BeforeGetting youhelp gowith living in Saudi Arabia

Help from the Saudi government

SeeFor ourany travelquestions adviceabout formoving Saudito Arabiaor forliving up-to-datein informationSaudi onArabia, localyou lawsmay andbe customs,able safetyto andget emergencies.help from the:

• Saudi Embassy in London
• Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs

SeeThe UK government and the British Embassy in Riyadh cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring abroad.in Saudi Arabia.

Professional help in Saudi Arabia

GeneralYou Informationcan foralso Britishget Nationalshelp visitingfrom SaudiEnglish-speaking Arabiaprofessionals in Saudi Arabia, including:

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General
• lawyers
• translators
• notaries
• funeral Informationdirectors

Help forfrom Britishthe nationalsUK visitinggovernment

Read the travel advice for Saudi Arabia (PDF, 1.64to MB,understand 1the page)risks you may face if you live in or visit Saudi Arabia. This includes the latest information on:

Local

• visas laws and customs

Saudientry requirements

laws and customscultural aredifferences

safety veryand differentsecurity

Read fromour theguidance UKon –moving, breakingliving theor lawretiring canabroad.

Get resulthelp infrom severethe punishment,UK government abroad, including thein deathan penalty.emergency.

Laws and cultural differences

SeeRead localabout laws and customscultural differences in oursafety and security in the travel advice for Saudi Arabia.Arabia. This includes:

Visas

• carrying andpersonal residency

ThereID

dress arecodes

offences complexthat visacould requirementsresult forin enteringa death sentence

Visas, residency and exitingcitizenship

Make Saudisure Arabia.you Seemeet the entry requirements for Saudi Arabia orbefore contactyou thetravel. EmbassyThis ofincludes Saudirules Arabiaaround inexit theand UK.re-entry permits.

Visas and residence permits

ACheck medicalwhich reportvisa isor requiredresidence forpermit you workneed andto residencylive permits,in andSaudi permitsArabia.

You won’tcan beget granteda tovisa anyoneto:

• work
• study
• join testingfamily

You positivemust forget HIV/AIDS.a Formedical morereport information,for contactwork theand Embassyresidency ofpermits. The Saudi Arabiagovernment inwill thenot UK.grant permits to anyone testing positive for HIV/AIDS.

Saudi visas use the Hijri Islamic calendar. You shouldcan use the VisaMuqeem Validityplatform Service(in toArabic checkand yourEnglish, permittedrequires lengthsign ofin) or stayAbsher byapp entering(in yourArabic passportand numberEnglish, andrequires Saudisign visain) numberto –check thereyour permitted length of stay. There are heavy fines and sometimes prison sentences if you overstay your visa.

For more information, contact the Saudi Embassy in London.

Sponsorship

You’ll need an invitation to live in Saudi Arabia. You must get this through a sponsor, who is normally your employer.

Sponsors are responsible for your welfare and conduct in Saudi Arabia. If you arebreak askedthe byterms localof authoritiesyour visa, they could get a heavy fine. They may pass these fines on to validateyou.

Registering documentsas bya swearingresident

Once anyou oath,arrive, affidavityour orsponsor affirmation,must pleasearrange contacta theresidence Britishpermit Embassy(‘Iqama’) infor Riyadh.you.

SponsorPermanent residency

YourYou invitationmay be able to get permanent residency by applying for premium residency in Saudi Arabia.

Citizenship

Saudi isArabia provideddoes bynot yourrecognise sponsordual –citizenship. thisThis ismeans normallyyou yourmay employer.have Yourto sponsorgive willup also(renounce) arrange your IqamaBritish (residencycitizenship permit).to become a Saudi citizen.

SponsorsRead areabout responsiblelaws foragainst yourcarrying welfare2 andpassports conductin duringsafety yourand staysecurity in the Kingdomtravel –advice theyfor maySaudi beArabia.

