Saudi halts block work visas for 14 countries until June 2025

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Saudi Arabia has stopped giving block work visas to people from 14 countries for some time. This pause will last until the end of June 2025. The pause happens during the busy Hajj season and will affect many jobs that depend on workers coming from other countries. Companies and workers are worried because they don’t know when new workers will be allowed in.

Block work visas are special permits that let companies bring in many foreign workers at once. The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has removed this option from the official work visa system called Qiwa. This means companies cannot get new visa quotas to hire workers in bulk right now.

The countries affected are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, and Morocco.

Companies that usually hire workers from these countries will not get new quotas. Even visas that were approved before might take longer to process. Many businesses, especially in construction and house cleaning, rely on these workers. Without new workers, their work may slow down or stop.

Some people waiting for work visas might have their applications delayed or even denied. Workers who already have visas but have not traveled to Saudi Arabia yet might also face problems when trying to enter.

Experts say this move is part of Saudi Arabia’s plan to increase jobs for its own citizens. The government wants to hire more Saudi workers, especially in fields like tourism. From 2026 to 2028, the number of Saudi workers required in many jobs will grow.

Many African countries, like Ethiopia and Kenya, send workers to Saudi Arabia, especially for low-paying jobs at homes. However, life in Saudi Arabia is not always easy for migrant workers. The Kafala system, which controls foreign workers, has been criticized because it can lead to unfair treatment. Still, many people move to Saudi Arabia because they need jobs and send money back to their families.

Along with the work visa pause, Saudi Arabia is also delaying family visit permits and stopping Umrah pilgrimage visas during busy times. This also affects people from the same 14 countries.

Officials ask workers to check with airlines or Saudi embassies before traveling to make sure they can enter. Companies that hire workers should prepare for slower visa processing and keep their clients updated on the latest rules.