Indians take up jobs in Saudi Arabia on an employment visa that the employer applies and pays for: SAR 2,000 for a single-entry visa valid 90 days to enter, lodged on Enjaz after the employer obtains a visa quota on Qiwa. Before the visa is stamped at VFS Tasheer the worker completes the Wafid medical at a GAMCA-approved clinic, attestation of the degree or diploma, the Professional Verification Program (PVP) test for skilled trades and professions, and e-Migrate clearance if the passport is Emigration Check Required. On arrival the employer issues the iqama (residence permit) within 90 days and pays the SAR 9,600 a year work permit levy. The whole sequence takes 6 to 8 weeks.
The short version with the price card and checklist is on the Saudi Arabia work visa route page. This article is the long version: the employer's steps, the worker's steps, who pays what, the timeline for an Indian hire, the contract and iqama rules and the reasons applications are delayed or refused.
Who qualifies for a Saudi work visa?
Any Indian worker with a job offer from a Saudi employer that holds a visa quota for the profession on Qiwa, in a role open to expatriates under the Saudization (Nitaqat) rules, who passes the Wafid medical, holds the attested qualification the profession requires and, for listed skilled professions, passes the PVP test. Indian workers are the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom, about 2.6 million people, across construction, oil and gas, healthcare, IT, retail, hospitality, transport and domestic work.
Professionals (engineers, doctors, nurses, accountants, IT specialists) need the degree attested by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy or the Saudi Culture Mission, and engineers need Saudi Council of Engineers registration after arrival. Skilled trades sit the PVP test in India. Unskilled roles need no qualification but the employer must meet the Indian Embassy's minimum referral wage, currently SAR 1,500 a month for most categories, and ECR passport holders need Protector of Emigrants clearance on e-Migrate. The Embassy of India's employment FAQs set out the Indian side.
How do the employer's and the worker's steps fit together?
| Stage | Who | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa quota | Employer | Requests a block visa for the profession and nationality on Qiwa; Nitaqat band must allow it | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Enjaz application | Employer or agent | Lodges the visa application with the worker's passport details and pays SAR 2,000 | 1 to 3 days |
| Wafid medical | Worker | GAMCA-approved clinic in India; fit result linked to the passport | 2 to 5 days |
| Attestation and PVP | Worker | MEA and Saudi Embassy attestation of the degree; Takamol PVP test for listed professions | 1 to 3 weeks |
| e-Migrate | Employer or agent and worker | Contract registration; Protector of Emigrants clearance for ECR passports | 3 to 7 days |
| VFS Tasheer | Worker | Biometrics, document check, passport stamping | 3 to 7 working days |
| Arrival and iqama | Employer | Entry within 90 days of issue; iqama and Absher registration within 90 days of arrival | 2 to 6 weeks |
The electronic contract on Qiwa, signed before travel, sets the salary, allowances, hours (48 a week, 36 in Ramadan), probation (up to 180 days) and end-of-service benefits, and wages must be paid through the Wage Protection System.
How much does a Saudi work visa cost, and who pays?
| Item | Fee | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Employment visa | SAR 2,000 | Employer; cannot be charged to the worker |
| Work permit levy | SAR 9,600 a year (SAR 800 a month) | Employer |
| Iqama issuance and renewal | About SAR 650 a year | Employer |
| Wafid (GAMCA) medical | INR 6,000 to 8,000 | Worker, often reimbursed |
| Degree attestation | INR 3,000 to 6,000 | Worker |
| PVP test | INR 5,000 to 8,000 | Worker or employer |
| VFS Tasheer service fee | About INR 3,000 to 4,000 | Worker, often reimbursed |
| Exit and re-entry visa | SAR 200 for 2 months single | Employer or worker via Absher |
| Dependant levy | SAR 400 a month per dependant | Worker |
Vistolane charges the SAR 2,000 visa fee at the official rate and shows the medical, attestation and Tasheer costs separately on the Saudi Arabia destination page.
How does the application run?
- The employer secures the visa quota on Qiwa, issues the offer and the electronic contract and lodges the application on Enjaz, paying SAR 2,000.
- The worker completes the Wafid medical at a GAMCA clinic, attests the degree through the MEA and the Saudi Embassy or Culture Mission, and sits the PVP test if the profession is listed.
- The employer or agent registers the contract on e-Migrate; ECR passport holders obtain Protector of Emigrants clearance.
- The worker books VFS Tasheer, attends for biometrics with the passport, photos, Enjaz reference, medical, attestation and PVP result, and pays the service fee; the visa is stamped in 3 to 7 working days.
- Travel within 90 days of issue; the employer registers the worker, issues the iqama within 90 days, opens the Absher account and enrols the worker in the Wage Protection System.
How long does it take?
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Quota and Enjaz | 1 to 3 weeks | Employer side |
| Medical, attestation, PVP | 2 to 3 weeks | In parallel |
| e-Migrate | 3 to 7 days | ECR clearance |
| VFS Tasheer stamping | 3 to 7 working days | Biometrics |
| Arrival and iqama | Within 90 days | Employer issues the iqama |
Plan 6 to 8 weeks from signed contract to arrival for professionals, and 4 to 6 for workers whose employer already holds the quota.
What happens after arrival: contract, job change and family?
The iqama is the residence permit, renewed yearly or every 2 years by the employer, and the worker carries the Absher digital ID. Since the March 2021 labour reforms workers may change employer at the end of the contract, or during it with notice, without the old employer's consent, and may request exit and re-entry and final exit visas themselves on Absher. Probation is capped at 180 days, overtime is paid at 150 per cent, and end-of-service benefits accrue at half a month's salary for each of the first 5 years and a full month thereafter.
Workers in eligible professions earning about SAR 5,000 a month can sponsor their spouse and children on the family residence visa (SAR 2,000 per dependant plus the SAR 400 a month dependant levy), or bring them for 90 days on the family visit visa, both covered in the Saudi family visit and dependants guide. Long-term workers with high salaries or specialist skills may move to the sponsor-free status in the Saudi Premium Residency guide.
Why are Saudi work visas delayed or refused, and what fixes each reason?
Quota or Nitaqat problem. Employer's Saudization band does not allow the profession or nationality. The employer applies for the correct profession code or improves its band.
Medical unfit. Wafid result shows a listed condition. Treat and retest where possible; some conditions bar entry.
Attestation or PVP missing. Degree not attested or no PVP result for a listed trade. Complete both before booking Tasheer.
Profession mismatch. Visa profession differs from the qualification. Ask the employer to amend the visa profession on Enjaz before stamping.
e-Migrate clearance refused. Wage below the referral minimum or agent not registered. Correct the contract and use a registered recruiting agent.
How Vistolane files it
Vistolane's Gulf recruitment partner coordinates the employer's Qiwa and Enjaz steps, schedules the Wafid medical, attestation and PVP test, handles e-Migrate and books VFS Tasheer, charging the SAR 2,000 fee at the official rate. Start with the free eligibility check or the Saudi Arabia work visa route page. Workers comparing the Gulf can read the UAE employment visa guide and the Qatar work visa guide.
