🇸🇦Visa options for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia offers 39 visa types across 7 categories — from skilled-worker and study visas to family, investment, digital-nomad, and permanent-residency pathways. 7 lead to PR; 31 don't require a job offer. Here's every Saudi Arabia visa tracked by VisaMatch.
39visa types
7categories
7PR pathways
31no job needed
Check which Saudi Arabia visas you qualify for →
Visa categories in Saudi Arabia
All Saudi Arabia visa types
Work (9)
Basic / Elementary Work Permit
Skill-based work permit for foreign workers in occupational group 9 (Elementary Occupations), covering basic manual and unskilled roles.
Domestic Worker Visa
For foreign nationals employed in household service roles such as maids, drivers, cooks, nannies, and gardeners.
Employment Visa (Work Visa)
The standard long-term work visa for foreign nationals taking up full-time employment in Saudi Arabia.
Freelance Work Visa
For independent contractors and self-employed professionals seeking to offer services in Saudi Arabia without being tied to a single employer sponsor.
High-Skilled Work Permit
New skill-based work permit category introduced July 2025 for foreign workers in occupational groups 1–3 (Managers, Specialists, Technicians).
Media / Journalist Visa
For foreign journalists, media professionals, and press representatives covering events or working in Saudi Arabia.
Seasonal Work Visa
For foreign nationals employed in temporary or seasonal roles in sectors such as agriculture, construction, events, and hospitality.
Skilled Work Permit
Skill-based work permit for foreign workers in occupational groups 4–8 (Clerical, Service, Agricultural, Trade/Craft, Machine Operators).
Temporary Work Visa
For foreign professionals assigned to Saudi Arabia on short-term contracts such as consultancy projects, technical work, training assignments, or event-based work.
Visitor & Transit (8)
Business Visit Visa Visitor
Short-term visa for foreign nationals visiting Saudi Arabia for business activities such as meetings, negotiations, training, conferences, and commercial deal-making.
Companion Visit Visa Visitor
Allows a designated companion (spouse or children under 18) to accompany a principal traveler visiting Saudi Arabia.
GCC Resident eVisa Visitor
One-year multiple-entry eVisa for expatriate residents of GCC countries (non-citizens) who wish to visit Saudi Arabia for tourism, family visits, business meetings, or Umrah outsi…
Newborn Visa Visitor
For children born abroad to expatriate parents residing in Saudi Arabia.
Personal Visit Visa Visitor
For foreign nationals visiting Saudi citizens for non-family, non-business social purposes.
Tourist eVisa Visitor
Multiple-entry tourist visa for leisure travel, visiting friends and relatives, and performing Umrah (outside Hajj season).
Transit / Stopover Visa Transit
For travelers passing through Saudi Arabia en route to another destination.
Visa on Arrival Visitor
Tourist visa issued at designated Saudi airports upon arrival.
Residence Permit (7)
Premium Residency — Entrepreneur Residency
5-year premium residency for startup entrepreneurs holding stakes in Saudi-registered companies with accredited investment.
Premium Residency — Gifted (Sports, Culture, Arts) Residency
5-year premium residency for talents and specialists in sports, cultural, and artistic fields.
Premium Residency — Investor Residency
5-year premium residency for investors injecting capital into Saudi companies.
Premium Residency — Permanent Residency
Permanent residency in Saudi Arabia without a sponsor (Saudi Green Card).
Premium Residency — Real Estate Owner Residency
5-year premium residency for individuals owning qualifying real estate assets in Saudi Arabia.
Premium Residency — Special Talent Residency
5-year premium residency for exceptional professionals in scientific, healthcare, research, and executive fields.
Premium Residency — Temporary Renewable Residency
Renewable annual premium residency for skilled expatriates and investors, granting independent living, working, and business rights in Saudi Arabia without a sponsor.
Special Status (7)
Exit / Re-Entry Visa (Multiple) Other
Travel authorization allowing an expatriate holding a valid Iqama to exit and re-enter Saudi Arabia multiple times within a specified period without affecting residency status.
Exit / Re-Entry Visa (Single) Other
Temporary travel authorization allowing an expatriate holding a valid Iqama to leave and return to Saudi Arabia once within a specified period.
Final Exit Visa Other
One-way authorization for expatriate residents permanently departing Saudi Arabia.
GCC National Visa-Free Entry Other
Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states — UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman — may enter Saudi Arabia without a visa using a valid national ID card or passport…
Hajj Visa Religious
Issued exclusively for Muslim pilgrims performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah.
