Visa & Immigration

Saudi Arabia Visa for Nurses

Saudi Arabia's MOH hospitals, private chains and Vision 2030 healthcare expansion drive constant demand for nurses — particularly ICU, OR, ER, paediatric and cardiac specialists. Filipino, Indian, Egyptian and Sudanese nurses dominate the market.

What is required for a Saudi Arabia visa for nurses? Nurses register with SCFHS under the Nursing classification. Bands are Specialist Nurse, Senior Registered Nurse, Registered Nurse and Technician — each with different visa salary thresholds. Tamra manages the full credentialing, attestation, visa and Iqama process — including the regulator-specific steps that block most non-specialist providers.

Bringing nurses into Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's MOH hospitals, private chains and Vision 2030 healthcare expansion drive constant demand for nurses — particularly ICU, OR, ER, paediatric and cardiac specialists. Filipino, Indian, Egyptian and Sudanese nurses dominate the market.

Nurses register with SCFHS under the Nursing classification. Bands are Specialist Nurse, Senior Registered Nurse, Registered Nurse and Technician — each with different visa salary thresholds.

Saudi recruitment law requires the employer to bear 100% of nurse recruitment costs, including round-trip flights, visa fees and GAMCA medical. Tamra handles credential verification, regulator registration, attestation, visa issuance, GAMCA medical, Iqama and family sponsorship — one accountable partner end-to-end.

Key facts

AudienceNurses
Total cost rangeUSD 1,500 – USD 2,400 (employer typically absorbs all fees per Saudi recruitment law)
Total timeline10–16 weeks end-to-end
Top source countriesPhilippines, India, Egypt, Sudan, Kenya
Sponsoring authorityMHRSD + role-specific regulator

The end-to-end process

10–16 weeks end-to-end

  1. Pre-screening & credential check. Tamra reviews the candidate's credentials against current MOL/regulator rules and flags any gaps before fees are spent.
  2. Block visa & MOL approval. Employer (or Tamra as EOR) requests the block visa via Qiwa and obtains MHRSD work permit approval.
  3. Regulator registration. Where required (SCE, SCFHS, Dataflow, Prometric), Tamra runs the regulator track in parallel with the visa.
  4. Attestation chain. Degree, experience certificates and PCC are attested in the candidate's country of origin via the Saudi Cultural Mission and MOFA.
  5. Visa stamping. Application submitted via Enjazit; the Saudi Embassy in the candidate's country stamps the work visa into the passport.
  6. GAMCA medical & travel. Candidate completes GAMCA medical (where required) and travels to Saudi Arabia. Employer must complete fingerprinting within 90 days.
  7. Iqama issuance. MOI issues the Iqama (residency permit). Family sponsorship can begin immediately after issuance.

Mandatory certifications & registrations

  • SCFHS (Mumaris+) nursing registration — mandatory
  • Prometric exam pass at the relevant level
  • Dataflow primary source verification
  • Bachelor's or Diploma in Nursing — attested
  • Minimum 2 years post-qualification experience for most Saudi employers

Documents we will need from you

  • Signed offer letter with role title and salary aligned to MOL classification
  • Candidate's passport (minimum 6 months validity, 2 blank pages)
  • Attested educational certificates (Saudi Cultural Mission attestation in country of origin)
  • Police clearance certificate from country of origin (not older than 6 months)
  • Recent passport-sized photographs (white background, 4×6 cm)
  • Marriage and children's birth certificates (if family is included)

Common rejection reasons

  • Failed Prometric exam — visa cannot proceed
  • Dataflow PSV mismatch on degree or licence number
  • Recruitment agency in source country not on the approved Saudi recruitment list

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Saudi visa take for nurses?

Typical end-to-end timeline is 10–16 weeks end-to-end. Regulator registration (where required) is usually the longest single step.

How much does a Saudi visa cost for nurses?

Total cost typically falls in the range of USD 1,500 – USD 2,400 (employer typically absorbs all fees per Saudi recruitment law). Employer absorbs fees by Saudi recruitment law; Tamra invoices the employer one consolidated number.

Can Tamra act as the legal sponsor instead of our company?

Yes. Tamra holds an Employer of Record licence in Saudi Arabia and can sponsor work visas, issue Iqamas and run payroll for your hire while you retain full operational control of the role.

Can the candidate bring family on the same visa?

Family is sponsored separately, after the main applicant's Iqama is issued. Tamra manages family residency permits and dependent Iqamas as part of the standard package.

What happens if the regulator rejects the candidate?

Pre-screening exists precisely to avoid this. If a regulator (SCE, SCFHS) rejects after submission, the file restarts. Tamra's pre-screening costs ~3% of the total fee and prevents 95%+ of these rejections.

Related resources