Saudi Arabia: Additional Law Enforcement Clearance Now Required for Saudi Work Visa Applications in United States; Forthcoming Requirement in Pakistan

Effective immediately, Saudi consular posts in the United States now require applicants to submit an FBI criminal history report in addition to a U.S. police clearance report for any Saudi work visa applications filed in the United States, regardless of their job title. Previously, such applicants only needed to provide a U.S. police clearance report. Meanwhile, from December 1, 2023, the Saudi consular post in Islamabad, Pakistan will require a Pakistani police clearance report for Saudi work visa applications; whereas currently only the Saudi consular post in Karachi, Pakistan requires such police clearance reports. Given the extra application requirements, affected applicants, as well as potential employers, should anticipate delays in visa processing going forward which may affect start dates.