Saudi Arabia Implements New Work Visa Limits for Businesses

Saudi Arabia has revised its work permit regulations, imposing new limits on the number of work visas businesses can obtain based on their operational history. Companies that have been in operation for less than two years are restricted to a maximum of five work visas.

In contrast, businesses that have been operating for over two years can apply for up to 50 visas, either through a single submission or multiple applications within the same week. Companies enrolled in Saudi Arabia's Establishing Programme face different rules, starting with a quota of two work visas, which increases as they improve their Nitaqat classification.

The Nitaqat system ranks companies based on the proportion of Saudi nationals in their workforce, with a higher score indicating better compliance with Saudisation targets. The changes aim to link foreign labor access to business development, allowing established companies more recruitment flexibility while imposing stricter limits on newer enterprises.