Sports / Cultural Event Visa Other
For foreign athletes, performers, artists, and support staff participating in or attending international sports tournaments, cultural festivals, or entertainment events hosted in…
Umrah Visa Religious
For Muslim pilgrims performing Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) outside the Hajj season.
Diplomatic & Official (4)
Diplomatic Missions & International Organizations Visa Diplomatic
For representatives visiting Saudi diplomatic missions or international organizations headquartered in or operating within Saudi Arabia.
Diplomatic Visa Diplomatic
For holders of diplomatic passports visiting Saudi Arabia in an official capacity.
Government Visit Visa Diplomatic
For foreign nationals formally invited by a Saudi government institution, ministry, or department.
Official / Service Passport Visa Diplomatic
For holders of official or service passports visiting Saudi Arabia on official government business, meetings, consultations, exchange programs, or intergovernmental organization a…
Family (2)
Dependent / Family Residency Visa
Allows expatriate workers with valid Iqama to sponsor their spouse and children to reside in Saudi Arabia for the duration of the sponsor's employment.
Family Visit Visa
Allows immediate family members (parents, spouse, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren) of Saudi nationals or Iqama-holding residents to visit the Kingdom.
Study & Training (2)
Long-Term Student Visa Study
For undergraduate, master's, and PhD students enrolled in Saudi educational institutions.
Short-Term Student Visa Study
For foreign nationals attending exchange programs, language courses, or specialized short-term training programs in Saudi Arabia.
Frequently Asked Questions about moving to Saudi Arabia
How many visa types does Saudi Arabia offer?
Saudi Arabia offers 39 visa types across 7 categories — covering work, study, family, investment, and permanent-residency pathways.
Can I move to Saudi Arabia without a job offer?
Yes — 31 of Saudi Arabia's 39 visa types don't require a pre-arranged job offer. These include points-based skilled visas, investor and entrepreneur visas, digital-nomad and remote-worker visas, study visas, and family-sponsored pathways.
Does Saudi Arabia offer a pathway to permanent residency?
Yes. 7 of Saudi Arabia's visa types lead — directly or indirectly — to permanent residency. PR typically requires meeting time-in-country, income, language, and eligibility thresholds specific to each visa.
Which Saudi Arabia visa is right for me?
It depends on your goal. Employment-based visas suit skilled workers with qualifications and experience; family visas fit those with a spouse or close relative in Saudi Arabia; investor and golden visas target entrepreneurs with capital; study visas cover education; digital-nomad and retirement visas suit remote workers and retirees. VisaMatch checks your profile against every Saudi Arabia visa in seconds.
How do I check my eligibility for Saudi Arabia?
Use VisaMatch's free eligibility checker. Enter your nationality, age, occupation, income, and education, then select Saudi Arabia. You'll see every Saudi Arabia visa you qualify for, with links to the official government source for each.
Saudi Arabia in depth
Air qualityUnhealthy for Sensitive GroupsAQI 60
ClimateDesertExtremely hot summers; mild winters, especially in the highlands.
Infrastructure7.5/10Rapidly modernising under Vision 2030.
Cost of living45Index, NYC = 100
SafetySafeVery low crime.
Internet75 MbpsGood
Political stabilityStableStable monarchy undergoing rapid social and economic reform.
Inflation2.2%Purchasing power index 65
Immigrant friendliness2.7/5The new Premium Residency ('Saudi Green Card') exists, but most foreign workers remain on sponsorship-based visas.
Income tax0%No personal income tax is levied on individuals' employment income in Saudi Arabia; only non-employment/business income of certain non-residents may be subject to withholding tax
Median salarySAR 127,692/yr
Healthcare accessMixed public/private (Council of Cooperative Health Insurance-regulated)No free public access — since late 2025, foreign workers must obtain CCHI-approved private health insurance before a temporary work visa is even issued, and coverage is tied to the employment sponsor
Best-performing job sectors
Construction/megaprojects — +6% YoY, NEOM and Vision 2030 projects
Tech — +6% YoY, growing Riyadh scene
Energy — +3% YoY
Curated research pass, sourced per field (tax, salary, healthcare and legal figures cite an official or named source) — not live data. Refreshed periodically, not real-time.
See full Saudi Arabia insights →
Compare with other countries
Move to Saudi Arabia by profession
Popular comparisons featuring Saudi Arabia
Ready to check your Saudi Arabia options?
Enter your profile once and see every Saudi Arabia visa you qualify for — free, instant, personalised.
Check your eligibility →