Search
Contact
Login
Share this article
IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended visa processing for all visa types other than Hajj visas during the pilgrimage season. Some embassies and consulates may continue to accept visa applications until two days before the Eid holiday but will not process them until after the holiday break.
What does the change mean? Applicants for work visas, business visas and other types of visas will need to wait until after the Eid holiday, approximately Aug. 26, when processing resumes.
Background: Dhul Hijjah, or “month of pilgrimage,” is the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar during which pilgrims from around the world travel to Mecca to complete religious rites. The beginning of the month is not declared until the new moon is sighted, which is estimated to occur Sunday or Monday, Aug. 12 or 13. The EId al-Adha holiday follows on the 10th day of the lunar month and lasts for one to several days, depending on location.
BAL Analysis: Applicants should contact appropriate Saudi missions for individual schedules. Employers should factor in the processing suspension and anticipate a possible backlog and influx of applications when services resume after the holiday.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider Tools & Solutions located in Saudi Arabia. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2018 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? Saudi Arabia is set to begin collecting an “expatriate fee” of 100 riyals (about US$27) per month for every foreign-worker dependent residing in the country.
What does the change mean? The new levy will apply to all foreign employees with dependents in Saudi Arabia, regardless of how many local employees their company employs. The levy is set increase to 200 riyals per month in 2018, 300 riyals per month in 2019 and 400 riyals per month in 2020.
BAL Analysis: The levies could increase the costs of doing business in Saudi Arabia, particularly for employers who choose to cover the levies for their employees. Employers should take note of the change and make sure their foreign employees are aware of the new charges.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman& Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? Saudi Arabia has announced that it will provide visit visas valid for up to four years to French nationals.
What does the change mean? Effective immediately, French nationals will be eligible for four-year, multiple-entry visit visas. The previous maximum validity period for French nationals was two years. The visas are valid for stays of up to 90 days.
BAL Analysis: Officials hope the increased visa validity will boost business ties between Saudi Arabia and France. The change is welcome development for business travelers who frequently visit Saudi Arabia from France because they will not have to renew their visas as often.
Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? Saudi Arabia’s increased visa fees will take effect Sunday.
What does the change mean? Visa applicants across categories will be subjected to the higher fees. The fee for a single-entry visit visa fee will increase to 2,000 Saudi riyals (about US$532) and new rates for multi-entry and exit re-entry visas be imposed based on duration of validity.
The new government visa fee schedule will be as follows:
Background: As BAL reported in August, government fees are consistent with Vision 2030, a 15-year economic plan to make the economy less oil-dependent and increase revenues in other areas, including through immigration fees.
BAL Analysis: The government visa fees increase the costs of sending expatriate workers to Saudi Arabia, and businesses should figure the new costs into their budgets.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Saudi Arabia. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? The Saudi Cabinet has approved increases to government visa fees that will significantly raise costs for all visitors and for foreign employees living and working in the kingdom.
What does the change mean? Beginning in October, the government will increase the single-entry visit visa fee to 2,000 Saudi riyals (about US$533) and impose new visa fees for multi-entry and exit re-entry visas based on duration of validity.
Starting in October, the new government visa fee schedule is as follows:
The government has also amended the traffic regulations and increased the fines for driving violations.
Background: The government fees are consistent with Vision 2030, a 15-year economic plan to make the economy less oil-dependent and increase revenues in other areas, including through immigration fees. The new fees represent large hikes, as currently all visit visas are SR 500 (regardless of validity period), and exit re-entry visas are currently SR 200 for single re-entry or SR 500 for all multiple re-entry visas. Transit visas and departure visas are currently free.
BAL Analysis: The government visa fees raise the costs of sending expatriate workers to Saudi Arabia, and businesses should budget for the new costs.
IMPACT – HIGH
What is the change? Saudi Arabia is now requiring that employers place jobs ads on the new national labor portal to make sure that they have attempted to hire local candidates before applying for visas for foreign workers.
What does the change mean? Employers should be prepared for the additional time and effort required to place ads and complete labor-market testing procedures.
Background: Job openings must be advertised for local candidates, however the ads’ durations have not been set by authorities. If a position cannot be filled by a local applicant, the job ad will be converted to a block visa application to be filled by a foreign candidate.