To finedfind heavilyout if youyou’re breakeligible for Saudi citizenship:

• read guidance on obtaining Saudi citizenship
• contact the termsSaudi Ministry of yourthe Interior
• contact the Saudi Embassy in London

Help with visa, residency and maycitizenship passapplications

The theseBritish finesEmbassy onin toRiyadh you.cannot help with Saudi visa, residency or citizenship applications.

Women

For visitors

any questions or issues, contact:

• the Saudi Embassy in London

  Women

• the mustSaudi beMinistry metof byForeign theirAffairs sponsor(visas)
• the onSaudi arrival.Ministry Womenof travellingthe aloneInterior who(citizenship)
• an aren’tEnglish-speaking metlawyer byin sponsorsSaudi mayArabia

Passports experienceand delaystravel

Read enteringour theguidance countryon moving, living or continuingretiring onabroad. otherThis flights.covers how to:

• apply for a British passport from abroad
• travel urgently without your British passport

Resident women and children

Married women requiremust get their husband’s permission to leave Saudi Arabia,Arabia. whileUnmarried unmarried women and children requireneed the permission of their father or male guardian.guardian’s permission.

Read about entry requirements for Saudi Arabia.

Contact the Saudi Embassy in London for more information.

Dual Saudi-Britishcitizens nationalitytravelling to the UK

DualWhen nationalitytravelling isto notthe legallyUK, recognisedBritish incitizens Saudimust Arabia.carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

WorkingHealthcare in Saudi Arabia

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

• plan your healthcare
• take medicine abroad

YouSaudi needArabia andoes Iqamanot (residencyhave permit)a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to work.cover any healthcare costs.

Your sponsor usuallymust processesprovide theyou Iqamawith withinmedical 3insurance. monthsYour ofinsurance youcoverage arrivingtype inwill Saudidecide Arabia.which medical facilities you can use.

It’sTo illegalfind out how to workget withoutmedical treatment:

• contact your sponsorinsurance beingprovider
• read notedguidance on health in Saudi Arabia, including checking your Iqama,prescriptions are legal
• find English-speaking medical facilities and yourdoctors sponsorfor willBritish normallynationals holdin yourSaudi passport,Arabia

Working whilein Saudi Arabia

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you retainmay need from the UK government.

To work in Saudi Arabia, you must have a residence permit (‘Iqama’). Your Iqama must list your Iqama.current employer.  

You can’tcannot not use an electronic visa waiver to work or be employed by a company in Saudi Arabia . However, you can use a visa waiver for temporary business trips of up to 6 months, for example, to attend meetings and conferences.

You cannot change your job or transfer your sponsorship without the agreement of your current sponsor,sponsor’s soagreement. it’sIt’s important you seekget legal advice before accepting a new contract. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Saudi Arabia.

You’re not allowed to leave the country once an employment case is in the labour courts,courts. andIt it can take the courts many years to befinalise finalised.a case. See employment disputes in Saudi Arabia (PDF, 315(PDF, KB, 1 page)315KB).

Healthcare

Recognition of qualifications

SeeIf ouryou travelwant adviceto forwork Saudi Arabia for information about emergency medical healthcare in Saudi Arabia.

YourArabia, sponsor must provide you withmay medicalneed insuranceto –get your typeforeign ofqualifications insurancerecognised.

Driving coveragein willSaudi dictateArabia

Read whichour medicalguidance facilitieson youmoving, canliving use.or Findretiring English-speakingabroad. doctorsThis incovers Saudihow Arabia.to:

You

• drive shouldabroad checklegally
• take your prescriptionsUK arevehicle legalabroad
• get indriving Saudilicence Arabia.
  letters

Driving in Saudi Arabia

SeeRead drivingabout abroad and road travel in Saudi Arabia.

MenArabia, can drive in Saudisafety Arabiaand forsecurity upin tothe 3travel monthsadvice usingfor aSaudi fullArabia. validThis Britishincludes licence.information Afteron 3driving months,in you’llSaudi needArabia, aincluding Saudi driving licence –rules.

Your your sponsor can help you withexchange this.your UK driving licence for a Saudi licence.

You must always carry your driving licence and vehicle ownership papers at all times when driving. You’ll get fineda fine if you’re caught without the correct paperwork.

