Immigration Rights
Visa requirements, residency permits (Iqama), premium residency, employer transfer rules, family sponsorship, and deportation protections under Saudi immigration law.
Employment Visa & Iqama
Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia need an employment visa and a residence permit (Iqama) to live and work legally:Work visa: Your employer applies for an employment visa through the Ministry of Human Re...
Premium Residency (Saudi Green Card)
The Premium Residency programme allows qualified foreigners to live and work in Saudi Arabia without employer sponsorship:Permanent residency: Available for a one-time fee of SAR 800,000. Grants indef...
Labour Reform Initiative (LRI) — Employer Transfer
The Labour Reform Initiative (LRI), launched in March 2021, gives foreign workers more freedom to change employers:Job mobility: Expatriate workers can transfer to a new employer without needing their...
Exit/Re-Entry & Final Exit Visas
Foreign residents need visas to leave Saudi Arabia, but recent reforms give workers more independence:Exit/re-entry visa: Allows you to leave Saudi Arabia and return within a specified period (single...
Family Sponsorship & Dependent Visas
Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia can sponsor family members to live with them:Eligible dependents: Spouse and children under 18 (sons up to 18, unmarried daughters any age). Parents may be sponsored un...
Domestic Worker Protections
Domestic workers (housemaids, drivers, gardeners, cooks, etc.) have specific protections:Written contract: Employers must provide a written contract in a language the worker understands, specifying wa...
Overstay Penalties & Voluntary Departure
Staying in Saudi Arabia beyond your visa or Iqama validity carries serious penalties:First offence: Fine of SAR 10,000, deportation, and a re-entry ban.Second offence: Fine of SAR 25,000, up to 1 mont...
Deportation Rights & Appeals
Foreign nationals facing deportation have certain rights under Saudi law:Grounds for deportation: Common reasons include overstaying, working without a permit, criminal convictions, violating public o...