Saudi Arabia

Hudson McKenzie provides specialist immigration legal services in Saudi Arabia, operating from our Riyadh office at Kingdom Centre. As Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 transformation accelerates, we advise businesses, investors and individuals on the full range of KSA immigration requirements — from employment visas and Iqama to Saudi Premium Residency, business permits and Saudization compliance. Our Arabic-English bilingual team offers local expertise with an international standard of legal practice.

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Immigration support services in Saudi Arabia

Hudson McKenzie LLC provides comprehensive immigration legal services tailored for businesses, investors, and individuals navigating the evolving immigration framework of Saudi Arabia. We offer end-to-end assistance across the following areas:

• Saudi Employment & Residency Visas (Iqama): The Iqama is the residency permit required for all foreign nationals living and working in Saudi Arabia. We advise employers and individuals on Iqama issuance, renewals, transfers between sponsors, category changes, and the resolution of Iqama-related blocks that prevent travel or employment. We also assist with exit and re-entry visa management through Absher and Muqeem.
• Saudi Premium Residency (Saudi Green Card): Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency programme — commonly referred to as the Saudi Green Card — enables qualifying foreign nationals to live, work, own property and conduct business in the Kingdom without the requirement for a Saudi sponsor. The programme offers both unlimited and limited duration options, with eligibility covering investors, entrepreneurs, specialised professionals and their families. Our Riyadh team advises on the full application process, eligibility assessment and documentation requirements. [Learn more about Saudi Premium Residency →]‍‍
• Business Visit Visas & Investor Permits: The Saudi business visa allows foreign nationals to enter the Kingdom for commercial meetings, negotiations, site visits and investor activity. We advise UK and international businesses on single and multiple-entry business visa applications, requirements by nationality, and the distinction between business visit visas and work authorisation — a common source of compliance risk for companies operating in KSA.‍
• Saudization & Labour Law Compliance: Saudization — enforced through the Nitaqat system — requires businesses in Saudi Arabia to meet prescribed ratios of Saudi national employees. Non-compliance can result in restrictions on new work visas, government contracting bans, and reputational risk. We help businesses calculate their Nitaqat category, develop compliant workforce strategies, and nnavigate the latest increases to Saudization requirements across key sectors.‍
• Family & Dependent Sponsorship: Foreign nationals residing in Saudi Arabia on an Iqama can sponsor eligible family members — including spouses, children and in some cases parents — to join them in the Kingdom. We advise on the sponsorship process, dependent visa requirements, school enrolment documentation, and the implications of changes to a primary visa holder's status on dependent residents.‍
• Visa Transfers, Extensions & Exit Strategies: Changing employers in Saudi Arabia requires a formal visa transfer process, which can be complex where there are disputes with the current sponsor or outstanding financial obligations. We advise on employer-to-employer transfers, final exit procedures, visa extensions, and the resolution of exit ban or travel restriction issues — including urgent cases where a client is unable to leave the Kingdom.‍
• Company Sponsorship & Workforce Immigration: For businesses expanding into Saudi Arabia, establishing the right immigration and sponsorship structure from the outset is critical to ongoing compliance. We advise on company sponsorship obligations under Saudi labour law, workforce visa planning for new market entrants, and the immigration implications of branch, subsidiary and regional headquarters structures in the Kingdom.‍
• Branch or Subsidiary Set up: Setting up a branch or subsidiary in Saudi Arabia involves distinct regulatory and immigration considerations. A branch operates as an extension of the parent company and requires a foreign company licence, while a subsidiary is an independent Saudi entity. The choice affects sponsorship obligations, Nitaqat calculations, and the visa categories available to foreign employees. We advise on the immigration implications of each structure.‍
• Regional Headquarters Set up: Saudi Arabia's Regional Headquarters (RHQ) programme requires qualifying multinationals to base their regional hub in the Kingdom — a condition tied to eligibility for Saudi government contracts and certain operating licences. RHQ status carries specific immigration benefits — including expedited work visas and exemptions from some Saudization requirements. We advise businesses on RHQ immigration compliance and workforce structuring.

Our Riyadh office combines local insight with global expertise, ensuring you meet every immigration and compliance requirement with confidence.

Why businesses and individuals choose Hudson McKenzie in Saudi Arabia.

• Local expertise with a global standard of service
• Arabic-English bilingual legal advisors
• Tailored solutions for professionals, families & investors
• Seamless coordination with government portals (Muqeem, Absher etc.)

Our team of legal advisors specialises in helping clients obtain Saudi employment visas and residency permits, apply for business visas for Saudi Arabia from the UK or other countries, set up subsidiaries, branches, or regional headquarters, handle labour law compliance and sponsorship structuring, resolve exit re-entry issues, visa renewals, and permit extensions, liaise with government portals (Muqeem, Absher) for a seamless experience. See how we helped a Saudi-based senior executive secure a UK Business Visit Visa after multiple refusals.

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As Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 transformation, demand for expert immigration and business mobility advisory in the Kingdom has never been greater. Our Riyadh team also advises on Saudization (Nitaqat) compliance — helping businesses understand their workforce nationalisation obligations, calculate their Nitaqat category, and implement compliant hiring strategies to avoid penalties under Saudi labour law.

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We work closely with professionals, corporates, family offices, and entrepreneurs looking to expand or relocate to Saudi Arabia.