Saudi Arabian Visas Types for Professionals
1. Company (Agreement) Visas
These are officially issued visas by the Company to an employee inside or outside the Kingdom. There are two ways to get these visas:
Applying to Jobs from Home Country
Consistently applying from your Home country to companies in KSA. Once you get offer letter, company will give you visa, flight ticket & FAT. You must be highly qualified or must have a good reference to get offer from the company.
Employment Agencies
The other way to get company visa is to buy it from registered employment promotor or recruiting agency in your country. Many companies in KSA give contract to agencies to hire professionals from other countries.
2. Freelance (Azad) Visas
Arab Nationals or Companies, selling it through individual agents and making profit, issue these visas. Freelance visas give you authority to work in any company anywhere in KSA. You can switch your job at any moment if find a good opportunity elsewhere.
| Category | Documents Included | Cost (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Fardi without documents | No Chamber, No Ajeer | 9,000 - 10,000 |
| Fardi with documents | Ajeer, Chamber, CR Copy | 10,500 |
| Company Freelance | Ajeer, Chamber, CR, Muqeem, Aramco Code | 17,000 - 20,000 |
Comparison Summary
| Feature | Company Visa | Freelance Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Job Flexibility | Limited to one employer | Work anywhere in KSA |
| Cost | 0 - 8,000 SAR | 9,000 - 20,000 SAR |
| Documents | Company provides | Varies by category |
| Job Switching | Difficult | Easy |
| Best For | Direct employment | Freelancers & job seekers |
What is Chamber?
The Chamber Code for expatriates in Saudi Arabia refers to a unique identification number provided by the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Expatriates or their employers can obtain this code by registering with the relevant Chamber of Commerce in their region.
What is CR Copy?
In this document all the basic details about the company (Musassa) is mentioned based on which the employer makes a job contract which is later required for chamber attestation.
Expert Advice
The profession in visa can be changed at any time if deemed necessary. For engineers, it is not recommended to go on a specific engineering profession as employers have to pay extra taxes. Engineers can register with Saudi Engineering Council without changing their profession from labor.