Job Discussion Forums

teach777 · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 7

Can we pick up our work visa from other than our country of origin???

Ex. I am from London, can I pick it up from UAE?????

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

This depends on your employer. In my case I am a UK citizen but resident in Eastern Europe. I got my entry visa in Istanbul.

You may have to go back to your country of origin or to your country of residence.

Who is the employer ?

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 9:46 am Post subject:

Obtaining a Saudi work visa involves far more than just turning up at the Embassy to 'pick it up.' You - and your employers - have to go through a lot of tedious paperwork and you will have to do a thorough medical exam. As Scot says, it is possible to obtain a visa in a country other than your own, but it will probably complicate an already lengthy procedure, and you will be asked to prove residency in the country in which you apply for the visa. Things may be easier in the UAE, as it is a fellow GCC country, but you might find it easier just to fly to your home country and do everything from there.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

On the two occasions when I got an entry visa in Istanbul it was an unpleasant and difficult experience. Handling Saudi bureaucracy is difficult. Handling it hrough the medium of Turkish put me to the test.

I passed but I am not sure everyone would.

james · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 44

Last year, I processed my visa through the Saudi Consulate in Dubai even though my country of origin is the USA. I had absolutely no problems at all. The consulate staff was efficient and pleasant to deal with. The Consular officer, I dealt with, went so far as to waive all of the medical tests, normally required for an employment visa, except the AIDS test. From the day that I initially picked up the paperwork to apply for the visa, it took only 3 days to complete the entire proces:

Day 1- the AIDS test;
Day 2-giving the AIDS test results, my passport and the visa fee to the consulate;
Day 3- returning to the Consulate to pick up my passport.

For me, it was painless, hassle-free and fast. I hope that you have an equally pleasant experience dealing with the consulate. Good Luck!

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The problem is getting your visa to the appropriate consulate in the first place. The company is issued a block visa, for so many positions for a specific nationality, and the visa is kept at the Saudi Embassy in the country concerned.

If you are resident in another country than your country of nationality, then your employer has to request the Foreign Ministry in Riyadh to recall the visa and then sent it to the Embassy in the country you are residing. This can take a couple of months.