New Visa Rules in Saudi Arabia: Everything exposed here is World News
TL; Dr: Saudi ArabiaThe new visa policy now considers skill, experience and salary. The expats are divided into three levels: high-skilled, skilled and basic.This change connects with Vision 2030 and large national projects Nom And KidiaWhile professionals can benefit from this system, it can make life difficult for low -pay workers.Companies face new compliance rules and documentation responsibilities.
A new name for change is: skill-based visa
Ask any expat that works in Saudi Arabia in the last few decades, and they will probably tell you the same thing: your job title often defines your life. Whether it is a cleaner, a technician, or a surgeon all placed the same general residency permit, whether known as Ekma, regardless of their skill set. That era is now getting closer.By July 2025, Saudi Arabia has introduced a completely new work permit system that ranks foreign workers based on their actual merit, experience and income levels. In simple words, it is no longer written only on your job contract, but what you bring to the table is not about it.
The new structure breaks workers into three categories:
- Expert in high-skilled (engineering, medicine, AI, etc.)
- Kushal (in technical trades and supervisory roles)
- Basic (labor-intensive jobs such as driving, cleaning, or loading)
Everything is being managed through a digital system QIWA platform under the Ministry of Human Resources. The scoring system considers several factors from education and professional history to age and monthly salary.
Now why this change?
This improvement is tied to some big, ie Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030.The objective of this national plan is to push Saudi beyond oil and in areas such as tourism, technology and more. And to reach there, they need people who can manufacture, codes, design and manage high-level professionals around the world.Such as Projects:
- Neom (Futuristic $ 500B Smart City)
- Kidia (a huge culture and entertainment destination)
- Red Sea Project (A Luxury Eco-tourism site)
- Diriyah Gate (Focused on restoring historical identity)
These are not your run-off-the-mill development. They require talent that fits in modern, niche roles: Climate experts, AI moralists, or urban dynamics planners. This is where new visa levels come. The country wants to attract the right mind for a job.
What if you are already working in Saudi?
For exits already living in the Kingdom, changes began in the middle of June 2025, and the government has given employers a window till August 3 to update the records.If you are a professional, it can actually work in your favor:
- Your experience and education can help with rapid renewal
- You may have more job options in areas
- Long -term residence and family sponsor can be easy to secure
But if your job falls in the original category, you can face yourself:
- More documents to submit
- Delay in visa processing
- Possible complications when switching jobs or renewing your permit
This change does not mean that anyone is being pushed out – it means that the criteria are tightening, especially at the lower end of the job market.
A Look Back: How did Saudi Arabia handle first
To understand where things are led, it helps to see where they started.For decades, Saudi Arabia used the Kafala system, where the employer of a worker worked as his sponsor. From contract renewal to travel permissions, there was a sponsor control over many aspects of laborer’s life.In the early 2000s, this system began to face criticism, especially from rights organizations. And so, the government began to make it tweet.Nitakat first came in 2011, which rewarded businesses for hiring more Saudi citizens. Later, with Vision 2030, there were major reforms showing more job dynamics, removed some exhaust visa sanctions, and slowly moving towards a digital labor market.Now, with this skill-based model, Saudi Arabia is still taking its most adventurous steps, a one that is to meet the demands of a changing economy.
What about employers?
If you are running a business in Saudi Arabia, this improvement is a real operational change.HR teams now have to ensure:
- Educational credentials match job rolls
- Salary worker is aligned with assigned tier
- Contracts and employees are uploaded correctly in title Qiwa
Mistakes here will not only cause delays, they can result in rejection of punishment or visa applications. For large firms, these processes can be manageable. But small and medium enterprises will need to adapt the risk of falling back quickly or back.
Has the Kafla really gone?
While the skill-based model is a jump, not all old traditions have been removed. In practice, especially in the lower skills brackets many exites still require employer approval:
- Leave the country
- Bring family members
- Switch jobs
This shows that when the system is developing, it still has heritage issues that need to be ironed.
Will the remittances be affected?
According to the start of 2025, exits in Saudi Arabia send back more than SR12.78 billion ($ 3.4 billion) in remittance every month.Under the new system:
- Can enter workers with low income, reduce the overall number
- But more high -income professionals can send large quantities individually
This can reopen how the money flows back in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines, which are some of the greatest recipients of the Gulf remittance.
The Big Picture: Going Digital, Going Smart
This improvement is not happening in separation. This is part of a large digital change, including:
- Professional Verification Program – Ensures that all credentials are real before workers arrive.
- Wage Protection System – Tracks salary payment in real time
- Handle everything from platforms like Qiwa, Musaneed, and Taqat – from working to filing complaints
The final goal through this mission is a labor market that is detected, fair and more efficient.
Decision
Whether you are a software developer in India, a nurse from the Philippines, or a Bangladesh construction worker, this change affects you.For some, it can mean greater freedom, rapid processing and better benefits. For others, it can feel like an additional obstacle to live in the country that they have long called homes.
questions to ask
Q. What are the three skill levels in the new visa system?High-skilled (engineer such as experts), skilled (supervisors), and basic (manual labor roles like cleaner).Q. Can workers challenge their skill classification?not directly. But their employers can submit the updated documents and request a review through QIWA.Q. Will this make it easier to bring the family to Saudi Arabia?Yes, family sponsorship and long-term residences are more accessible for workers in high-cycling tier.
