International employment is dynamic; businesses are usually in a position where they have to tap into international talent resources, be it for a short-term project or for performing certain tasks. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has introduced Temporary Work Visas, a strategic initiative, whereby an employer could bring in non-Saudi workers for periods not exceeding three months for short-term assignments. This allows business flexibility whereby their immediate workforce needs can be met without going through the hassles of a regular work permit or residency requirements.
What is a 2-Year Temporary Work Permit?
The 2-Year Temporary Work Permit is the permit given to foreign nationals to work in Saudi Arabia for two years with a sponsoring employer. This permit is helpful in the recruitment of professionals and laborers into the construction, health, engineering, and hospitality industries among others. This permit will help employers in the hiring of skilled manpower legally and efficiently.
Eligibility Criteria
The Application for 2-Year Temporary Work Permit is to be made by fulfilling the following eligibility criteria that include:
- Age Factor: 18 years and above
- Medical Clearance: The medical tests are to be conducted aimed at proving the health suitability of the candidate.
- Valid Passport: The validity of the passport should be at least six months.
- Job Offer: Confirmation of job from a Saudi employer who would also act as a sponsor.
- Educational/Professional Qualifications: Depending on the type of job, relevant qualification/experience is required.
- No Criminal Record: A police clearance certificate may be required.
Requirements for Issuing Saudi Arabia Temporary Work Visa:
The application should be preceded by an attainment of at least a medium green level in Nitaqat in the establishment. In this regard, it shows that the establishment has committed to localizing the workforce. The employer can check eligibility and the balance visa on the Qiwa platform for assurance of maintaining a positive balance for issuance.
Qiwa presents ease to those organizations that might need more beyond their balance, through its clear procedure for an increase in a balance for a temporary work visa. By choosing ‘Increase Balance,’ an establishment has the privilege of choosing many different visa packages offered, where some come at greater amounts against lower cost. With that, business processes could fit or adjust with every change the demands of their project might introduce. The cost structure should be well understood to budget for it effectively. Short-term work visas come in packages, whose prices are as follows:
- 1 visa: 1,000 SAR
- 5 visas: 4,850 SAR
- 10 visas: 9,300 SAR
- 50 visas: 45,000 SAR
You can also create a custom package where you can choose a specific number of visas with a 10% discount. This is a good pricing strategy for businesses to have room for scalability of the workforce.
Steps after Application for Visa:
After the visa issuance is complete, the establishments should send the non-Saudi employees to Enjaz and continue with the recruitment process by following the rules laid down by the Ministry of Interior regarding the recruitment of non-Saudi workers.
Cancellation and Refund Procedures:
The Group Manager or Establishment Delegators are given the right to request the cancellation of a visa request via the Qiwa platform if need be for cancellation. Also, returns and refunds of packages are allowed within 30 days from the date of purchase, provided they haven’t been used against the issuance of a visa. This is usually accorded some flexibility to the businesses in case changed circumstances arise.
Application Process
The process of issuing temporary work visas is easy and can also be done over the Qiwa platform:
- Log in to your business account through the Qiwa portal.
- Under the Services category, click on the Instant Work Visa option.
- Against the Temporary Work Visas section, click ‘Issue visa.’
- Fill in details for each worker: occupation, gender, nationality, embassy, and religion.
- Select the number of visas required and then click on ‘Add visa details’
- Add subsequent visa requests by clicking the ‘Add subsequent visa request’ button to upload further requests
- Go through the payment details very carefully, check against Qiwa Platform Terms and Conditions, and proceed further with the submission.
Conclusion
The Temporary Work Visa in Saudi Arabia, therefore, is a commitment of the nation to quick, globally engaged labor. The Kingdom further simplifies this process with ease, clarity of pricing, and user-friendly platforms to integrate international talent in the country on short-term projects. Companies needing to navigate a maze of bureaucracy around international workforce management find a very clear path of efficiency with the Saudi Arabia Temporary Work Visa.