Article 3 of the Saudi Temporary Work Visa Regulation
المادة 3 من اللائحة التنظيمية لتأشيرات العمل المؤقت والعمل المؤقت لخدمات الحج والعمرة · الفصل الثاني: تأشيرة العمل المؤقت
Article 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- مدة صلاحية تأشيرة العمل المؤقت (سنة) من تاريخ صدورها.
2- تلغي الوزارة -آليًّا- تأشيرة العمل المؤقت غير المستخدمة بعد انتهاء مدة صلاحيتها، أو قبل ذلك بناءً على رغبة طالبها وله في هذه الحالة استعادة الرسم الذي دفعه.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 3 explained in plain English
This article governs the life of the temporary work visa before it is used:
- Period of validity: one year from the date the visa is issued.
- Automatic cancellation: if the year ends and the visa has not been used, the Ministry cancels it automatically.
- Cancellation at the holder's request: the visa applicant may ask for it to be cancelled before its validity ends, and in that case may recover the fee it paid.
The text ties recovery of the fee to cancellation before the end of validity at the visa applicant's wish. If the establishment no longer needs the worker, it is better for it to request cancellation before the year ends so as to benefit from recovery of the fee. If it leaves the visa to be cancelled automatically on expiry, the text does not mention recovery of the fee in that case.
Note that the period of validity here concerns use of the visa for entry, while the worker's length of stay after entry is governed by Article 4. Anyone with a particular situation may consult a lawyer specializing in recruitment and visa regulations.
Practical example
An establishment in Dammam obtained a temporary work visa for a worker, and the project was then cancelled after four months. The establishment asks the Ministry to cancel the visa before its one-year validity ends, and recovers the fee it paid.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 3 of the Saudi Temporary Work Visa Regulation
How long is a temporary work visa valid?
One year from the date of issuance.
Can the fee for a temporary work visa be refunded?
Yes. If the visa applicant requests cancellation before the visa's validity ends, it may recover the fee it paid.
What happens to a temporary visa that is not used?
The Ministry cancels it automatically once its period of validity ends.
More articles on Temporary Work Visa
- Article 2
Article 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.
1- تحدد الوزارة، بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة، الأغراض والمهن التي تشملها تأشيرة العمل المؤقت. 2- تحدد الوزارة بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة الاشتراطات الفني
- Article 4
Article 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.
مدة الإقامة لحامل تأشيرة العمل المؤقت (تسعون) يوماً من تاريخ دخوله بها للمملكة، وللوزارة تمديدها مدة مماثلة لمرة واحدة. وعلى حامل التأشيرة مغادرة المملكة قبل ان
- Article 5
Article 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.
تتولى الوزارة دراسة طلبات تأشيرة العمل المؤقت، وتحديدَ أعدادها، وإصدار الأذونات اللازمة، وذلك وفق الشروط والضوابط المحددة.
- Article 6
Article 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.
ترسل الوزارة آليًّا الأذونات الخاصة بتأشيرة العمل المؤقت إلى وزارة الخارجية؛ لإصدار التأشيرة، بعد قيام ممثليات المملكة في الخارج باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة؛ للتحق
- Article 7
Article 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.
يقدم طالب تأشيرة العمل المؤقت إلى ممثليات المملكة في الخارج، قبل منحه التأشيرة، ما يأتي: 1- نسخة من عقد العمل الموقع من طرفيه. 2- تأمين طبي للعامل المطلوب له ال
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.