How to Get a Work Permit & Visa for Foreign Athletes in Saudi Arabia (2026 Procedural Guide)

Understanding how to get a work permit for foreign athletes in Saudi Arabia is now more important, and more procedurally complex, than at any point in the Kingdom’s sporting history. The Sports Law 2026, publicly rolled out by the Ministry of Sport on 11 June 2026, introduced mandatory contract registration, new Saudization reporting obligations and licensing requirements that directly affect every club, agent and athlete involved in cross-border recruitment. Clubs now operate within two parallel regulatory tracks, employment and immigration (administered by the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development, or HRSD, through the Qiwa employer portal) and sports-sector licensing (administered by the Ministry of Sport), and must satisfy both before a foreign athlete can lawfully compete.

This guide sets out the complete step-by-step procedure, the documents needed, realistic timelines, typical costs and the critical 2026 compliance hooks that sporting organisations must address during the one-year transition window now in effect.

Overview of the Work Permit Process and Who It Applies To

Any organisation that wishes to engage a foreign professional athlete, coach or key sporting staff member in Saudi Arabia must secure two distinct clearances that run in parallel and frequently overlap.

The first track is the employment and immigration track. The sponsoring club or entity applies for a work permit through the Qiwa employer portal, operated by HRSD. Once the work permit is approved, the athlete obtains a visa for foreign athlete entry at a Saudi diplomatic mission or through VFS Global. After arrival, the club converts the athlete’s status to a resident identity card, the iqama, and finalises the work license.

The second track is the sports-sector registration track. Under the Sports Law 2026, the club must register the athlete’s engagement contract with the Ministry of Sport. Proof of that contract registration is increasingly required before or alongside the Qiwa work permit submission, meaning the two tracks are now operationally interdependent.

This dual process applies to several common scenarios: long-term player transfers and permanent signings; seasonal or loan-period engagements; foreign coaching and technical staff appointments; and short-term event participants (for whom a temporary work visa or event visa may suffice instead of a full iqama). Clubs recruiting for the 2026/27 season should note the one-year transition window from 11 June 2026, within which all existing arrangements must be brought into compliance with the new registration and Saudization reporting requirements.

Eligibility and Requirements for Sponsoring Foreign Athletes

Before initiating any application, the sponsoring club must confirm that both the organisation and the individual athlete meet the eligibility requirements imposed by HRSD, the Ministry of Sport and the relevant league or federation.

Saudization and Quota Tests

The Sports Law 2026 requires clubs to demonstrate credible local workforce development plans as a condition of recruiting foreign talent. In practice, this means each club must assess its current Saudization ratio, the proportion of Saudi nationals in its workforce, against the targets set by HRSD and the sport-specific benchmarks now mandated by the Ministry of Sport. Clubs that fall below the required thresholds may face restrictions on new work permit applications for expatriates. The practical checklist for clubs includes the following:

• Review current headcount. Calculate the ratio of Saudi to non-Saudi employees across all departments, not only the playing squad.
• Check league-specific foreign player limits. The relevant league or federation may impose caps on the number of foreign athletes per squad.
• Prepare a workforce development plan. Document current local hiring initiatives, training programmes and succession plans, this documentation is required for transitional Saudization reporting under the Sports Law 2026.
• Confirm Nitaqat classification. Ensure the club’s Nitaqat band (the HRSD colour-coded compliance rating) permits the issuance of new work permits for foreign workers.

Contract and Salary Thresholds

The Sports Law 2026 prescribes minimum contract elements that must be present in any engagement agreement registered with the Ministry of Sport. Contracts must explicitly address term and duration, salary and payment schedule, termination provisions and compensation, medical and health insurance coverage, and image rights where applicable. Contracts that omit required clauses risk rejection at the registration stage, which in turn delays the work permit application. Both Arabic and English versions of the contract are typically required, and attestation or notarisation may be necessary depending on the athlete’s home jurisdiction.

Step-by-Step Procedure: How to Get a Work Permit for Foreign Athletes in Saudi Arabia

The following numbered sequence sets out who files each form, the portal or authority involved, and the expected duration at each stage. Clubs should treat these steps as sequential, though some preparatory work (such as document collection and attestation) can and should run in parallel.

Step 1, Conduct Pre-Contract Checks and Saudization Review

Who: Club (HR department / sporting director) and agent.

Duration: 1–14 days.

Before any contract is signed, the club must confirm its Saudization compliance and secure any necessary league or federation pre-approval for the foreign signing. The club should collect the athlete’s primary documents at this stage: a valid passport (minimum six months’ validity), curriculum vitae, degree or qualification certificates, and a preliminary medical report. The club’s HR team should also verify that the intended profession code (for example, “professional sports player” or “sports coach”) is available and correctly mapped in the Qiwa system, as misclassification causes downstream rejections.

