Saudi Arabia work visa: what the employer must file

A Saudi work visa starts with the employer, not with you. The company applies for a block visa quota, issues a contract through the Qiwa platform, and only then can the visa be stamped at the embassy.

The order of events

1. Employer obtains a visa authorisation number for your job title.
2. Your contract is registered on Qiwa and you receive a copy to approve.
3. Medical examination at a GAMCA-approved centre.
4. Attestation of documents, then the visa application at the embassy.
5. Fingerprints and the Muqeem residence card after arrival.

What to check before you fly

• The job title on the visa matches the job title in the contract. If the visa says “labourer” and the contract says “electrician”, the visa wins and your pay follows it.
• Basic salary is stated separately from allowances — end-of-service pay is calculated on basic alone.
• The employer, not you, pays the visa and medical costs.

Cost to the worker

Under Saudi labour rules the employer carries recruitment costs. A licensed Bangladeshi agency may charge a capped service fee with a receipt. Anything in the lakhs is a warning sign, not a market rate.