Austria EOR Services

Global Expansion Resources | Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Work Permits and Visas

Saudi Arabia Work Permits and Visas

Support with Saudi Arabia Work Permits and Visas from the leading recruitment partner

Ensure compliance with Saudi Arabia’s visa regulations and secure the appropriate work permits and Iqama residency permits for your employees with the help of our expert workforce management services.

Expanding into a new country and hiring internationally is an exciting opportunity for your business, but it often involves navigating complex legal requirements and overcoming significant challenges. Obtaining work visas and Iqama cards, mandatory for legal employment and residence are a common hurdle in this process.

Our workforce management services are here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your employees meet all compliance requirements and are ready to contribute to your project without delay. While we do not act as a direct sponsor for Iqama issuance, we support businesses in managing the full Iqama process, including coordination with local sponsors, application tracking, and compliance management.

 

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What’s included:

International Payroll

Fast and simple multi-country payroll – and delight your employees with timely, accurate pay.

Global compliance

We have expert teams across the world to ensure global compliance.

Transparent pricing

Avoid hidden costs and account for our fee with our transparent pricing.

Saudi Arabia Work Permits and Visas Information

What are the types of Saudi Arabia work visa?

Saudi Arabia, like many other countries, offers various visa types tailored to different skill levels, job roles, purposes, and durations. These include:

  • Temporary Work Visa
  • Work Visit Visa
  • Work Visa and Iqama (Residency Permit)
  • Specialised Work Visas
  • Seasonal Work Visa
  • Investor Visa

Each visa type has its own eligibility requirements, documentation, and process. For most long-term roles, particularly those requiring residency, the Iqama is a mandatory follow-up to the work visa and serves as both a residence and work permit.

How to apply for a Saudi Arabia work visa?

Applying for a work visa in Saudi Arabia can be a complex task that involves both the employee and employer coordination with the Saudi Authorities.

While each visa has different requirements, below are some of the steps you may need to take to obtain a valid visa in Saudi Arabia.

  1. Obtain Employer Sponsorship
  2. Submit Job Offer and Employment Contract
  3. Apply for a Work Visa Authorisation
  4. Medical Examination
  5. Submit Documents to the Saudi Embassy/Consulate
  6. Visa Issuance
  7. Arrive in Saudi Arabia and apply for an Iqama, the official residency and work permit

Please keep in mind the process typically takes several weeks and can differ depending on the type of visa you are applying for.

The Iqama is required for legal employment and daily life in Saudi Arabia. Without it, employees cannot open a bank account, rent housing, or stay beyond 90 days.

Because this process typically takes several weeks and is tightly regulated, it’s best to partner with an experienced workforce management partner that specialises in Saudi Arabia work visas, like Leap29. contact our team to find out more enquiries@leap29.com.

How much does a Saudi Arabia work visa cost?

The cost of obtaining a Saudi work visa varies depending on the visa type, the employee’s role, and additional processing needs. Typical expenses range from $500 to $1,500, excluding fees for:

  • Document translation and attestation

  • Medical exams

  • Iqama issuance and renewals

Under Saudi labour laws, employers are generally expected to cover the costs associated with both visa and Iqama processing, though some exceptions may apply.

For accurate budgeting and full compliance, it’s essential to work with a knowledgeable workforce management partner like Leap29, who can guide you through the legal and financial aspects of international hiring.

Why use a Workforce Management partner to help with visa and work permits in Saudi Arabia?

Applying for work visas and Iqama residency permits in Saudi Arabia can be a time-consuming and complex process, one that leaves businesses exposed to compliance risks if mishandled. By partnering with an experienced workforce management agency like Leap29, you gain end-to-end support from sponsorship coordination and documentation to onboarding and legal compliance.

Our team understands the nuances of the visa and Iqama processes and can manage them on your behalf, helping your employees arrive prepared and fully compliant.

Beyond visa support, we also provide:

  • Localised HR and payroll

  • Onboarding and offboarding

  • Workforce administration

  • Legal entity avoidance solutions

Depending on your business requirements, we can also support with managing HR, onboarding, payroll, administration, and more. We simplify your operations and eliminate the need to establish a legal entity.

Contact our team today to find out more about how we can support you with your projects in Saudi Arabia enquiries@leap29.com.

Don’t take our word for it!

