Skilled expats can now apply for family visas with their work visa

The Ministry of Interior announced on 6 October that skilled expatriate workers who head a household can obtain entry visas for eligible family members while their own work visa is being completed. Until now they had to finish the work visa process first.

The change was made in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. For now it covers spouses, sons under 25 and unmarried daughters.

Residency procedures for family members are completed after they arrive in the Kingdom, under the existing regulations. The announcement did not give fees or a separate start date. More information is on the ministry's website, moi.gov.sa.