Ultimate Saudi Work Visa Checklist (2025): Start Your KSA Job with Confidence
Why a Saudi work visa checklist matters before you join a company in KSA
Whether you’re signing a long-term employment contract or heading to Saudi Arabia for a short project, having a verified, document-backed Saudi work visa checklist keeps you compliant with Saudi regulations and Pakistan’s emigration laws. This guide consolidates the latest official processes for visa verification (including QR codes), Wafid (GAMCA) medicals, Protector of Emigrants (BEOE) registration, and post-arrival Iqama steps—so you arrive ready for Day One. Key items link back to MOFA, Qiwa/MHRSD, CHI, GOSI, GCC Health Council (Wafid), and BEOE sources.
The Saudi work visa checklist at a glance (print this)
- Passport: valid ≥6 months with two consecutive blank pages (visa services reflect standard embassy requirements).
- Photos: white-background passport photos per embassy specs.
- Employment visa authorization & contract from your Saudi employer (processed via MOFA/Qiwa systems). Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Qiwa
- Medical: complete Wafid (GAMCA) medical at an approved center; GCC Health Council specifies accredited clinics and barcode/verification. ghc.sa
- Police clearance Certificate
- Pakistan emigration: Protector of Emigrants (BEOE) registration mandatory; register via licensed OEP .
- After arrival (long-term employment): employer must issue a work permit and complete your Iqama within about 90 days of arrival. Qiwa
Types of Saudi work visas (choose the right path)
Temporary Work Visa (Saudi Arabia): short, focused assignments
- Stay window: commonly up to 90 days, with one extension of +90 days (180 total) depending on current rules; official and expert briefings confirm the 90 + 90 framework and recent regulatory updates.
- Residency: no Iqama; designed for work without residency and without a separate work permit (for short-term authorization).
- How employers obtain it: Qiwa quota purchase and electronic processing.
Temporary Saudi work visa checklist
Confirm your stay limit, extension rules, sponsor, and exit plan before travel; keep proof of authorization and return ticket arrangements.
Seasonal Work Visa (Hajj/Umrah services): peak-season staffing
- Policy status: the seasonal pathway is now framed as a temporary work visa for Hajj & Umrah services per official updates.
- Duration: seasonal stays align to time-bound windows around the pilgrimage; rules mirror temporary work parameters (e.g., ~90 days with specific entry windows).
- Residency: no Iqama for seasonal/temporary workers.
Seasonal Saudi work visa checklist
Verify your season dates, accommodation, and sponsor responsibilities; plan exit well before the season window closes. Spa.gov.sa
Employment (long-term) work visa → Iqama
- Pathway: enter on an employment visa, then your employer must issue a work permit and complete your Iqama (resident ID) within ~90 days of arrival (Qiwa official guidance). Qiwa
- What Iqama unlocks: banking, telecom, housing, and online services; it’s the core resident ID used alongside health insurance and employer registrations. (General expat service and official portals reference Iqama as the residency credential.) chi.gov.sa
KSA employment checklist
Track Iqama issuance with HR; ensure health insurance activation and GOSI registration where applicable. gosi.gov.sa
How to verify a Saudi work visa (including the QR code) How to check Saudi Work Visa ?
Official Saudi MOFA query tools (primary check)
Use MOFA’s e-service “Query About Visa Issued from MOFA” to retrieve your visa record with reference data. Cross-check your name, passport number, employer, visa type, and validity details in the system. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Scan the QR code printed on the Saudi visa
Saudi Arabia has replaced visa stickers with e-visas that carry QR codes for many nationalities; scanning the QR typically opens an official record validating your visa details. This shift from stickers to QR-coded e-visas was publicly announced via Saudi Press Agency and widely reported by reputable outlets.
Saudi work visa QR code
After printing your e-visa, scan the QR at the bottom; confirm it resolves to an official KSA domain (e.g., mofa.gov.sa) and the data matches your passport. Spa.gov.sa
Wafid (GAMCA) medical — mandatory centers only
The Gulf Health Council runs the expatriate medical program, known today as Wafid (formerly GAMCA). The Council’s official page explains the expatriate examination program, its accredited center network, and the use of barcode/verification, with a specific instruction that embassies and consulates must not deal with non-accredited centers. Book your appointment only through the official ecosystem or a center listed under Wafid’s umbrella. wafid
What to bring to the Wafid appointment: passport, CNIC, white-background photos, and any documents specified by your selected accredited clinic; your fitness status and barcode are recorded electronically. wafid
Further reading : How to use the Wafid facility for Gulf countries’ visa medical — step-by-step
Benefits & obligations: Iqama, health insurance (CHI), and GOSI
Health insurance (CHI) for residents with Iqama
Saudi Arabia operates a mandatory health insurance framework administered by the Council of Health Insurance (CHI). Evidence in health policy literature and portals confirms that expats cannot obtain or renew Iqama without valid health insurance for the same duration. BioMed Central
You can also check policy status through CHI’s e-services (use your ID/Iqama or document details). chi.gov.sa
Saudi work visa checklist + CHI
On a long-term employment visa, confirm with HR that your CHI policy is active as soon as your Iqama is issued/renewed. chi.gov.sa
GOSI coverage: who is included?
