Visa by Nationality
The complete operational guide for Filipino nationals moving to Saudi Arabia for work — eligibility, document attestation through DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and Saudi Embassy in Manila, costs, and the realistic end-to-end timeline.
How does a Filipino citizen get a Saudi Arabia work visa? A Filipino 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 Manila. Total timeline is typically 6–10 weeks plus POEA processing.
Philippines 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 Filipino citizens through the standard Saudi work-visa lifecycle: block visa from MHRSD, MOFA-issued visa invitation, embassy stamping in Manila, GAMCA medical screening (where applicable), arrival in the Kingdom, and Iqama issuance within 90 days.
The Philippines deploys workers via the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW, formerly POEA). DMW maintains a verified-Saudi-employer registry; any Saudi-side sponsor must hold an active DMW accreditation to recruit Filipino workers, and every contract must be POEA/DMW-verified by the Saudi Embassy in Manila before stamping.
Where Filipino hires typically land in Saudi Arabia: Healthcare (registered nurses are the largest single category), hospitality (hotel and F&B), engineering, customer support and household services.
Realistic timing for this corridor: DMW accreditation of a new Saudi employer can take 4–8 weeks the first time. Subsequent hires under an accredited employer process in 6–10 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 | Manila |
| Attestation authority | DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and Saudi Embassy in Manila |
| Estimated cost (per hire) | USD 1,300 – USD 2,400 per applicant (excluding mandatory POEA/DMW fees) |
| End-to-end timeline | 6–10 weeks plus POEA processing |
| 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. Without active DMW (POEA) accreditation, the Saudi Embassy in Manila will not contract-verify or stamp Filipino work visas. Tamra holds active DMW accreditation and can sponsor Filipino hires directly.
Every Filipino overseas worker must hold a valid Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) at exit. The OEC is issued by DMW after PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar) and contract verification.
Typical end-to-end timeline is 6–10 weeks plus POEA processing. The longest variable is document attestation in Philippines, which can be compressed with Tamra-managed processing.
Total cost typically falls in the range of USD 1,300 – USD 2,400 per applicant (excluding mandatory POEA/DMW fees). 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.
Yes — GAMCA medical screening is mandatory before visa stamping for this nationality.
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.