Residence Permit in Saudi Arabia

Foreign citizens who enter Saudi Arabia for various purposes need to obtain a visa if they want to stay here for short periods. Those who want to live here longer?must obtain a?residence permit in Saudi Arabia. Also known as the?Saudi iqama, this document grants a foreign citizen various rights.

Types of Residence Permits in Saudi Arabia

Foreign citizens interested in applying for the?Saudi Arabia iqama?must know that there are two types of residence permits they can enter the country:

????The temporary residence permit;

It is not hard to obtain a?Saudi residence permit these days in Saudi Arabia, as most of the procedures can now be completed online no matter the country of residence of the applicant, including with the help of the?immigration lawyers in Saudi Arabia.

The safest ways of obtaining a?Saudi iqama is by?establishing a company in Saudi Arabia,

Block visa approval before getting Saudi residency:

There are several stages to complete when applying for a Saudi Iqama. The first one implies getting approval from the Ministry of Labor and Social Development about the sponsoring employer’s request for a block visa (an application through which multiple visas are issued for several employees at once). It must be noted that residence permits are issued based on a preestablished number each year. According to these quotas, which the Ministry of Labor and Social Development sets, local companies may sponsor foreign workers to secure long-term employment. They are given depending on a variety of criteria, such as:

?????The country of origin of the applicant and nationality;

?????The specific job duties.

Following acceptance, the sponsoring employer must file with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a visa authorization number and power of attorney, allowing the company to apply for a work visa on behalf of the employees. In this step, the enterprise can submit a work permit application to the relevant Saudi diplomatic mission in the nation where the worker resides.

The procedure of securing a residence permit for Saudi Arabia can be complicated which is why you can rely on PRO Services that are created for purposes like this one.

The temporary residence permit in Saudi Arabia

A foreign citizen who has obtained a job contract with a local company is entitled to obtain a?residence permit in Saudi Arabia?for the duration of the employment agreement. This means that the permit will be issued alongside the work visa temporarily.

When obtaining a?Saudi Arabia iqama?based on employment, most of the procedures will be completed by the company hiring foreign citizens.

The premium residence permit in Saudi Arabia for 2023

A foreign national who wants to become a?permanent resident in Saudi Arabia?has the recently enabled premium?residence visa program?under which specific conditions must be met, but it also comes with several benefits.

There are two options for those interested in the?Saudi iqama?under the premium residence visa scheme:

????The first one is the renewable temporary residency;

????The second one is permanent residency.

A foreign person must meet certain eligibility criteria to apply for any of them:

1.???The applicant must be at least 21 years old at the time he/she files for the visa;

2.??The person must have a valid passport, as well as a clean criminal record;

3.??Another condition is for the applicant to be financially stable;

4.??Proof of being healthy and fit is mandatory to be allowed into the program.

The main advantage of the program which is overseen by the?Ministry of Foreign Affairs?is that it was created to attract investors, entrepreneurs, and highly skilled migrants, therefore it is not meant for wealthy individuals. However, people who have lived in the KSA before can have better chances of obtaining a?permanent?residence permit in Saudi Arabia?thanks to the fact that they are used to the culture and language here.

Financial requirements for becoming a permanent resident in Saudi Arabia in 2023

As mentioned above, the?Saudi iqama?under the premium residency scheme implies meeting certain financial conditions:

????Temporary renewable residency is available for a minimum investment of approximately 27,000 USD or 100,000 SAR;

????Permanent residency is available for a minimum investment of approximately 213,000 USD or 800,000 SAR.

Fees and taxes to consider for a residence permit in Saudi Arabia

Iqama visas cost SAR 650 (approx. USD 175) per year. According to Saudi legislation, the employer is responsible for paying all fees and taxes for a foreigner’s work permit and Iqama. If the person leaves their job, the employer is also responsible for paying repatriation fees.

The monthly price for acquiring a work permit must also be considered in addition to the annual Iqama fee. The employer is responsible for paying the SAR 800 (approx. USD 220) monthly charge for obtaining a work pemrit

A dependent fee of SAR 400 (approx. USD 110) per month is charged to foreign employees having dependent family members listed on their Iqama. Saudi legislation leaves it up to the employer to decide whether they will cover the expense or require the sponsor or foreign worker to pay it.

In addition, if an employee’s Saudi Iqama is lost or expires without being renewed, the sponsoring employer could be held financially responsible.

“Please note that these fees and taxes are available at the level of 2023 and can be subject to modifications.”

Why apply for a Saudi Arabia iqama?

Saudi Arabia?is the largest country in the Middle East and one of the largest economies in the world. With an economy that relies mainly on the extraction of oil and gas, moving here implies optimum development conditions for both entrepreneurs and employees.

Here are the main statistics on Saudi Arabia’s population:

???At the level of 2023, the country had a total population of 36.947 million inhabitants;

???This means a 1.48% increase?compared to the previous year when the population accounted for 36.408 million people;

Saudi Arabia strictly controls the movement of expatriates, therefore permits and visas have rigorous administrative requirements. The absence of bureaucracy for foreigners is an advantage, though. An employee who assists foreign workers and their families in obtaining employment and residency permits works for businesses of all sizes. When you arrive in the nation, this person will also guide you. You will need a 24- or 48-hour transit visa if you have no choice but to make a brief stopover in Saudi Arabia while changing flights there.

Benefits after securing the Saudi Iqama

Here are the main advantages you will have after obtaining a Saudi residence permit:

???You will be able to operate a company by foreign investment regulations;

???You will benefit from the freedom to exit and entry to Saudi Arabia without a visa;

???You will be allowed to apply for visitor visas for family members.

How can our Saudi lawyers help you apply for residency?

For a foreign resident planning immigration to Saudi Arabia as an employee or for any other purpose, obtaining an Iqama and/or a work permit takes time and needs a lot of paperwork. Employers are required to start the application process and provide the required papers. Sometimes it can take a couple of months to finish this process.

The Saudi Ministry of Labor’s Saudization policy, which prioritizes hiring Saudis whenever possible, may also require the employer to demonstrate that no Saudi citizens are available to fill the position. This is why, before engaging in the entire process, it is advisable to request advice from a specialist. Our lawyers can help you by making sure that each step of the process is duly taken and the documents are in order.

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