa types for doing business in KSA
Employment Visa
This visa facilitates long-term work and residence in Saudi Arabia, typically under a permanent or fixed-term contract with a Saudi-registered employer. It is issued for one year and renewable annually.
Business Visit Visa
This visa allows short-term business activities like corporate meetings or negotiating commercial agreements. It can be issued as a single-entry visit visa valid for 90 days or as a multiple-entry visit visa valid for six months or one year. It does not permit hands-on work.
Premium Residency Visa
This visa is known informally as the ‘Saudi Green Card’. it provides residence for wealthy investors, entrepreneurs and highly talented foreign nationals without the need for a sponsor. You can learn more about it in our explainer guide here.
Start the Visa Process Today
At Centuro Global, we specialise in helping clients find routes to live and work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We have over 25 years of supporting immigration applications and expediting cases directly with the government. Our team of experts can answer your queries and help avoid delays when applying for a Saudi Temporary Work Visa. Get in touch today!
