What is iqama in saudi arabia

This governmental entity establishes a particular quota for the number of these kinds of visas that it will issue. If granted, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development issues a permit to the company to sponsor a foreign national employee for a longer duration, up to one year and subject to renewal. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development bases its approval or denial off of several factors, including:. If the visa is approved, the host company then obtains a Visa Authorization number, as well as a Power of Attorney issued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Once the work visa is approved, the expat employee is allowed entrance into the country and can begin working. Within 90 days of entering the country, there must be a submitted application for a work permit and iqama to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. If the foreign employee must exit and reenter the country while the work permit and iqama are authorized, the employee must obtain an exit and reentry permit from the Ministry of Interior. The employer is also responsible for paying repatriation ticket fees if the employee stops working at the company.

The iqama recipient must have their iqama number to use this service. This check can ensure visa validity in KSA. Individuals who are interested in working in the KSA or companies looking to expand to this region should be aware of the changing regulations in Saudi Arabia that are related to foreign workers.

The country has implemented the Saudi Vision plan that seeks to achieve the following goals:. As part of this plan, the country is actively attempting to increase employment opportunity for nationals of Saudi Arabia, as well as to increase the number of local women in the workforce. Additionally, the Ministry of Civil Service has requested that all ministries and governmental agencies to eliminate all expatriate workers by the year The Arab News also reports that shopping mall jobs and sales jobs in 12 retail categories are restricted to only nationals of Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, unfavorable changes in the tax law have led to disappointment of expatriates in Saudi Arabia. In , the KSA implemented a new tax that applies to foreign residents. The law is unclear as to who should be responsible for the fee, so employers in Saudi Arabia individually decide if they wish to cover the cost or pass it on to their employees.

The amount of this fee is SAR per month in The fee will increase to SAR in for companies with a majority of foreign nationals. Foreign employees who have listed dependent family members on their iqama must also pay a levy for each dependent once he or she arrives. The monthly rates per dependent are as follows:. Because of these taxes and levies, many expatriates left the country already.

After the new taxes were instituted, more than 94, expatriate workers left Saudi Arabia in the third quarter of Most of these were from industries that do not pay the fees.

Professional companies tend to absorb the levy for expatriates and their dependents. If a resident violates the rule 3 times, deportation will be his punishment.

A resident alien must present the residence permit to passports officers at their request; otherwise, he will be punished according to the established law. The resident must keep the residence permit safely and never hand it to others. Pawning it is strictly prohibited. Violators of the rule are liable to be punished according to the established law. Companies, establishments and individuals must obtain residence and work permits for their employees. It is illegal to employ an alien who does not possess a residence or work permit.

Employing individuals who are sponsored by others is a violation of the system. Iqama Transfer - Muqeem Know More. Issuing New Passport Know More. Passport Renewal Know More. Printing Iqama - Muqeem Know More. Was this page useful? Yes No. Thank you for your feedback. Your submission was successful.

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