BAL Analysis: The new job advertising requirements are part of Saudi Arabia’s move toward greater localization of its workforce and the launch of Taqat, a national labor database and central portal for all labor-related services, including connecting employers and job seekers. Employers should be prepared to keep records regarding their job advertisements and local candidates who are considered and rejected.
When traveling to Saudi Arabia, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Saudi Arabia, you may engage in the activities below, depending on your job title. The activities performed should match the purpose of the visit used when applying for the letter of invitation. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, depending on the previously mentioned circumstances, you may:
Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter Saudi Arabia to engage in business activities. Only nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states (Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the the United Arab Emirates) are eligible for visa waiver status, which allows visitors to enter and conduct business activities in Saudi Arabia. Those ineligible for a visa waiver must apply for a Business Visit Visa from a Saudi Arabian Embassy or Consulate prior to traveling. While Saudi Arabia does offer e-visas and visas on arrival, these visas are only issued for tourist purposes and cannot be used for business travel. Please verify your eligibility for a visa waiver prior to travel.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Saudi Arabian law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Saudi Arabia, even if conducted for a short duration.
In limited circumstances, business travelers with technical job titles may engage in certain hands-on professional activities, though additional eligibility criteria may apply. An individual assessment is required before deciding whether engaging in professional activities as a business visitor is appropriate.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on your profession, on your duration of stay and on whether your employer has an entity in Saudi Arabia. The most common forms of work authorization for Saudi Arabia are:
Nationals from eligible GCC member states are not required to obtain work authorization in order to work in Saudi Arabia. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in Saudi Arabia.
Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.
What is the change? U.S. nationals are now exempt from a recently introduced requirement that visitors purchase medical insurance during the visa application process.
What does the change mean? The insurance purchase step has been removed for U.S. citizen applicants during the online application process.
Background: The Saudi government introduced the mandatory insurance purchase last month for all short-term visitors. During the online application process, applicants must purchase an approved insurance policy before submitting their visa application. The purpose of the rule is to cover foreign visitors for emergency care or injuries during their stay. After receiving significant feedback from U.S. national travelers and their U.S.-based employers, Saudi authorities have granted U.S. nationals an exemption from this requirement.
BAL Analysis: The exemption removes a step and a cost in the visa process for U.S. nationals and family members making short-term visits to Saudi Arabia.
What is the change? Short-term visitors applying for visas to Saudi Arabia are being required to purchase an insurance policy during the online “Enjaz” registration process. The new requirement is expected to be rolled out globally, and currently covers applicants in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom who are applying for visitor visas, including business, commercial visit, work visit and family visit visas. The rule does not currently affect individuals applying for long-term visas such as employment visas or residence permits.
What does the change mean? Employers and individuals applying for any type of visitor visa should plan for the additional expense of purchasing the policy before submitting their application to a Saudi consulate. The government fees for the insurance policy will depend on the applicant’s biographical information, and range from US $100 to $300.
Background: The new policy has introduced through the online Enjaz government registration process, a prerequisite to the visa application process.
During the online registration, applicants for short-term visits will be directed to enter their biographical information and to purchase an insurance policy. The price will be determined by the Enjaz system and will vary depending on the applicant’s nationality, duration of stay and other biographical information. The policy is intended to cover emergency hospitalization, accidents and other bodily injury.
BAL Analysis: Business and family visitors to Saudi Arabia should factor in the additional government insurance fee when planning short-term stays.
What is the change? In April, the Saudi Cabinet approved Vision 2030, a comprehensive 15-year plan to diversify the economy, reduce reliance on oil, attract foreign investment and create jobs. The plan contains proposals relevant to foreign business visitors and expatriate workers.
What does the change mean? Among the proposals related to immigration, the government would introduce sector-based special zones, including a financial special zone with visa exemptions, and would build a more robust tourism sector with improved visa procedures for visitors. The deputy crown prince has also publicly announced that a residency permit system similar to the U.S. green-card system will be developed within five years.
Background: The fall in oil prices has spurred the government to develop other areas of the economy to make up for budget shortfalls. Vision 2030 contains some bold promises, such as privatizing government services, offering stock shares in a portion of Saudi Aramco, increasing women’s participation in the workforce to 30 percent and reducing unemployment to single digits. The plan recognizes that improving the business environment will help attract foreign investors.
BAL Analysis: The immigration-related ideas are intended to make the kingdom’s policies more conducive to foreign investment and tourism revenue. BAL is following Vision 2030 and will report changes as the government releases additional details.