Visa by Nationality
The complete operational guide for Nepali nationals moving to Saudi Arabia for work — eligibility, document attestation through MOFA Nepal and Saudi Embassy in Kathmandu, costs, and the realistic end-to-end timeline.
How does a Nepali citizen get a Saudi Arabia work visa? A Nepali 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 Kathmandu. Total timeline is typically 6–10 weeks.
Nepal 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 Nepali citizens through the standard Saudi work-visa lifecycle: block visa from MHRSD, MOFA-issued visa invitation, embassy stamping in Kathmandu, GAMCA medical screening (where applicable), arrival in the Kingdom, and Iqama issuance within 90 days.
Nepal's Foreign Employment Board (FEPB) regulates outbound labour. Saudi employers (or Tamra as EOR) must route hiring via an FEPB-licensed Nepali recruitment agency, and contracts must be FEPB-pre-approved before the Saudi Embassy in Kathmandu will stamp.
Where Nepali hires typically land in Saudi Arabia: Security guards, construction, hospitality, housekeeping, agriculture.
Realistic timing for this corridor: FEPB pre-approval typically takes 2–3 weeks. 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 | Kathmandu |
| Attestation authority | MOFA Nepal and Saudi Embassy in Kathmandu |
| Estimated cost (per hire) | USD 950 – USD 2,000 per applicant |
| End-to-end timeline | 6–10 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.
Typical end-to-end timeline is 6–10 weeks. The longest variable is document attestation in Nepal, which can be compressed with Tamra-managed processing.
Total cost typically falls in the range of USD 950 – USD 2,000 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.
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.