Visa by Nationality
The complete operational guide for Pakistani nationals moving to Saudi Arabia for work — eligibility, document attestation through HEC (Higher Education Commission) and MOFA Pakistan, followed by Saudi Embassy, costs, and the realistic end-to-end timeline.
How does a Pakistani citizen get a Saudi Arabia work visa? A Pakistani 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 Islamabad (with consulates in Karachi and Lahore). Total timeline is typically 6–10 weeks; BEOE clearance can add 5–10 days.
Pakistan 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 Pakistani citizens through the standard Saudi work-visa lifecycle: block visa from MHRSD, MOFA-issued visa invitation, embassy stamping in Islamabad (with consulates in Karachi and Lahore), GAMCA medical screening (where applicable), arrival in the Kingdom, and Iqama issuance within 90 days.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia operate under a long-standing labour-export framework managed by Pakistan's Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BEOE). Saudi recruitment of Pakistani workers must flow through a BEOE-licensed Pakistani recruiting agent unless the employee is hired directly via Tamra (or another Saudi-licensed sponsor) using an attested individual contract.
Where Pakistani hires typically land in Saudi Arabia: Construction technical trades (welders, electricians, HVAC), drivers and logistics, healthcare support, security, F&B and domestic services.
Realistic timing for this corridor: BEOE protector stamping at Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad protectorate adds 5–10 working days post-stamping. Plan for 7–11 weeks end-to-end.
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 | Islamabad (with consulates in Karachi and Lahore) |
| Attestation authority | HEC (Higher Education Commission) and MOFA Pakistan, followed by Saudi Embassy |
| Estimated cost (per hire) | USD 1,100 – USD 2,300 per applicant |
| End-to-end timeline | 6–10 weeks; BEOE clearance can add 5–10 days |
| 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 the BEOE protector stamp on the passport, immigration at the Pakistani exit airport will offload the passenger. Tamra coordinates the BEOE step with the licensed Pakistani agent.
Typical end-to-end timeline is 6–10 weeks; BEOE clearance can add 5–10 days. The longest variable is document attestation in Pakistan, which can be compressed with Tamra-managed processing.
Total cost typically falls in the range of USD 1,100 – USD 2,300 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.