The Iqama and kafala system, and the 2021 Labor Reform Initiative
Residency in Saudi Arabia for foreign workers is documented through the Iqama (residence permit),
traditionally tied to an employer sponsor under the kafala system. Saudi Arabia's Human Resources and
Social Development Ministry introduced the Labor Reform Initiative effective 14 March 2021, which eased
-- without abolishing -- several kafala restrictions: workers can transfer to a new employer after
their contract expires without the current employer's consent, request exit/re-entry travel without
employer approval (subject to electronic notice to the employer), and take final exit after contract
end without consent, subject to financial consequences for breaching a still-running contract. These
changes are administered through the Absher and Qiwa government platforms, both of which Indian
workers should register on early after arrival, since Iqama renewal, dependent sponsorship, and exit-reentry
requests are all processed through these portals rather than in person.
Premium Residency -- a sponsor-free route
Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency Permit, launched in 2019, lets qualifying foreigners live and work
in the Kingdom without an employer sponsor. In January 2024, five additional categories were introduced:
Special Talent Residency (for researchers, healthcare professionals and executives, tied to salary
thresholds), Gifted Residency, Investor Residency (requiring a substantial investment and job creation),
Entrepreneur Residency, and Real Estate Owner Residency (tied to continued ownership of qualifying
property). Current fees, thresholds and category conditions should be confirmed directly with MISA or
a Saudi immigration specialist, since these are periodically revised, and an Indian professional
considering the Special Talent route in particular should verify the current qualifying-salary threshold
before assuming eligibility, as these figures are updated from time to time.
Common visa categories for Indians
Beyond employer-sponsored work Iqamas, Indians in Saudi Arabia commonly hold business/visit visas and
family/dependent Iqamas for accompanying spouses and children (subject to the dependent levy discussed
in the Tax section). Current visa-category rules and application channels are administered through the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa portal and should be confirmed at the time of application, as Saudi
Arabia's labor and immigration framework has been under continuous reform in recent years. Indian
nationals traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah use a separate, dedicated pilgrimage-visa channel
administered in coordination with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah rather than the standard work or
visit-visa process, and should apply through officially licensed operators to avoid the visa
complications that unlicensed intermediaries can create.
