European embassies link visa approval to expat work status

Granting visas to European countries to residents in the Kingdom will be linked with the classification of the Labor Ministry of the firms and institutions they work at, according to European diplomatic sources in Riyadh.
This means that Nitaqat program has become a sort of a nightmare that may lead to hindering the process of renewing residency cards and work permits.
An official at a European embassy who preferred anonymity told a local newspaper that granting a visa by his embassy will depend on the regularity and validity of the person’s residency in the Kingdom, his work stability and his financial capacity to meet the costs of his journey to Europe.
“If the firm or institution that employs the person is in the yellow or red zone, this means the company is not in a stable employment condition, and the person may not be able to renew his residency,” he said.
He said that there might be some exceptions, adding: “The matter depends on the evaluation of the counsel who grants the visas.”
With regard to the implications of Nitaqat on Saudis who wish to have European visas, he said: “Nitaqat has nothing to do with visa applications for Saudis. They are citizens of the Kingdom, and their stay is not linked with residency cards.”