Saudi Arabia employment visa has one of the most document-intensive processes in the GCC. This guide covers GAMCA medical, MOFA, the complete attestation chain, and what Indian professionals must prepare before visa stamping.
Saudi Arabia Employment Visa: Overview
Saudi Arabia has one of the most thorough document verification systems in the GCC. The process involves multiple platforms — MOFA, Qiwa, Wakala, and GAMCA — and requires careful sequencing.
Required Documents
- Degree Certificate — attested (Notary → HRD → MEA → Saudi Embassy)
- Marksheets / Academic Transcripts — attested
- Experience Certificate — attested
- Medical Certificate — from a GAMCA-approved centre
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) — attested
- Passport — valid for at least 6 months
- Employment Contract / Offer Letter
- Arabic Translation of all documents
- Marriage Certificate — for family visa
- Birth Certificate — for dependent children visa
The Saudi Attestation Chain
- Notary Public
- State HRD (for educational documents) or Home Department (for personal documents)
- MEA (Ministry of External Affairs)
- Saudi Embassy in India
Key Saudi Platforms
MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs): Saudi MOFA attestation now happens pre-arrival — your documents are verified through MOFA before you reach Saudi Arabia.
Wakala System: A power of attorney system where a representative in Saudi Arabia acts on your behalf for official processes. Important for document submission and visa processing.
Qiwa Visa Platform (QVP): The official platform for employment visa issuance. Your employer initiates the visa through Qiwa.
Saudi Visa Platform (SVP): Used for visa stamping and status tracking.
Mosaddaqa: The document verification platform used by Saudi authorities to verify the authenticity of attested documents.
GAMCA Medical
GAMCA (Gulf Approved Medical Centres Association) fitness tests are mandatory for Saudi Arabia visas. You must get the medical done at a GAMCA-approved centre in India. Results are uploaded directly to the GAMCA system and viewed by Saudi authorities.
Emigration Clearance (ECR Passports)
If your Indian passport has an "Emigration Check Required" (ECR) stamp, you need Emigration Clearance from the Protectorate of Emigrants (PoE) before you can travel to Saudi Arabia for employment. SiZA Global can assist with ECR clearance.
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