In force
Saudi Temporary Work Visa Regulation
اللائحة التنظيمية لتأشيرات العمل المؤقت والعمل المؤقت لخدمات الحج والعمرة
Regulation covering temporary work visas and temporary work for Hajj and Umrah services. The text is set out in 23 articles.
- Articles
- 23
- In force
- 23
- Amended
- 0
- Issued
- 28/3/1446 AH
Issued by: قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (271) وتاريخ 1446/3/28
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Temporary Work Visa Regulation by topic
Definitions of Temporary Work Visas1 articleTemporary Work Visa6 articlesApplying for a Hajj and Umrah Services Visa6 articlesEntry and Stay of Hajj and Umrah Visa Holders4 articlesOversight of Hajj and Umrah Visas2 articlesPenalties for Violating Temporary Work Visas3 articlesEntry into Force of the Temporary Work Visa Regulation2 articles
Articles of the Saudi Temporary Work Visa Regulation
الفصل الأول: تعريفاتArticles 1–1
الفصل الثاني: تأشيرة العمل المؤقتArticles 2–7
- Article 2Article 2 gives the Ministry, in coordination with the relevant entities, the power to set the purposes and occupations of the temporary work visa and the technical and professional requirements for the worker.
- Article 3Article 3 makes the temporary work visa valid for one year from issuance and cancels it automatically if unused; it may be cancelled earlier at its holder's request, with the fee recovered.
- Article 4Article 4 sets the stay of a temporary work visa holder at ninety days from entry, extendable once for an equal period, and requires the holder to leave before it ends.
- Article 5Article 5 makes the Ministry responsible for reviewing temporary work visa applications, determining their numbers and issuing the necessary permits in accordance with the specified conditions and controls.
- Article 6Article 6 provides that the Ministry sends temporary work visa permits automatically to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue them after the Kingdom's missions verify the worker's eligibility.
- Article 7Article 7 requires the temporary work visa applicant to submit to the Kingdom's missions, before the visa is granted, a copy of the employment contract signed by both parties and medical insurance for the worker.
الفصل الثالث: تأشيرة العمل المؤقت لخدمات الحج والعمرةArticles 8–18
- Article 8Article 8 gives the Ministry the power to determine the purposes and occupations of the Hajj and Umrah services temporary work visa, the worker's requirements and the countries of recruitment, taking diversity into account.
- Article 9Article 9 limits applications for the Hajj and Umrah services temporary work visa to approved establishments, and requires the applicant to enter data and addresses electronically and submit employment contracts and medical insurance.
- Article 10Article 10 requires the Hajj and Umrah services visa applicant to provide a financial guarantee of SAR 2,000 per worker, recovered on proof of the worker's departure within the specified period or on cancellation of the visa.
- Article 11Article 11 requires the approval of the endorsing entity for issuance of a Hajj and Umrah services visa, and requires it to notify the Ministry before mid-Rajab for Umrah and mid-Sha'ban for Hajj.
- Article 12Article 12 governs the review of Hajj and Umrah services visa applications: the Ministry sets when applications open, other ministries review them within 20 days, and the Ministry then decides within 15 days.
- Article 13Article 13 requires the Hajj and Umrah services visa applicant to submit to the Kingdom's missions lists of the names and data of the workers it has tested and selected, in accordance with the relevant requirements.
- Article 14Article 14 requires the Ministry to send Hajj and Umrah services visa permits automatically to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before mid-Sha'ban for Umrah and before the end of Shawwal for Hajj.
- Article 15Article 15 provides that the Kingdom's missions approve Hajj and Umrah services visas according to the applicants' lists after verifying that the workers meet the technical and professional requirements.
- Article 16Article 16 sets the entry dates and stay of Hajj and Umrah services visa holders until the end of Muharram, bars them from performing Hajj except under exemption controls, and prohibits converting the visa.
- Article 17Article 17 provides that unused Hajj and Umrah services visas are cancelled automatically on the first of Dhu al-Hijjah, or earlier at the holder's request with recovery of the fee.
- Article 18Article 18 provides for monitoring committees in the Hajj and Umrah seasons to catch violations of the Regulation and refer them to the Ministry for investigation, with the results then referred to the standing committee.
الفصل الرابع: العقوباتArticles 19–21
- Article 19Article 19 refers the penalties for violating the provisions of the temporary work visa to the penalties in the Labor Law and other relevant laws.
- Article 20Article 20 sets penalties for violating the Hajj and Umrah services visa provisions: a fine of up to SAR 50,000 or a competition ban for selling or assigning, SAR 15,000 for incorrect data, and SAR 5,000 for other violations.
- Article 21Article 21 provides for one or more standing committees, formed by decision of the Minister, to consider violations of the Hajj and Umrah services visa and impose penalties, with a grievance before the competent court permitted.