Saudi Arabia limits instant work visas for new businesses

Saudi Arabia has reduced the number of instant work visas available to newly established businesses, introducing new limits aimed at regulating recruitment and ensuring compliance with labour market requirements. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development's Qiwa platform, companies operating for less than two years can now obtain a maximum of five instant work visas.

The new rules also set higher limits for older businesses. Companies that have been operating for more than two years can receive up to 50 visas, either through a single application or multiple applications submitted within the same week at the entity level.

The move is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to manage recruitment practices and encourage employers to meet labour market regulations. The Qiwa platform said businesses enrolled in the Establishment Programme and meeting the required conditions will initially receive two visas. Additional visa allocations may be granted if these businesses increase their Saudisation rates.


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Businesses must meet eligibility conditions

The updated policy comes alongside a set of requirements that employers must meet before recruiting non-Saudi workers from abroad. Qiwa outlined 10 conditions for companies seeking to hire foreign workers.

Among the key requirements, businesses must maintain an active operational status and hold valid work permits for their employees. They must also have a valid commercial registration and comply with Saudisation requirements by remaining in the medium green category or higher.

In addition, employers must comply with the Wage Protection System and maintain sufficient balances on government platforms such as Absher or Muqeem. These measures are designed to ensure that businesses meet administrative and labour-related obligations before receiving approval to recruit workers from outside the Kingdom.

The platform also requires annual self-assessment compliance for companies employing 10 or more workers. Employers must register employee work locations on the Qiwa platform and maintain sufficient recruitment quota balances based on the type of visa being requested.

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Another condition states that the employer must be at least 18 years old. Businesses must also continue meeting all regulatory requirements throughout the recruitment process.

The latest changes follow a series of labour market enforcement measures introduced by Saudi authorities in recent months. The government has increased oversight of recruitment activities and workplace compliance as part of broader efforts to regulate the labour market and support national employment objectives.

Under the revised framework, businesses seeking to recruit workers from abroad will need to ensure they meet all eligibility criteria before applying for instant work visas through the Qiwa platform.