The Occupational Hazards Branch of Saudi GOSI is compulsory for all workers—Saudi and non-Saudi—and provides injury coverage during employment; this is stated in GOSI’s own FAQ/registration pages. By contrast, Annuities/Pensions are for Saudi nationals. gosi.gov.sa
Temporary/seasonal vs. long-term: Temporary/seasonal visa holders do not receive Iqama and are typically not enrolled as resident employees; benefits that depend on residency (e.g., CHI via Iqama) don’t apply in the same way. Long-term employees with Iqama are handled under employer insurance and GOSI registrations. Centralgosi.gov.sa
Pakistan emigration compliance: BEOE Protector of Emigrants
Is the Protector stamp mandatory?
Yes. Pakistan’s Emigration Ordinance clearly states it is mandatory for Pakistanis with a valid work visa to obtain a Protector registration; without it, airport staff may deny boarding.
Two ways to complete protection: Direct vs. licensed OEP
The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BEOE) outlines two routes: via a licensed Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP) Recruitment Agency in Pakistan.
Do not travel without BEOE Employment Protector.
Documents required for a Saudi work visa (Pakistan)
Identity & travel documents
- Pakistani passport: ensure ≥6 months validity and two consecutive blank visa pages.
CNIC: required for BEOE protection; photocopy is acceptable under Direct Registration documentation.
Photos & forms
- White-background photos in 2×2 inch format; Saudi Embassy guidance is explicit about the white background requirement.
Medical & police certificates
- Wafid (GAMCA) medical at approved centers only (barcode/verification).
- Police clearance (timing and attestation per the Saudi mission’s instruction).
Employer paperwork
- Employment contract and visa authorization (processed via MOFA systems). Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Saudi work visa checklist documents
Keep multiple photocopies, plus digital scans of every item (passport, CNIC, photos, contract, MOFA reference). Ministry of Foreign Affairs
FAQs to complete your Saudi work visa checklist
Can I verify my Saudi work visa by scanning a QR code?
Yes. Since 2023, Saudi Arabia has widely replaced visa stickers with printed e-visas carrying a QR code; scan it to view your official record. Also use MOFA’s query service for issued visas.
Do temporary or seasonal visas include Iqama, medical, and GOSI like long-term jobs?
No. Temporary/seasonal visas do not grant Iqama and are structured as work-authorized visits; resident benefits (e.g., CHI-linked insurance, routine GOSI enrollment) apply to long-term employees once the employer completes Iqama. (GOSI confirms its Occupational Hazards Branch covers all workers; practical enrollment occurs via employer registration for employees.)
Who should process Saudi work visas in Pakistan?
Most candidates proceed via licensed Recruitment Agencies in Pakistan .
Final Thought
If you remember just five things, make them these: choose the right visa type (temporary, seasonal, or long-term employment), verify authenticity (scan the visa QR code and cross-check on MOFA e-services), complete your medical at a Wafid/GAMCA–approved center, finish Pakistan’s BEOE Protector formalities through a licensed OEP , and—once in KSA—work with your employer to issue the work permit and Iqama promptly, then confirm CHI health insurance and relevant GOSI enrollment. Keep digital and paper copies of everything (passport, CNIC, contract, visa printout/QR, Wafid receipt, protector stamp, and employer letters), and avoid any unlicensed intermediaries or non-accredited clinics.
Handled in this order, your move becomes predictable: the right visa gets you in, Wafid + Protector keep you compliant, MOFA verification keeps you safe from fraud, and Iqama + insurance unlock daily life and long-term benefits in the Kingdom. Use the checklist before booking flights, re-check it after visa issuance, and run through it again a week before departure. That rhythm minimizes surprises—and lets you start your KSA job with confidence.
Disclaimer :
The information provided in blog articles and how-to guides on the LinkArabia website is for general informational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date content, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. For more information , please read linkarabia disclaimer policy.