Step 2, Draft, Sign and Register the Employment Contract with the Ministry of Sport

Who: Club and agent.

Duration: 3–14 days (depending on attestation requirements).

The club and athlete (or the athlete’s authorised agent) execute the engagement contract, ensuring it includes all mandatory clauses prescribed by the Sports Law 2026: term, salary, termination, insurance and any image-rights provisions. The club then registers the contract on the Ministry of Sport’s online portal. Upon successful registration, the Ministry issues a contract registration certificate, a PDF confirmation that serves as proof of compliance and is required at the work permit stage. Contracts must generally be in Arabic (with an English translation where applicable) and may need to be attested or notarised depending on the athlete’s country of origin.

Industry observers expect the Ministry to tighten verification of contract terms during the transition period, so clubs should allow adequate time for this step.

Step 3, Submit the Work Permit Application via Qiwa and HRSD

Who: Employer / club (the sponsor).

Duration: 3–21 working days.

With the Ministry of Sport contract registration certificate in hand, the club logs into the Qiwa employer portal and submits a work permit request. The submission requires the employer to upload the contract registration proof, select the correct profession code, enter salary details (which must match the registered contract exactly) and pay the applicable administrative fee. HRSD may conduct a classification assessment of the expatriate employee, reviewing qualifications and the employer’s compliance status. If HRSD requires additional documentation, the portal will flag the request, and the club must respond promptly to avoid processing delays. Upon approval, the Qiwa system generates a work permit notification that authorises the next step, visa stamping.

Step 4, Apply for Visa Stamping at a Saudi Diplomatic Mission or VFS

Who: Athlete and/or agent.

Duration: 7–30 days (varies by consulate).

Once the work permit is approved, the club issues a visa invitation or block visa notification. The athlete then applies at the nearest Saudi consulate or VFS Global centre for the appropriate entry visa. For long-term engagements leading to iqama issuance, this will be a work or employment visa. For short-term event participation, such as a tournament, exhibition match or training camp, a temporary stay visa for sports may be appropriate and involves a shorter document checklist. At this stage, some consulates require a pre-departure medical examination and a police clearance certificate (PCC) from the athlete’s home country. Athletes should confirm specific consular requirements with the relevant mission, as these vary by jurisdiction.

Step 5, Arrival, In-Kingdom Medicals, Biometrics and Iqama Issuance

Who: Club and athlete (in Saudi Arabia).

Duration: Arrival plus 7–90 days.

Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, the athlete undergoes mandatory in-Kingdom medical examinations at an authorised clinic and completes biometric registration. The club must then apply for the athlete’s iqama (resident identity card) and finalise the work license through HRSD. According to HRSD guidance, the employing facility must issue the work permit within the first 90 days after the employee’s entry into the Kingdom. Failure to meet this window can trigger fines and administrative complications. Where relevant, the club should also initiate applications for dependent visas (for the athlete’s family members) and ensure that payroll and tax registration are established before the first salary payment.

Step 6, Post-Arrival Compliance: Saudization Reporting and Record Keeping

Who: Club (compliance team).

Duration: Ongoing; renewals typically annual.

After the athlete is fully registered, the club’s obligations continue. Under the Sports Law 2026, clubs must maintain up-to-date records of all foreign athlete engagements, submit periodic Saudization and workforce composition reports to both HRSD and the Ministry of Sport, and notify the relevant authorities promptly of any contract termination, transfer or extended absence. Work permits and iqamas require annual renewal, and the club must ensure that renewals are filed before expiry. The likely practical effect of the new enforcement regime is that clubs facing audits will need to demonstrate a clear paper trail from contract registration through to ongoing compliance.

Required Documents for the Work Permit and Visa Application

The documents needed for a foreign athlete’s work permit and visa in Saudi Arabia fall across three responsible parties: the club (sponsor), the agent and the athlete. The table below consolidates every item and indicates who provides it, any format or validity requirements and which stage of the process it is used at. Clubs should begin collecting and attesting documents as early as Step 1 to avoid bottlenecks later in the procedure.

Clubs and agents should verify specific document requirements with the relevant Saudi consulate or VFS centre, as these can vary by the athlete’s nationality and the visa type being applied for.

Timeline and Key Deadlines for the Work Permit Process

The end-to-end timeline for securing a work permit and visa for a foreign athlete in Saudi Arabia typically runs between three and eight weeks from contract signing to the athlete’s arrival with a valid entry visa. Full iqama conversion may take up to an additional 90 days post-arrival. The table below sets out the critical deadlines that clubs must track, particularly during the current transitional period under the Sports Law 2026.

