Procedure for Applying Iqama in Saudi Arabia

Contents

• Introduction of Iqama
• Why Iqama is essential for Foreign Workers
• Application Procedure for Iqama
• Time Duration of Iqama
• Fees for Iqama

•   Introduction of Iqama:

An iqama is a sort of Residence permit that is issued by the Saudi Arabian Government to those foreign individuals who are hired to work in Saudi Arabia. As Saudi Arabia attracts foreign workers due to its economy in despite the fact about 78 percent of workers are actually foreign hires in Saudi Arabia.

•   Why Iqama is essential for Foreign Workers:

Saudi Arabia has stern rules and regulations when it comes to the matter of Immigration and Labor policies, especially in the case of foreign workers.  Foreign employees before pursuing employment in Saudi Arabia, the employees must require a local sponsor. A local employer has to apply and do all the essential work permits for the willing individual so he/she will be able to work and stay in Saudi Arabia.

•    Application Procedure for Iqama:

The following steps are essential for applying for an Iqama in Saudi Arabia:

1. Initially, the local sponsoring individual has to apply for a Black Visa that is issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. Basically, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development has fixed specific quotas for local employers in order to sponsor foreign employees so they can work for a long-term period in Saudi Arabia. They are issued to those individuals who fulfill the following criteria:

• Nationality of Applicant.
• Country Origin of Applicant
• Precise Job Role

2. Now, once the Black Visa is approved, the sponsoring employer makes a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia in order to provide the willing employee with visa authorization as well as the power of attorney so that the individual will be allowed to apply for a work visa on the sponsor’s behalf.
3. Then the employer has to be required to submit an application for a work visa. The willing Employee has to perform their medical exam and provide a medical certificate that will be attached along with the application.
4. If the work visa is approved, then the foreign worker will be able to come to Saudi Arabia and start working in the country.
5. Furthermore, the application for the work permit and iqama must be submitted to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development within a fixed time period of 90 days after the foreign worker has arrived in Saudi Arabia.
6. In any case, if the foreign employee has to leave Saudi Arabia during their time period of iqama, they have to obtain an exit or re-entry permit that is issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

•          Time Duration of Iqama:

According to the Law of Saudi Arabia, the time period of foreign employee employment in Saudi Arabia is fixed depending on their iqama. The private sector employees have a time period of 1 year on their iqama, or it can be renewed and extended for a duration.

•   Fees for Iqama:

However, the sponsoring employer is responsible for paying the fees for the Iqama. Furthermore, if the sponsoring employer stops working for the company in any case, then the foreign employer has to pay the repatriation ticket fees. The specific fee for per worker is SAR 800 per month and SAR 400 per month. These fee charges are being upgraded by the Saudi Vision 2030 plan.

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