In case you missed The View From The Top, here is the Immigration update from Fragomen's Julia Onslow Cole with a focus on navigating immigration regulations in Saudi Arabia.
Recently, at a global mobility event in Riyadh, we learned about some hot topics related to immigration regulations in Saudi Arabia. Here are some key takeaways:
Setting up a regional headquarters:
The Saudi government is encouraging companies to set up regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, with the aim of promoting economic growth. However, to qualify, companies must have three subsidiaries outside of Saudi, one outside the MENA region, and use the headquarters to manage their organization, not carry out commercial activities.
Temporary work visas:
Companies are increasingly sending employees to Saudi Arabia for short periods of work. While a temporary work visa is a good option as it doesn't count against your quota, the process for obtaining one is almost identical to a full employment visa, making it expensive and time-consuming.
Quotas by professional sector:
The Saudi court system is complex, and there are quotas by professional sector, such as legal, which can be up to 70%. This means that companies would have one quota for the whole organization and a separate quota for each professional sector.
Premium residency:
At present, there are two ways to gain premium residency in Saudi Arabia, paying an annual or lifetime fee. However, the Saudi government is considering introducing gold and green visas lasting for 5-10 years, which may be linked to having a regional headquarters in the country.
You can watch Julia's complete update here:
As a global mobility manager, it's crucial to stay informed about immigration regulations in Saudi Arabia to ensure compliance and a smooth transition for your employees. We hope this update helps you navigate the complex landscape and succeed in your global mobility efforts.
Access previous show recordings
Previous immigration updates can be accessed here.
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