I received an offer that is pretty good for a position in Jeddah, however I have been told by the company recruiter the following:

“OK, for Swedish passport, I got approval from our Government Relations Dept. So the process will be to bring you one or two time on Business Visit visa and then we will get permanent resident visa. Please confirm if it is OK for you”

What does this mean and what should I answer?


Many Thanks in advance

This is the easiest way to bring some one into the magic kingdom is by getting a Business visa and then when they are here to convert it into a working visa.
Many people here work (Yes you are not supposed to) on a business visa.
I am on a business visa here.

"No, not ok, as I'm not prepared to take the chance nor do I want to work illegally. Please acquire a PR visa first. Thank you."

It is illegal to work on a business visa. If the company are legit and properly run, they should be able to organise a proper visa, ie work permit (Iqama).

People work on the business visa - ILLEGALLY - but I would not recommend it.

There are several disadvantages about being in KSA. The suggestion that you come on a business visa would set the alarm bells ringing for me !

Thanks a lot for all the answers.

Want to mention that the company I got offer from is a western company, well known and stable with thousands of employees worldwide and well established with certainly a few hundred in KSA. They have large ongoing projects in KSA. They seem very serious and really want me working for them.

My reflection is whether they are saying that they have got approval from their Government Relations Dept. then why they cannot fix a proper visa, ie work permit (Iqama)? why do they do it illegally??

I am really confused

because they may not want to employ you long term. push back. insist on a work permit. if they won't then you have dodged a bullet.

It is very difficult to understand the internal workings. Could be a question of conflict within the company or between company and Min of Labour and/or Min of Foreign Affairs.

Tell them you want an iqama. I suggest no iqama no job.

I am wondering if it is possible at all to convert a business visit visa to permanent resident visa in KSA!!

If yes, have I to fly back to Sweden or just leave KSA to another GCC country??

Without wanting to sound rude, you don't seem to be listening to the answers being given from people that know about these things. You are being advised what you should do, as what your prospective new employer (irrespective of how big a company they are) is suggesting is illegal and could get you into trouble. You are now asking another question having seemly ignored this advice?!

but it is sort of 'the norm'

speaking from first hand experience here

I know some employers in KSA bring employees first on business visa for several reason. One of these reasons they need the employee as soon as possible and the work visa sometimes takes ages (I know a guy waited for more than a year to get it). It can also be they need the employee for a short while.
My advice is not to go on business visa. Without Iqama in the dark-aged kingdom you can not do anything. You can't get a sim card or top it up. You can't rent a flat. You can't open a bank account. You can't get a driver license. And you are working illegally.

I really appreciate those who have responded to my questions.

The information you have provided is helpful and will be very useful.

It's the first time in my life I get in touch with KAS and their hard-to-understand system.

Not so bad - you have much more freedom then being resident. You are on business trip here and you can travel in and out KSA without bothering about exit-reentry visa. Even you get paid tickets and days off for your monthly visa ("booze") runs.

Yes, you can with your passport straight in the airport.

Not an issue if accommodation provided by employer.

Not an issue if you get salary to your account in your home country.

As a visiting businessmen you can rent a car and drive with your licence from another country.

This is true - you are on business visit here, and any time your business visa can be cancelled for no reason (or for a reason related with your employer ="inviting business partner") and you can be asked to leave the country in 24 hours, or banned at the airport.

Go if you don't have family or don't want to bring them here - this is only impossible thing with business visa.

The business visa is also quite often used to test the employee for culture shock. Many come in and have a meltdown so it's a 'probation' period of sorts. I wouldn't worry too much about it if you've got the backing of a large western company. Just don't tell anyone you're working! Look at the exact conditions of a business visa, memorise them and prepare to stare down accusers.

Your company will advise you to use Western Union/Telemoney to send money home. Get them to supply you with a simcard or two. Bring an international driving license to hire cars (if company doesn't supply them) and just learn about what life is like here.

You're not being brought in to work indefinitely on a business visa. You're not working for a two-bit company. These alleviate some of the worries of the business visa vs work visa argument.

From the perspective of having worked for a large, European-based company which deployed westerners to Saudi, I agree with the above.