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Immigration News Alert
Saudi Arabia Suspends Temporary Work Visas and Expands Saudization
Key Points
- Saudi Arabia has paused Temporary Work Visas and introduced stricter Saudization rules for jobs in the tourism sector
Policy Updates
Saudi Arabia stopped issuing Temporary Work Visas (TWVs) on 28 April 2025, affecting all new and pending applications. The visa quota has been removed from the Qiwa platform, creating uncertainty for businesses that rely on temporary foreign workers. There is no official announcement or timeline for the visa program to resume.
The country has also increased Saudization requirements, meaning more Saudi nationals must fill certain tourism jobs. The changes will be introduced gradually between 2026 and 2028, with quotas ranging from 30% to 100%, depending on the position.
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