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Saudi Arabia work visa requirements for Pakistani citizens

For Pakistan passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15

Route available

Saudi Arabia takes in hundreds of thousands of Pakistani workers every year, always through a Saudi employer who holds an approved work-visa quota — and before departure you must clear Pakistan's Protector of Emigrants and, for many trades, pass a Saudi skill test.

What the employer must have

  • The Saudi employer must hold approved work-visa quota ('block visa') from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, managed through the Qiwa platform, before it can bring in a foreign worker.
  • The employer requests visa authorization through Saudi MOFA's e-services to 'bring in people from outside' and issues you the employment visa; you cannot self-petition.
  • Since July 2025, every new expatriate work permit is classified high-skill / skilled / basic in Qiwa, so the employer must match your qualifications to the occupation before the permit is issued.

What you must do before you leave

  1. Before departure you must be registered with the Protector of Emigrants (BEOE) — your foreign service agreement is registered at a Protectorate office or via e-Protector (Emigration Ordinance/Rules 1979).
  2. Go through a licensed Overseas Employment Promoter, OR use the direct-employment route with your contract attested by the Pakistan mission in Saudi Arabia and registered with the Protector of Emigrants.
  3. If your trade is covered by Saudi Arabia's Skill Verification Program (e.g. plumber, electrician, welder, refrigeration/AC technician, automobile electrician), you must pass the SVP exam in Pakistan — the certificate is needed for the employment visa or renewal in those professions.

Things to watch

  • Temporary pauses happen: Saudi Arabia froze new block work visa quotas for Pakistanis and 13 other nationalities from 28 May 2025 during Hajj season; the hold was lifted 12 June 2025. Similar seasonal pauses can recur.
  • The July 2025 skill-based permit classification means your documented education, experience and wage now determine your permit category; weak paperwork can delay or block the permit.
  • Working for anyone other than the sponsor named on your visa is illegal in Saudi Arabia — so-called 'free visa' / azad visa offers are scams that leave you undocumented.
  • Pakistani press reports about 530,000 BEOE-registered departures to Saudi Arabia in 2025; the confirmed figure used here is 452,561 for 2024.

What you may lawfully be charged

THE MOST A LICENSED AGENT MAY LAWFULLY CHARGE YOU as a service charge is PKR 15,000 (PKR 6,000 if you found the job yourself and only need the paperwork done). You do not hand it over — you deposit it in a bank and the agent is paid only after the Protector of Emigrants confirms you reached the job. Anything he spends on your ticket, medical or visa must come with a signed, stamped receipt.

Rule 15 and 15A, Emigration Rules 1979 (SRO 1058(I)/2023). Charging more is punishable by up to 14 years — Section 22(a), Emigration Ordinance 1979.

⚠️ 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 Pakistani passport holder work in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia takes in hundreds of thousands of Pakistani workers every year, always through a Saudi employer who holds an approved work-visa quota — and before departure you must clear Pakistan's Protector of Emigrants and, for many trades, pass a Saudi skill test.

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

The Saudi employer must hold approved work-visa quota ('block visa') from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, managed through the Qiwa platform, before it can bring in a foreign worker. The employer requests visa authorization through Saudi MOFA's e-services to 'bring in people from outside' and issues you the employment visa; you cannot self-petition. Since July 2025, every new expatriate work permit is classified high-skill / skilled / basic in Qiwa, so the employer must match your qualifications to the occupation before the permit is issued.

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

Before departure you must be registered with the Protector of Emigrants (BEOE) — your foreign service agreement is registered at a Protectorate office or via e-Protector (Emigration Ordinance/Rules 1979). Go through a licensed Overseas Employment Promoter, OR use the direct-employment route with your contract attested by the Pakistan mission in Saudi Arabia and registered with the Protector of Emigrants. If your trade is covered by Saudi Arabia's Skill Verification Program (e.g. plumber, electrician, welder, refrigeration/AC technician, automobile electrician), you must pass the SVP exam in Pakistan — the certificate is needed for the employment visa or renewal in those professions.

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

Temporary pauses happen: Saudi Arabia froze new block work visa quotas for Pakistanis and 13 other nationalities from 28 May 2025 during Hajj season; the hold was lifted 12 June 2025. Similar seasonal pauses can recur. The July 2025 skill-based permit classification means your documented education, experience and wage now determine your permit category; weak paperwork can delay or block the permit. Working for anyone other than the sponsor named on your visa is illegal in Saudi Arabia — so-called 'free visa' / azad visa offers are scams that leave you undocumented. Pakistani press reports about 530,000 BEOE-registered departures to Saudi Arabia in 2025; the confirmed figure used here is 452,561 for 2024.

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 Pakistani citizens can work in

All work visa guides

1,000 live Saudi Arabia vacancies for Pakistani workers

From Pakistan's BEOE overseas job register — vacancies registered for Pakistani workers.

  • BARBER

    1224/Lahore, Malik Muhammad Azam OEP · AL RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

  • ANIMAL FARM WORKER

    3455/DG Khan, Osaid International Travel · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1000 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

  • PRIVATE DRIVER

    947/Rawalpindi, Hussain & Co. · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

  • load unload worker

    947/Rawalpindi, Hussain & Co. · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

  • Load and Unload Worker

    4136/Peshawar, Al-Qibla Overseas Employment Promoter · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · 1000 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

  • TRUCK DRIVER

    4733/Rawalpindi, Hattian Bala Manpower · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1000 Rial (SAR) · 2 / 2 seats

  • HOUSE WORKER

    4506/Karachi, Muzakir Overseas · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

  • LOAD UNLOAD WORKER

    3135/Lahore, Mazdoor Enterprises · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 3 / 3 seats

  • WORKSHOP LABOUR

    3135/Lahore, Mazdoor Enterprises · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

  • LOAD UN LOAD WORKER

    4677/Lahore, Aswira Recruiting Agency · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 4 / 4 seats

  • KITCHEN WORKER

    3135/Lahore, Mazdoor Enterprises · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

  • HOUSE WORKER

    4677/Lahore, Aswira Recruiting Agency · RIYADH, Saudi Arabia · 1200 Rial (SAR) · 1 / 1 seats

See all jobs and apply