Residency in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for foreign investors:

Aug 2

Welcome back! Now that we’ve entered Saudi Arabia, completed the medical examination, and obtained social insurance, the next steps are crucial: getting a business card (بطاقة عمل) and registering on the Qiwa application.

Today, we’ll break down everything you need to know about:
✔ What is Qiwa & how does it work?
✔ Understanding Saudization (Nitaqat/Alsaawda) for foreign investors
✔ Business card & residency costs (and how to save money!)
✔ Next steps after securing residency

1. What is Qiwa?

Qiwa is Saudi Arabia’s official platform for labor and employment, managed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). It is used to:
✔ Hire employees (Saudis and expats)
✔ Process work visas (Iqama)
✔ Renew work permits
✔ Monitor Saudization (Nitaqat) compliance

Qiwa’s Color System (Nitaqat Compliance Levels)

Your company’s status on Qiwa is color-coded, affecting your ability to:

Issue visas
Obtain business cards
Hire foreign workers

  
    Color
    Meaning
    Privileges
  

    Red ❌
    Non-compliant
    Cannot issue visas or business cards
  

    Yellow ⚠️
    Partially compliant	
    Limited visa allocations
  

    Green ✅	
    Compliant/td>
    Full visa & hiring privileges
  

    Platinum 💎	
    High compliance	
    Maximum benefits & fast processing
  

New companies start in the "Red" zone until they meet Saudization requirements.

2. Saudization (Alsaawda/Nitaqat) for Foreign Investors

What is Alsaawda?

Alsaawda (السعودة) refers to the mandatory hiring ratio of Saudis to foreigners in your company.

Standard rule: 1 Saudi for every 3 foreigners (1:3 ratio).
But what if you’re a new foreign investor?
- If you’re the owner, manager, and sole employee, you may not yet have Saudis hired.
- Solution: Apply for a temporary exemption through the Ministry of Investment (MISA) to lift the Saudization block.
- This allows you to get your business card & residency first, then hire Saudis later.

How to Get the Exemption?

Submit a request via MISA (Ministry of Investment).
Provide proof of business ownership (Commercial Registration, Articles of Association).
Get approval (temporary Saudization waiver).
Proceed with business card & residency processing.

3. Business Card & Residency Costs

Business Card (بطاقة عمل) Fees

Standard cost: 9,700 SAR (for most companies).
Discounted options:
- 100 SAR for sole proprietorships (individual freelancers/consultants).
- Seasonal discounts (sometimes available through law firms, reducing fees to 100 SAR instead of 9,700 SAR).

Residency (Iqama) Fees

650 SAR per year (standard renewal cost).

💡 Pro Tip: Some law firms offer discounted packages during promotions—always check before paying full price!

4. What’s Next After Getting Residency?

Once you have your business card & residency, you can now fully operate and use essential Saudi government apps, including:
✔ Qiwa (Labor & Saudization)
✔ Nafaz (Exit/Re-Entry Visa)
✔ Absher (Government e-Services)
✔ Muqeem (Expat Residency & Visa Tracking)

We’ll cover these apps in detail in a future blog post.

5. Need Help?

If you face technical issues with Qiwa, Saudization, or business card processing, contact us at elwaa.org for expert guidance.

shata ellwaa