Saudi Arabia has introduced a new measure allowing eligible skilled expatriate workers to arrange entry visas for certain family members at the same time as they complete their own employment visa process.
The Ministry of Interior said the updated procedure is designed to make it easier for skilled foreign workers to relocate to the Kingdom with their immediate families, supporting Saudi Arabia’s wider efforts to improve the experience and quality of life of residents.
Who is eligible for a Saudi family entry visa?
Under the updated rules, qualifying dependants of skilled expatriate workers can include:
– The worker’s spouse
– Sons younger than 25
– Unmarried daughters
Eligible family members can have their entry visas processed alongside the head of household’s work visa, removing the need to wait for the worker’s visa procedures to be completed before starting the family’s entry arrangements.
What happens after family members arrive in Saudi Arabia?
Once eligible dependants enter the Kingdom, their residency formalities will be completed in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s existing laws, regulations and administrative requirements.
The Ministry of Interior said the new arrangement was developed in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
The latest change is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to make the Kingdom more attractive and convenient for expatriate professionals and their families, while enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.
For skilled foreign workers planning to move to Saudi Arabia, the revised process could simplify the relocation of immediate family members by allowing their entry arrangements to be initiated alongside the worker’s own employment visa. :::
