Saudi Arabia · Work
Saudi Arabia Work visa (iqama)
Employer-sponsored work visa, work permit and iqama
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Work visa (iqama) is a work route for Saudi Arabia. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
Your employer renews the work permit, which is needed to renew your residence permit (iqama). Renewal is allowed when 180 days or less remain before the permit expires.
Where to applyWhere to apply
Your employer must issue your work permit within 90 days of your entry into the Kingdom.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Saudi Arabia
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- A Saudi establishment recruits the worker and applies for the work visa on the Qiwa platform.
Steps2
- The establishment issues the work permit for the expatriate worker on the Qiwa platform.
- The work permit is a condition for issuing or renewing the residence permit (iqama).
After you arrive1
- A resident employee can transfer to a new employer without the current employer's approval through the transfer-of-services (freedom of movement) service.
When you become tax resident
How Saudi Arabia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 30 days in a zakat yearNatural person with a permanent residence in the Kingdom, physically present for at least 30 days, consecutive or aggregated.
- At least 183 days in a zakat yearNatural person without a permanent residence in the Kingdom, physically present for at least 183 days, consecutive or aggregated.
- Foreign-source income
Source/zakat scope
All tax rules for Saudi Arabia Tax records checked
Full official text
Foreign employees are recruited by a Saudi establishment, which applies for the visa and the work permit through the Qiwa platform; the work permit is a condition for issuing or renewing the residence permit (iqama). 1
Requirements
- A Saudi establishment recruits the worker and applies for the work visa on the Qiwa platform. 1
- The establishment issues the work permit for the expatriate worker on the Qiwa platform. 1
- The work permit is a condition for issuing or renewing the residence permit (iqama). 1
- A resident employee can transfer to a new employer without the current employer's approval through the transfer-of-services (freedom of movement) service. 1
Work
Work for the sponsoring establishment under the work permit; transfer to another employer is possible through the transfer-of-services service.
Official sources
- Issue and Renew Work license · Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) · checked 2026-10-11
Work visa (iqama) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work visa (iqama) | – | – | – |
| Premium · Talent (executive) | Needs income of SAR 960k+ a year ≈ $256k | – | Limited |
| Premium · Talent (specialist) | Needs income from SAR 14k a month ≈ $3,730 | – | Limited |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
Can I work on the Work visa (iqama)?
Work for the sponsoring establishment under the work permit; transfer to another employer is possible through the transfer-of-services service.
How are Work visa (iqama) holders taxed in Saudi Arabia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Work visa (iqama). The standard rules apply: Saudi income tax applies to non-Saudi shares in resident capital companies and to non-residents with a permanent establishment or Saudi-source income. Payments to non-residents carry withholding of 5% to 20% by income type.
More in Saudi Arabia
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 1 official source. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Issue and Renew Work license · Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.