Saudi Arabia Company Sponsored Visa 2026 Requirements
Getting into Saudi Arabian labor market in 2026 has ceased to be a simple paperwork; it is a process of maneuvering through an integrated digital ecosystem of high-tech nature. The Kingdom has substituted the old system of sponsorship with the so-called Procedural Sovereignty under the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030.
To have an expat be successfully sponsored, his/her employer must have an ideal digital health, a live balance of Saudization quotas, wage transparency, and skill verification. The guide is divided into the needed requirements to obtain company-sponsored visa in 2026, as a professional or a business owner.
Employer Eligibility: The “Sovereign Compliance” Metrics
A company will have to go through a thorough digital audit before it is able to issue a visa invitation. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has automated systems that check whether a business is hirer ready in 2026.
Nitaqat 2.0 (Developed Nitaqat)
The Nitaqat system has become an advanced logarithmic model. The grouping does not someone fixed bands, but a instruction:
$$y = m \cdot \ln(x) + c$$
It depends on the color range of a company (Platinum, High Green, Medium Green, etc.) according to the number of employees in general (it is x in total) and the economic activity per company.
- Platinum & High Green: Benefit with the privilege to go through with the traditional quota waiting period, they have the privilege of enjoying instant Visa.
- Red and Low Green: have no right to sponsor new expats and even lose the foreigners they have to their rivals via the Qiwa portal.
The Unified National Employment platform
The companies should list any vacancy on the Jadarat (National Employment Portal) first to safeguard the local labor market. In case no qualified Saudi is discovered after a given period of time, the system has been set to open up the “Foreign Visa” request automatically.
The Points-Based Evaluation
In the case of High-Skilled Tier, the applicants are rated on:
- Academic Excellence: Degrees with the highest ranked international college will be rated more points.
- Professional Experience: Verification Years in occupational SSCO (Occupation Code).
- Salaries: Increase in salaries will add to the total points.
The Digital Platforms and Authentication are mandatory
The Sponsor does not dominate the worker with physical documents anymore, he/she governs the relations by means of three Sovereign hubs.
Qiwa: The Contract Engine
The core of the process in 2026 visa is the Electronic Contract.
- The Workflow: The employer drafts the contract and publishes it on their personal account on the Qiwa service $\rightarrow$ The worker examines the contract and accepts it electronically.
- The Finding: The MHRSD automatically authenticates the contract, and that is why it is an enforceable instrument.
Mudad: Wage Protection System (WPS)
Monitoring of compliance is done on a monthly basis. All your salary should be transferred via a Saudi bank account and stored in Mudad.
- Zero Tolerance: In case a company does not pay 80 per cent of its employees in time, the system automatically suspends its visa sponsorship services.
Musadaqa: Online Degree Certification
The era of manual stamps is gone. The degrees should now be authenticated through Musadaqa service where your university records at home country are electronically connected to the Saudi Cultural Mission.
Post-Arrival Requirements (The 90-day Sprint)
Arriving in Riyadh or Jeddah is not the end of it. There are just 90 days that the company has to complete your residency.
- Registration of Border Number: Once you arrive, you are given a Border Number of 10 digits. This is what helps you to construct your Absher profile.
- Medical Clearance (Wafid): You need to undergo a local health check to connect your insurance even though you have already passed a medical check in your home country.
- Insurance Policy Linking: The company will require you to buy a health policy which will automatically be pinned on your Border Number.
- Issuance of Digital Iqama: After making Maktab Amal Fee (approximately SAR 800/month), your Digital Iqama is made available in the Tawakkalna Services app.
FAQs
Is it possible to have a company sponsoring a visa when they are in the yellow band of Nitaqat?
No. The Yellow band is now consolidated in 2026. In order to sponsor new international talent, companies should have a minimum of Medium Green.
How long is the age restriction of a company sponsored visa?
In case of the Basic Tier, the limit is 60 years. In case of High-Skilled professionals, they may have exception under special permission of the Ministry under the points system.
Is my visa and flight covered by the company?
The sponsoring company will cover all the recruitment expenses, such as Maktab Amal training fee, residency fee, and the first flight to the Kingdom, as required by the Saudi Labor Law.
Is it possible to switch sponsors in case my company does not cover my salary?
Yes. Should the Mudad system indicate a delay of 3 months in salary, you will have the option of moving to a new sponsor through Qiwa without the permission of your current employer.
Is the Free Visa (Azad Visa) legal in 2026?
Absolutely not. Representing anyone but your formal sponsor is a Sovereign Violation, and it may result in instant deportation and life time ban.
Final Thought
The Saudi Arabia Company Sponsored Visa 2026 is constituted on the basis of transparency. When you match your talents to the right Tier and have your contract verified on Qiwa, not only are you getting a job, but you are insuring your rights under the law in one of the most rapidly developing economies across the globe.
Disclaimer
This paper is informative and educational. It is recommended that the readers should verify the information in reliable sources, including the official MHRSD Portal or Qiwa, prior to making choices.