Leap29 played a critical role in helping us navigate a challenging situation during our acquisition by Gilde Buy Out Partners. They were instrumental in onboarding over 60 employees from Columbus onto our team, with a flexible benefits package that addressed their individual requirements. Leap29 also assisted us in managing the growth of our workforce in India. Thanks to Leap29's support, we were able to increase our headcount in India by over 50% within 12 months and establish our own operation in the country. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to working with them again in the future."
Luciano Cunha - CEO
To Increase
Leap29 played a critical role in helping us navigate a challenging situation during our acquisition by Gilde Buy Out Partners. They were instrumental in onboarding over 60 employees from Columbus onto our team, with a flexible benefits package that addressed their individual requirements. Leap29 also assisted us in managing the growth of our workforce in India. Thanks to Leap29's support, we were able to increase our headcount in India by over 50% within 12 months and establish our own operation in the country. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to working with them again in the future."
Luciano Cunha - CEO
To Increase
For the last few years, we have worked very closely with Simon and the team at Leap29 on a number of different projects in multiple countries across the globe. Leap29 have been a fantastic partner for us and are always willing to think with us to find the best solution. The communication with the team at Leap29 has always been excellent and Simon, in particular, is great to work with! They come highly recommended from us!
Peter Yerardi - Global VP HR
Data.ai 
For the last few years, we have worked very closely with Simon and the team at Leap29 on a number of different projects in multiple countries across the globe. Leap29 have been a fantastic partner for us and are always willing to think with us to find the best solution. The communication with the team at Leap29 has always been excellent and Simon, in particular, is great to work with! They come highly recommended from us!
Peter Yerardi - Global VP HR
Data.ai 
The assistance of Leap29 allowed our company to build a successful team in India without the hassle of establishing our own entity. They provided excellent support from the onboarding process to setting up medical insurance and ensuring all taxation issues were managed in a compliant manner. We were particularly impressed with their responsiveness to any bespoke requests and that the administration of salary payments and benefits were extremely sufficient and always on time. Their professionalism and commitment to regulatory compliance was exceptional, and we could not have done it without their support.
Steen Hybschmann
CEO | Sprint 365
The assistance of Leap29 allowed our company to build a successful team in India without the hassle of establishing our own entity. They provided excellent support from the onboarding process to setting up medical insurance and ensuring all taxation issues were managed in a compliant manner. We were particularly impressed with their responsiveness to any bespoke requests and that the administration of salary payments and benefits were extremely sufficient and always on time. Their professionalism and commitment to regulatory compliance was exceptional, and we could not have done it without their support.
Steen Hybschmann
CEO | Sprint 365

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Local expertise, global reach

Employ people compliantly in 180+ countries – with or without your own foreign entities. We can help you set up and manage foreign entities – or act as an Employer of Record. We can also help with multi-country payroll and all your HR management. Wherever, whenever and however you want to employ people, we can help.

180+

We make expansion into Saudi Arabia simple

Employing people compliantly across international borders can be challenging but we make it simple, bringing down barriers and making light work of the complexities. We offer the full range of compliant global expansion solutions so that wherever, whenever and however you want to employ people, we can support you.

EOR Services
Payroll Solutions
Global Mobility
Entity Services
PEO Solutions
Support & Advisory
HR Support
Contractor Payroll
Pricing

EOR Services

Employ people compliantly in 180+ countries – without setting up new entities. We’ll shoulder responsibility as Employer of Record (EOR), making sure all your international employment is fully compliant.

We can also take care of your global HR from multi-country payroll to onboarding and offboarding.

Payroll Solutions

Getting global payroll right is one of the hardest challenges for any business expanding into new countries. We can shoulder this burden, freeing up valuable in-house resource to focus on growing your business.

Consider us an extension of your HR team, ready to answer all your questions large and small.

Global Mobility

Mobilise your people across borders with ease. Relocating to work abroad can feel daunting. But with Leap29 at your side, your employees can feel safe and supported.

We’ll guide your employees through the complexities of working in another country, helping them settle in fast.

Entity Services

Follow the opportunities to grow your business – wherever they take you.
We lighten the load of establishing and managing foreign entities and can help you solve all your entity challenges from running compliant, accurate multi-country payroll to local accounting and financial reporting.

PEO Solutions

Employ international talent wherever and whenever you need it – and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you’re fully compliant. Our Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) services allow you to focus on growing your business while we handle compliance, multi-country payroll and your global HR.

Support & Advisory

The help you need to make your global growth effortless – trusted guidance and advice on your expansion challenges large and small.

HR Support

When you’re employing people in lots of different countries, answering just a simple query can take a disproportionate amount of time for your in-house HR team. Our HR Support service reduces this burden, saving you time and money and giving you the confidence of knowing your employees are well looked after, whatever their location.

Contractor Payroll

Enjoy compliant contractor payroll that meets all local requirements for tax, social security and employment legislation. We understand the importance of compliant contractor payroll to the success of your business and will pay your contractors on time, every time.

Start hiring today – and onboard within hours.

Pricing

Budget confidently with transparent, competitive fees and no hidden costs.

Want us to shoulder employer liability and take care of your global HR through our EOR solution? No problem. Just want global payroll? You can have that too. Pick the solutions that your individual business needs.