Women driving

SaudiYou Arabiacannot hasrenew beenor issuingreplace drivinga licencesUK tolicence womenif sinceyou 24live Junein 2018.Saudi Arabia. 

Replacing or renewing your UK licence

IfThe yourMinistry UKof photocardthe licenceInterior’s expires,digital isservices lostplatform or(Absher) stolen,has youonline can’tservices renewfor itdrivers withand thevehicles, DVLAincluding:

• applying iffor you’rea residentnew abroadSaudi –driving youlicence should(take applya fortest)
• renewing a Saudi licence.
  driving licence

Taking your carvehicle outside Saudi Arabia

If you don’tdo not own your carvehicle outrightoutright, (you got a local bank loan or bought on hire-purchase), you needmust get permission from the creditor to take the carvehicle out of the country. AFor formexample, (Istamara)you’d needshave to bedo issuedthis if you got a local bank loan or bought on hire-purchase.

You must get a vehicle registration form (‘Istimara’) for each country you’reyou travellingtravel to, each time you travel.

Traffic fines

You can registerdo tothis receivethrough trafficyour fineemployer alertsor contact the General Department of Traffic.

As Ifa foreign national, to travel outside Saudi Arabia in a Saudi registered vehicle, you don’tmust payhave:

• a valid passport and driving licence
• a fine,valid residency permit (‘Iqama’)
• a letter of introduction from your sponsor
• the fineoriginal willvehicle doubleregistration and(‘Istimara’)
• international continueGulf toCo-operation doubleCouncil until(GCC) itinsurance
• an iselectronic paid.‘external Allauthorisation’ finesfrom arethe linkedowner
• a totrip yourticket visa(carnet –de passage)

Also, you won’tmust:

• submit bea ablecustoms todeclaration leaveat the countryport ifof finesentry
• complete a vehicle export form
• make sure there are outstanding.

  Tax

  no outstanding traffic violations against the vehicle or the driver

Disabled drivers

SeeYou taxmay ifbe able to apply for a Saudi digital disabled parking certificate.

If you leavehave thea UK toBlue live abroadBadge and taxlive onin yourSaudi Arabia, you must return it to the original UK incomeissuing ifauthority.

Tax

Read youour liveguidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

YouThe mayUK behas ablea todouble paytaxation Nationalagreement Insurancewith whileSaudi abroadArabia inso orderthat toyou protectdo yournot Statepay Pensiontax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the Zakat, Tax and entitlementCustoms toAuthority otheror benefitsHM Revenue and allowances.Customs for any questions about double taxation relief.

SeeConsider VATgetting professional advice on paying tax in Saudi Arabia. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Saudi Arabia.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

SeeRead Stateour Pensionguidance ifon youmoving, retireliving or retiring abroad. andThis newcovers:

• how to claim your UK State Pension.

• where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Claiming a Saudi pension

If youyou’ve have worked in Saudi Arabia, contact the General OrganizationOrganisation for Social Insurance (GOCI)to aboutfind yourout whether you can claim a Saudi pension.

Benefits

LifeClaiming certificates for UK state pensionsbenefits

IfRead youour getguidance aon ‘lifemoving, certificate’living fromor theretiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK Pensionbenefits Service,abroad, youincluding needChild toBenefit.

Claiming respondSaudi asbenefits

Read soonthe asMinistry possibleof -Human yourResources paymentsand maySocial beDevelopment’s suspendedguidance ifon social protection to find out whether you don’t.can claim benefits in Saudi Arabia.

Benefits

SeeAs claiminga benefitsnon-Saudi ifcitizen, you live,may movebe orentitled travelto abroad.limited Saudi benefits.

Find

Buying outand whichrenting UKproperty benefitsin youSaudi mightArabia

Read beour ableguidance toon getmoving, whileliving you’reor retiring abroad. andThis howcovers tobuying claimand them.renting property abroad.

ManyGenerally, income-relatedalthough benefitsthere suchare asimportant Pensionrestrictions, Creditforeign andnationals Housingcan Benefitown can’tland bein paidSaudi Arabia. Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Saudi Arabia if you’re abroadconsidering forbuying moreproperty thanor 4 weeks.land.

