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The Ministry of Interior disclosed the policy shift in a statement coordinated with the ministries of foreign affairs and human resources and social development, framing the change as part of broader efforts to boost quality of life for residents across the kingdom. Eligible family members include spouses, sons below the age of 25 and unmarried daughters, whose entry visas may now be issued alongside the principal applicant’s work visa once all application conditions are fulfilled. Residence permit procedures for those family members can then be completed after arrival in line with established statutory requirements, the ministry added in its October 6 announcement.
Under the previous framework, highly skilled expatriates generally needed to obtain a valid Iqama residency permit before sponsoring family members, a process that often delayed family reunification by several months. The updated arrangement eliminates that sequential requirement for qualifying professionals, allowing families to travel together from the outset of the work visa process. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the measure applies strictly to heads of households classified as highly skilled, with all other regulatory thresholds remaining in force.
This development builds directly on the skill-based work permit system that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development introduced in July 2025, which classifies foreign workers into high-skill, skilled and basic tiers according to qualifications, experience, wages and age. An Arab News assessment of the reform noted that the classification mechanism operates through the Qiwa digital platform and aligns with national efforts to match talent to the needs of large-scale giga-projects. The 2025 system has already begun reshaping labor market planning, with demand for high-skill professionals rising in sectors tied to Vision 2030 initiatives.
According to the Ministry of Interior statement, the concurrent visa option forms part of the kingdom’s ongoing push to make Saudi Arabia more attractive to global talent amid regional competition for skilled expatriates. Family entry under the new rule still requires completion of standard documentation, including authenticated applications and proof that the principal applicant meets professional criteria. Once inside the country, families follow normal procedures to finalize their residency status without disrupting the initial entry timeline.
The policy arrives as Saudi Arabia continues to refine its expatriate management framework, with earlier guides from 2024 indicating that family sponsorship typically demanded a minimum salary threshold and a qualifying profession before any dependents could apply. Public filings from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development show that high-skill classifications now confer wider sponsorship rights than basic-tier roles, streamlining pathways for professionals in key economic sectors. Officials have not released projected uptake figures for the new concurrent process, but the change is expected to reduce administrative bottlenecks reported by expatriate communities in recent years.
Implementation will be handled through existing digital portals, with the Ministry of Interior directing all relevant departments to apply the updated rules uniformly starting immediately. The announcement explicitly limits eligibility to the defined family categories and maintains all health, security and financial verification steps. Further guidance on application workflows is anticipated from the participating ministries in the coming days.
