Saudi Arabia sets new work visa limits for businesses, foreign workers

Saudi Arabia has introduced new limits on the number of work visas businesses can obtain for foreign workers, creating a distinction between new and established companies. Businesses operating for less than two years can obtain up to five visas, while those operating for more than two years can apply for up to 50 visas. The changes affect foreign workers seeking employment, particularly those relying on smaller or recently established companies.

Businesses in the Establishing Programme start with a quota of two visas, which increases as they progress through the programme and achieve a higher Nitaqat classification, a system categorising employers based on their workforce composition and Saudi national employment. The new limits differ from the previous framework, which lacked specific visa caps based on a business's operating duration.

The revised rules allow businesses with over two years of operation to obtain more visas, providing them with greater flexibility in overseas recruitment. The distinction is crucial for foreign workers considering employment with smaller Saudi businesses, as they have less capacity to recruit workers from abroad compared to established employers.

Prospective employees may need to consider the sponsoring company's operating history and Nitaqat status when assessing a Saudi job offer. The new framework also reflects Saudi authorities' effort to link access to foreign labour with business development and workforce classification, making workforce planning more important for employers, especially those relying heavily on overseas recruitment during their early years.