Voting

See votingin whenSaudi you’reArabia

UK abroad.

elections

BritishRead citizensour guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. canThis covers how to:

• vote in some UK elections –from you’ll need to abroad
• register as an overseas voter.

  Births

Saudi elections

SeeYou registercannot avote birthin abroad.Saudi municipal elections unless you hold Saudi citizenship.

DeathsStudying in Saudi Arabia

SeeIf whatyou plan to dostudy afterin someoneSaudi diesArabia, you must meet all visa or residence permit. requirements.

SeeFor also:more information:

• listcontact ofyour English-speakinghigher funeraleducation directorsprovider in the UK or Saudi Arabia
• contact the Saudi Ministry of Education
• bereavementread informationguidance on travel grants for Saudistudents Arabiastudying abroad or on placements (England)

Getting marriedChildren

SeeRead gettingour marriedguidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

Renewing

• getting passports

permission to take your child abroad

claiming UK Child Benefit abroad

child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

SeeThe overseasSaudi BritishMinistry passportsof applicationsEducation provides information about the school system in Saudi Arabia.

For more information, read the Saudi government’s guidance on admission rules for residents and getvisitors.

Childcare

The anMinistry emergencyof travelHuman documentResources and Social Development (sometimesregulates calledprivate anchildcare emergencyservices passport).in Saudi Arabia.

Read their child support guidance for more information.

PetsBirths, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births        

SeeIf travellingyour child is born in Saudi Arabia, register the birth with petsthe Saudi authorities. To register the birth, you and your spouse must show a marriage certificate. You must get your marriage certificate legalised – for guidance on how to do this, read documents for British people abroad.

Emergencies

AsRead wellour asguidance theon generalmoving, emergencyliving numberor 112,retiring Saudiabroad. ArabiaThis alsocovers has:how to:

• policeregister –the 999birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
• fireapply –for 998your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

• carwhat accidentsto –do 993after someone dies abroad
• publichow ambulanceto servicesregister –the 997death with the UK authorities

If yousomeone needdies urgentin help,Saudi contactArabia, theread Britishguidance Embassyon:

• what Riyadhto do when someone dies in Saudi Arabia
• English-speaking funeral directors in Saudi Arabia

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

Accommodation

Same sex marriages and buyingcivil property

partnerships are not legally recognised in Saudi Arabia. For information about LGBT+ rights in Saudi Arabia, read guidance on safety and security in the travel advice for Saudi Arabia.

Divorce and separation

SeeRead buyingour aguidance propertyon moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Saudi Arabia.

OtherDocuments usefulfor informationBritish people in Saudi Arabia

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

• English-speakinglegalising lawyersand certifying UK documents
• marriage and translatorscivil inpartnership Saudidocuments
• affirmations Arabiaand affidavits
• helpwitnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Saudi Arabia, read guidance on professional services if you’re arrestedabroad.

Pets

If inyou want to bring your pet with you to Saudi ArabiaArabia, read guidance on:

• applying for a Saudi pet exit and entry permit
• parentaltaking childyour abductionpet indog, Saudicat Arabiaor ferret to a non-EU country

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

You need a final exit visa to leave Saudi Arabia – your sponsor will arrange this.

Before the visa can be granted, you must:

• settle all debts and fines
• transfer out of your name all vehicles, mobile phones and credit
• close your bank accounts
• get your fingerprints taken at your local police station

You should also apply for a police clearance certificate, as these can’tcannot be issued once you’ve left. YouSee needour togood conduct and police clearance request letters and download the police clearance certificateletter standardfor letterSaudi andArabia. takeTake it to your local police station to start the process.

Disclaimer

ToWe moveprovide yourthis pensioninformation toas thea UK,guide contactonly.  theFor Internationaldefinitive Pensioninformation, Centre.

Seecontact tax if you return to the UK.Saudi authorities.

SeeRead bringingour yourconsular petinformation to the UKdisclaimer.

Disclaimer