Saudi Arabia allows highly skilled expats to bring families during work visa process

Saudi Arabia has recently implemented new measures allowing highly skilled foreign workers to bring their eligible family members to the Kingdom while their work visa processes are ongoing, according to the Interior Ministry. This initiative, coordinated with the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, aims to enhance the residents' quality of life and simplify procedures for highly skilled expatriates.

Under these new rules, eligible workers can now include their spouses, sons under 25 years old, and unmarried daughters in their move to Saudi Arabia. Entry visas for these family members can be granted simultaneously with the processing of the highly skilled worker's employment visa, as long as all application requirements and conditions are satisfied. Consequently, qualifying workers will no longer need to finalize their work visa process before initiating procedures to bring their eligible family members to the country.

Once the family members arrive in Saudi Arabia, the ministry stated that procedures for issuing their residence permits can be completed in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The Saudi Arabian government has also introduced limitations such as capping instant work visas to five per year for businesses that have been operating for less than two years, as well as providing guidance on the 2025 visit visa process, including eVisa, visa on arrival, and transit options.