Work for "Trailing Spouse" in Saudi Arabia

Hi MikeC,

I'd advise your wife to start looking for asap and well before moving to Saudi Arabia. To get a work permit to take up employment in Saudi Arabia expats need an employer to act as a sponsor. The visa process is long and complicated so I'd advise you to get the ball rolling as soon as you can.

For more detailed information see the Visas for Saudi Arabia page and the Working in Saudi Arabia page.

Good luck,

Shantalie

Thanks for the reply Shanatalie, My question is more about the technicality that she will be in Saudi with me when she starts to apply - is there any obstacle to her applying once in the country and would her visa status have to be changed if she did get offered a job i.e. would her sponsorship have to change from her husband (me) to the new employer. I hope you get what I'm trying to say. Thanks again, Mike

Thanks for the reply Shanatalie, My question is more about the technicality that she will be in Saudi with me when she starts to apply - is there any obstacle to her applying once in the country and would her visa status have to be changed if she did get offered a job i.e. would her sponsorship have to change from her husband (me) to the new employer. I hope you get what I'm trying to say. Thanks again, Mike

Hello Mike, I am working in Riyadh and my wife in the UK is a teacher. She applied for a job in Riyadh but the school was only interested in a " local hire" i.e. she comes to KSA as my spouse with a no working restriction on her visa but she works illegally for the school. The school prefers this because it is far cheaper for them (no medical insurance, no flights, no visa costs and hassle) It is illegal and I was told on raids on schools and teachers being expelled. In the last 2 months there has been a big clampdown on illegal working and I have had colleagues who received phone calls to pick up their kids because the schools are closing for a week to avoid inspection. I have also been told that the restrictions on spouse working are being reviewed but I've not been able to find info on this. In short I advise to avoid local hire because the schools short cut could lead to you loosing your job and being deported because you are responsible for your spouses actions