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Saudi Arabia work visa requirements for Nepali citizens

For Nepal passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15

Route available

Saudi Arabia issues work visas against an employer's quota, and Nepal requires DoFE pre-approval of the demand.

What the employer must have

  • The Saudi employer must hold approved work-visa quota through Qiwa and request authorisation via Saudi MOFA e-services.
  • The demand must be pre-approved by Nepal's Department of Foreign Employment as a lot.

What you must do before you leave

  1. Get your labour permit (Shram Swikriti) from the Department of Foreign Employment before you fly. It is required for every Nepali going abroad for work except to India, and it is applied for online through the FEIMS system.
  2. Use a recruiting agency licensed by DoFE. Under section 3 of the Foreign Employment Act 2064 nobody may send a worker abroad without that licence, and the agency holding your lot is named on the DoFE job search.
  3. Complete the pre-departure orientation training and the mandatory insurance and Welfare Fund payment — the government fee is Rs 1,500 for the Welfare Fund plus the Rs 2,595 SSF contribution that became mandatory in 2026.
  4. Saudi requires a medical at an accredited (GAMCA/Wafid) clinic before the visa is stamped — that is a real cost, not a placement fee, and it does not entitle anyone to charge you above the NPR 10,000 cap.

Things to watch

  • Under the free-visa free-ticket policy the EMPLOYER pays your visa and one-way ticket, and your service fee to the agency is capped at NPR 10,000 for the six Gulf countries. For Malaysia the employer covers the recruitment costs. Anyone asking you for more than that is overcharging, and you can complain to DoFE or the Foreign Employment Tribunal.
  • A lot on the DoFE register means the government pre-approved that employer's demand for Nepali workers. It does not mean you have been hired, and a lot disappears from the register once its deadline passes.
  • Your stay is tied to the sponsor; keep your permit and contract copies.

What you may lawfully be charged

THE MOST A LICENSED AGENCY MAY LAWFULLY CHARGE YOU is NPR 10,000 in total — service charge and promotion together. Your visa and your one-way ticket are the EMPLOYER's to pay under the free-visa free-ticket rule.

Government of Nepal free-visa free-ticket decision; Foreign Employment Act 2064.

⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.

Official sources

This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.

Common questions

Can a Nepali passport holder work in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia issues work visas against an employer's quota, and Nepal requires DoFE pre-approval of the demand.

What does an employer in Saudi Arabia need before hiring a Nepali worker?

The Saudi employer must hold approved work-visa quota through Qiwa and request authorisation via Saudi MOFA e-services. The demand must be pre-approved by Nepal's Department of Foreign Employment as a lot.

What must a Nepali citizen do before leaving to work in Saudi Arabia?

Get your labour permit (Shram Swikriti) from the Department of Foreign Employment before you fly. It is required for every Nepali going abroad for work except to India, and it is applied for online through the FEIMS system. Use a recruiting agency licensed by DoFE. Under section 3 of the Foreign Employment Act 2064 nobody may send a worker abroad without that licence, and the agency holding your lot is named on the DoFE job search. Complete the pre-departure orientation training and the mandatory insurance and Welfare Fund payment — the government fee is Rs 1,500 for the Welfare Fund plus the Rs 2,595 SSF contribution that became mandatory in 2026. Saudi requires a medical at an accredited (GAMCA/Wafid) clinic before the visa is stamped — that is a real cost, not a placement fee, and it does not entitle anyone to charge you above the NPR 10,000 cap.

What should Nepali workers watch out for with Saudi Arabia job offers?

Under the free-visa free-ticket policy the EMPLOYER pays your visa and one-way ticket, and your service fee to the agency is capped at NPR 10,000 for the six Gulf countries. For Malaysia the employer covers the recruitment costs. Anyone asking you for more than that is overcharging, and you can complain to DoFE or the Foreign Employment Tribunal. A lot on the DoFE register means the government pre-approved that employer's demand for Nepali workers. It does not mean you have been hired, and a lot disappears from the register once its deadline passes. Your stay is tied to the sponsor; keep your permit and contract copies.

Should I pay an agent for a job in Saudi Arabia?

No. Never pay anyone for a job offer, a visa, or a place on a list. Legitimate recruitment for this route does not require the worker to pay for the job itself. Verify any agent against the official registers linked on this page.

Other countries Nepali citizens can work in

All work visa guides

26 live Saudi Arabia vacancies for Nepali workers

From Nepal's DoFE register — vacancies registered for Nepali workers.

See all jobs and apply