Visas follow the company
Investor & Employee Immigration in Saudi Arabia
Saudi work visas are allocated to the company before they are issued to a person, and allocation depends on your localisation standing.
GCC business setup specialists
Allocation first, person second
Companies expect to apply for a visa for a named individual. In practice the company is first allocated visas, and its ability to obtain them is tied to its localisation standing — which is why hiring plans and Saudization are the same conversation.
- Visa allocation planned against localisation
- Iqama issue and renewal tracked
- Riyadh office, dealing with the platforms locally
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services
How it fits together
From company registration to iqama
Each stage depends on the company’s standing, not only the individual.
| Stage | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Employer registration | The company registered with the labour and social insurance authorities. |
| Localisation standing | Your classification under the localisation programme, which affects what you can obtain. |
| Visa allocation | Visas allocated to the company before any individual applies. |
| Work visa | Issued to the named employee against an allocated visa. |
| Entry and medical | Entry on the work visa, then medical and biometric steps. |
| Iqama | Residence permit issued, then renewed on its own cycle. |
Visa categories, localisation rules and platforms are set by the Saudi authorities and change. Your position is confirmed against current requirements.
How it works
Getting people in place
Plan the hiring mix before applying for anything.
01
Plan against localisation
Headcount and roles planned alongside your localisation obligations, because the two determine what is actually obtainable.
02
Registration and allocation
Employer registrations completed and visa allocation secured for the company before individual applications begin.
03
Visa, entry, iqama
Work visas issued to named employees, entry arranged, medical and biometric steps completed, then iqama issued and tracked for renewal.
For each person
What is needed
Educational and professional documents often need attesting.
- Commercial Registration and employer registrations
- Current localisation classification
- Employee passport with sufficient validity
- Passport photographs to specification
- Signed employment contract
- Educational certificates, attested
- Professional qualifications, where the role requires them
- Experience certificates, where asked
- Medical examination at an approved centre
- Biometric enrolment
- Health insurance arranged
- Dependant documents, attested, where applicable
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Localisation-aware headcount planning
- Employer registrations
- Visa allocation applications
- Work visa processing
- Iqama issue and renewal
- Dependant applications
- Expiry tracking across the workforce
- Guidance on document attestation
Not included, quoted separately
- Government, visa and medical fees, paid at cost
- Health insurance premiums
- Document attestation abroad
- Certified Arabic translation
- Recruitment and candidate sourcing
- Applications refused on eligibility grounds
- Appeals against immigration decisions
- Localisation penalties already incurred
Verify independently
Official Saudi authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Ministry of Investment (MISA)Ministry of CommerceSaudi Business CenterZakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA)Ministry of Human Resources & Social DevelopmentGeneral Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI)
Questions
Saudi visas and iqama — FAQs
Can I hire anyone I want?
Not without regard to localisation. Your classification under the localisation programme affects your ability to obtain visas, so the hiring mix and the visa plan are one decision.
What is an iqama?
The residence permit for a foreign employee, issued after entry and renewed on its own cycle. It is tied to the sponsoring employer.
Can employees bring family?
Dependant sponsorship is available subject to conditions that differ by role and circumstances, and the documents generally need attesting.
What happens if an employee leaves?
Their iqama and sponsorship have to be dealt with properly — transferred or cancelled. Leaving it unresolved creates problems for both the company and the individual.
Do I need people on the ground immediately?
It depends on your activity and licence category, and some structures expect local presence sooner than others. We flag it at formation rather than later.
Careers
Apply for a role
Tell us which role you are applying for and what you have done that is relevant. If you have UAE or GCC experience, say which jurisdictions and authorities you have worked with.
Connect with us
Request a setup assessment
For founders and business decision-makers considering paid business services. Not for job applications, employment searches or personal visa-only requests.
Talk to a consultant
At Black Swan Business Setup Services, our mission is simple: to empower entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes to establish and expand their presence in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond.
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