Saudi authorities have announced a number of regulatory and compliance developments affecting employers engaging foreign nationals in the Kingdom. The latest updates introduce new work authorization requirements for Premium Residency holders, establish clearer eligibility criteria for Instant Work Visas, reinforce labour compliance through increased inspections, and strengthen pre-arrival medical screening requirements under the Wafid programme.
Collectively, these changes highlight the continued focus on strengthening labour market compliance, improving oversight of foreign worker recruitment, and supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader workforce nationalization objectives.
Premium Residency Holders Now Require Work Permits
Foreign nationals holding Saudi Premium Residency must now obtain a work permit through the QIWA platform before commencing employment. Previously, Premium Residency holders were eligible to work without holding a separate work permit.
Separately employment contracts must continue to be registered through Qiwa, and employees remain subject to General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) registration requirements. Further clarification is awaited regarding existing Premium Residency holders and whether transitional arrangements will apply.
Qiwa Introduces New Instant Work Visa Limits
Qiwa has introduced formal eligibility criteria and visa allocation limits for Instant Work Visas.
Key changes include:
To qualify, employers must satisfy several compliance requirements, including maintaining Medium Green (or higher) Saudization status, valid Commercial Registration, up-to-date employee work permits, Wage Protection System compliance, completed annual self-assessments where applicable, assigned employee work locations through Qiwa, and sufficient recruitment quota availability.
Labour Enforcement Activity Continues to Increase
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development conducted more than 250,000 labour inspections during the first quarter of 2026, identifying approximately 168,000 labour-related violations.
Inspection activity has primarily targeted:
Enforcement measures have included visa cancellations, suspension of government services, removal of improperly registered Saudi nationals from Saudization calculations, and mandatory corrective actions for non-compliant employers.
Wafid Programme Strengthens Medical Screening Requirements
The GCC has updated the Wafid programme governing pre-departure medical examinations for foreign nationals travelling to GCC countries for employment or residence.
The revised framework requires:
The Gulf Health Council also retains authority to amend medical testing standards, vaccination requirements, and medical admissibility criteria. Kuwait has formally implemented the revised framework, while implementation by other GCC member states is expected to follow.
These developments reinforce Saudi Arabia’s continued emphasis on immigration compliance, workforce regulation, and labour market oversight. Employers should review recruitment and onboarding procedures to ensure work authorization requirements are met, particularly for Premium Residency holders and employees sponsored under Instant Work Visa arrangements.
Organizations should also proactively review their compliance with Saudization obligations, labour regulations, and government platform requirements, as regulatory enforcement activity continues to increase. Businesses recruiting foreign nationals should ensure medical examinations are completed through approved Wafid channels to minimise delays during visa processing
Our immigration team can support employers by:
We continue to monitor regulatory updates and will share further guidance as new information becomes available. For tailored advice, please contact our team.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner
Ali Ibrahim
Director, KSA and Bahrain Lead
Adel Moumen
Senior Manager Middle East Immigration
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