Visa by Nationality
The complete operational guide for Canadian nationals moving to Saudi Arabia for work — eligibility, document attestation through Global Affairs Canada authentication and Saudi Embassy Ottawa, costs, and the realistic end-to-end timeline.
How does a Canadian citizen get a Saudi Arabia work visa? A Canadian citizen obtains a Saudi work visa through a Saudi-licensed employer (or an Employer of Record) issuing a block visa via MHRSD, then completing GAMCA medical, attestation of educational and police certificates, and visa stamping at the Saudi Embassy in Ottawa (with consulate in Toronto). Total timeline is typically 5–8 weeks.
Canada is one of the most active corridors for workforce mobility into Saudi Arabia. Saudi employers (or an Employer of Record acting as the legal sponsor) hire Canadian citizens through the standard Saudi work-visa lifecycle: block visa from MHRSD, MOFA-issued visa invitation, embassy stamping in Ottawa (with consulate in Toronto), GAMCA medical screening (where applicable), arrival in the Kingdom, and Iqama issuance within 90 days.
Canada–Saudi Arabia consular relations were partially restored in 2023 after the 2018 freeze. Canadian degrees are now authenticated via Global Affairs Canada (Authentication Services Section, Ottawa) and then attested by the Saudi Embassy in Ottawa. Provincial credentials may require an initial provincial notarial step.
Where Canadian hires typically land in Saudi Arabia: Engineering and EPC management, oil & gas (Aramco supplier ecosystem), healthcare, education, technology leadership.
Realistic timing for this corridor: Global Affairs Canada authentication runs 15–20 business days standard. End-to-end 7–10 weeks.
Tamra Mobility manages the full lifecycle as either the legal sponsor (under our EOR licence) or as the operational partner working with your in-Kingdom entity — including attestation routing, GAMCA scheduling, embassy submission, arrival logistics and Iqama issuance.
| Visa type | Saudi Long-Term Work Visa (converted to Iqama on arrival) |
|---|---|
| Embassy / Consulate | Ottawa (with consulate in Toronto) |
| Attestation authority | Global Affairs Canada authentication and Saudi Embassy Ottawa |
| Estimated cost (per hire) | USD 1,800 – USD 3,500 per applicant |
| End-to-end timeline | 5–8 weeks |
| Iqama issuance | Within 90 days of Saudi entry |
| Family inclusion | Spouse and children eligible after main applicant Iqama issued |
The end-to-end Saudi work visa and Iqama lifecycle.
Yes — consular relations were restored in 2023 and the Saudi Embassy in Ottawa is fully operational for attestation. Canadian work-visa volumes into Saudi Arabia have normalised.
Typical end-to-end timeline is 5–8 weeks. The longest variable is document attestation in Canada, which can be compressed with Tamra-managed processing.
Total cost typically falls in the range of USD 1,800 – USD 3,500 per applicant. This covers MHRSD block visa fees, MOFA, embassy stamping, attestation, medical and Iqama issuance. Family inclusion adds further costs.
Yes — once the main applicant's Iqama is issued and provided their job classification meets the MOI threshold (typically white-collar professional roles), they can sponsor a spouse and children under 18.
GAMCA is not mandatory for most Western nationalities, but a Saudi-recognised medical fitness test is still required after arrival as part of Iqama issuance.
Yes. Tamra holds an Employer of Record licence in Saudi Arabia and can sponsor work visas, issue Iqamas and manage payroll for your hire while you retain full operational control of the role.
If the candidate is found unfit on contagious disease grounds (TB, HIV, hepatitis), the visa is rejected and cannot be appealed. Tamra screens candidates pre-application to avoid this.