Saudi Arabia offers family sponsorship visas to expatriates, including Pakistanis, allowing them to bring their families to the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia hosts a large Pakistani expatriate community, with estimates indicating that approximately 2.64 million Pakistanis reside and work there. This includes 1.3 million individuals employed in the private sector, making Saudi Arabia one of the largest sources of remittances for Pakistan.
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Many Pakistani expats aim to bring their families to live with them in the Kingdom. To do so, they must meet specific requirements under the family sponsorship visa system. Expats need to obtain a dependent or Iqama visa, which remains valid for one year and requires annual renewal.
The eligibility criteria for obtaining an Iqama visa are tied to the expat’s income and profession. Reports indicate that expats working in fields like engineering, medicine, technical, and marketing roles qualify for family sponsorship. A minimum monthly salary of 3,500 Riyals is required to sponsor dependents.
While employers are responsible for renewing an expat’s Iqama, employees must ensure their dependents’ Iqamas are renewed annually. Non-compliance with Iqama regulations can result in penalties, including fines, deportation, or imprisonment.
For Pakistani workers traveling to Saudi Arabia on work visas, it is mandatory to obtain work visa protection from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment by paying a prescribed fee. This ensures several benefits, such as legal protection and full support from Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia. Workers can also access legal assistance from the Community Welfare Attaché at Pakistan’s embassy in the Kingdom.
