Saudi Arabia Work Residency (Iqama)for 🇵🇰 Pakistani citizens travelling to 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Pakistani citizens are required to obtain a Saudi Arabia Work Residency (Iqama) before travelling to Saudi Arabia. You must submit a formal application at the Saudi Arabia embassy, consulate, or a designated visa application centre in your country. Apply well in advance of your planned travel date.
Verified 2026-06-20: A Saudi Arabia work visa for Pakistani nationals is employer-sponsored and, on arrival, leads to an Iqama (residence permit) that the employer must issue within 90 days. The Iqama is the document authorising the stay: it is issued for 1 year and renewed annually while employment and compliance continue (Saudi Arabia's 2026 reforms also introduced an optional 5-year physical Iqama). The figure shown reflects that standard annual Iqama validity, renewable; the previously stored "90" was the issuance window, not the permitted stay. The route includes a medical examination, the new skill-based work-permit classification and biometrics.
Apply Now — Official Portal ↗📋Required Documents6
- ✓Educational certificate(s) attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi Embassy
- ✓Medical fitness certificate from approved clinic (including blood tests)
- ✓Employment contract with Saudi employer (signed)
- ✓Passport-size photographs (white background, recent)
- ✓Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
- ✓Biometric data (fingerprints, photograph) enrolled at Saudi Embassy or on arrival
ℹ️What to Expect
To apply for a Saudi Arabia Work Residency (Iqama), book an appointment at the nearest Saudi Arabia embassy or visa application centre in your country. Submit the required documents in person or via a designated courier service. Processing takes approximately 45 days. The government fee is SAR 2400.00. Plan well ahead of your intended travel date to allow time for processing and any additional document requests from the consulate. Always verify current requirements at the official government portal before booking travel.
📎Supporting Documents (may strengthen your application)
- ○Police clearance certificate from home country (apostilled where applicable)
- ○Professional licence or sector-specific certification
Conditional — required for regulated professions (doctor, engineer, nurse, teacher) (if applicable)
🌐Why Pakistani passport holders need a visa for Saudi Arabia
Pakistani citizens require a visa to enter Saudi Arabia based on the current immigration requirements set by Saudi Arabia's government. Pakistani passport holders must apply through the Saudi Arabia embassy, consulate, or a designated visa application centre before travelling. Requirements are subject to change, so always verify at the official government portal.
⚠️Common Reasons Saudi Arabia Work Residency (Iqama) Applications Are Refused6
- !Failing the mandatory medical examination (including communicable-disease screening) or biometrics.
- !Employer without a valid block-visa approval / quota (Nitaqat) for the role.
- !Unattested or unverified educational certificates and experience documents.
- !Qualifications or occupation not matching the new skill-based work-permit classification.
- !Name, date-of-birth or passport-number mismatch across the application, passport and contract.
- !Prior overstay, absconding record or labour violation in Saudi Arabia or the GCC.
Refusal grounds are at the discretion of the deciding officer and can change. This list is informational — always verify current requirements at the official government portal.
Requirements last reviewed: June 2026 · Source: official government portal
🔗More Saudi Arabia Visa Options
- Saudi Arabia Business Visa →
- Saudi Arabia Family Residence Visa →
- Saudi Arabia Hajj Visa →
- Saudi Arabia Tourist e-Visa →
- Saudi Arabia Transit Visa →