How to prepare an application

The detailed procedure runs through the official visa channels. While the ministries publish the operational steps, these preparations apply in almost every case:

  1. 1

    Step 1: Confirm eligibility with your employer

    Ask the employer to confirm that your work visa and occupation fall under the skilled category covered by the concurrent family route.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Prepare family documents

    Gather valid passports for each family member, your marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates, attested as required by the Saudi visa process in your country.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Apply through the official visa channel

    Family entry visas are issued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa services. Follow the instructions given there for biometrics, photos and any medical requirements.

  4. 4

    Step 4: Complete residency after arrival

    After entering the Kingdom, the family’s residency (Iqama) procedures, including health insurance, must still be completed under the normal rules.

What changed

In early October 2026, the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, announced that a skilled expatriate head of household can have entry visas for eligible family members processed concurrently with his or her own work visa.

Before this change, the usual sequence was: the worker’s work visa first, then arrival, Iqama issuance and only then a family visa application. The new arrangement is designed to let families arrive together or soon after the worker, instead of waiting months apart.

Who is eligible

The measure is for skilled expatriate workers. The announcement did not publish a list of occupations, so whether a particular job qualifies should be confirmed with the employer and the official visa platform. Saudi work permits are now classified as high-skilled, skilled or basic, and your recorded occupation matters.

Eligible family members are the spouse, sons under 25 and unmarried daughters. The announcement does not extend the concurrent route to parents, siblings or other relatives; they continue to use the existing visit-visa routes.

What has not been confirmed yet

As of 4 November 2026, the announcement did not publish a list of eligible occupations, visa validity periods, fees, or the exact medical and biometric steps for dependants. Be cautious of guides that state these as fixed rules. We will update this page when the official procedure is published.