Clubs recruiting for the 2026/27 season should work backwards from their first competitive fixture to identify the latest viable date for each step. Allowing a buffer of at least two weeks for consular delays is advisable, as processing times vary significantly by embassy. The 90-day post-arrival deadline for work license issuance is a statutory requirement under HRSD guidance and should be treated as non-negotiable.

Costs, Fees and Tax Considerations

The cost of sponsoring a foreign athlete in Saudi Arabia is borne primarily by the employer (the club). The table below sets out typical fee ranges. Exact amounts should be verified directly with the Qiwa portal, the relevant Saudi consulate and the club’s financial advisers, as fees are subject to periodic revision.

Foreign athletes earning income in Saudi Arabia may be subject to taxation on that income. Clubs should establish payroll withholding arrangements and obtain specialist tax advice, particularly where athletes are tax-resident in another jurisdiction, to ensure compliance with both Saudi and home-country obligations. For an overview of how foreign entities establish a commercial presence in the Kingdom, see our guide to establishing an LLC in Saudi Arabia for foreign investors.

What Changes in 2026: The Sports Law 2026 and Immediate Compliance Steps

The Sports Law 2026, announced by the Ministry of Sport on 11 June 2026, introduces several changes that directly affect how clubs recruit and sponsor foreign athletes. The key changes are as follows:

• Mandatory contract registration. All player and coaching contracts involving foreign nationals must be registered with the Ministry of Sport via its online portal. Proof of registration is now required before or alongside the Qiwa work permit submission.
• Saudization targets and reporting. Clubs must meet sport-specific Saudization benchmarks and submit periodic workforce composition reports. Non-compliance can restrict the club’s ability to obtain new work permits for foreign staff.
• Licensing obligations. Both clubs and individual athletes may be subject to new licensing requirements administered by the Ministry of Sport. Early indications suggest that unlicensed entities will face barriers at the contract registration stage.
• One-year transition window. Clubs have until 11 June 2027 to bring all existing foreign athlete arrangements into compliance. During this window, clubs should audit current contracts, register any unregistered engagements and update internal HR processes to align with the new procedural requirements.

For clubs with foreign athletes already on their books, the immediate priority is to review and register all existing contracts with the Ministry of Sport and to prepare workforce development documentation for Saudization reporting. Clubs planning new signings should build contract registration into the standard onboarding workflow from the outset, as described in Step 2 of the procedure above. For background on setting up a business entity in Saudi Arabia, including commercial registration requirements, see our dedicated guide.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

The procedural complexity of the dual-track system means that errors at any stage can cascade into significant delays, financial penalties or outright application rejections. The most common pitfalls are:

• Submitting the Qiwa application without Ministry of Sport registration proof. The work permit application may be rejected or delayed if contract registration has not been completed. Fix: always complete Step 2 (contract registration) before Step 3 (Qiwa submission).
• Incorrect profession code or salary mismatch. If the profession code selected in Qiwa does not correspond to the athlete’s role, or if the salary entered differs from the registered contract, the application will be flagged for correction. Fix: have club HR and legal counsel jointly verify profession codes and salary figures before submission.
• Missing attestation chain on diplomas and qualifications. Consulates and HRSD may refuse to accept unattested documents, causing weeks of delay. Fix: begin the attestation and apostille process as soon as the athlete is identified, well before the contract is signed.
• Late iqama conversion after arrival. HRSD guidance requires the work license to be issued within the first 90 days of entry. Missing this deadline can trigger fines and administrative penalties. Fix: calendar the 90-day deadline immediately upon the athlete’s arrival and prioritise in-Kingdom medicals and biometrics.
• Failing to prepare Saudization documentation. Under the Sports Law 2026, clubs without a credible workforce plan may be blocked from sponsoring additional foreign workers. Fix: prepare and maintain a current Saudization workforce plan and submit reports on schedule.
• Inadequate insurance coverage. Contracts that do not include evidence of medical insurance for the full engagement period may be rejected at the registration stage. Fix: secure insurance before contract execution and include policy details in the registered agreement.

Where a club faces a contract dispute, an audit by the Ministry of Sport or HRSD, or the risk of sanctions for non-compliance, engaging qualified legal counsel before responding is strongly advisable.

Sources

1. Ministry of Sport (Saudi Arabia), Sports Law 2026 Announcement
2. Qiwa, Work Permits Service (Employer Portal)
3. Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development (HRSD), Issue & Renew Work License
4. Pinsent Masons, New Work Permit System in Saudi Arabia
5. Lexology, Sports Law Chapter (Saudi Arabia)