Moving to Saudi Arabia

Moving Guide

Visa & Residence

Navigating the visa and residence process for Saudi Arabia is a crucial first step. The specific requirements depend heavily on your nationality. For example, citizens from EU countries may have different entry and residence pathways compared to those from non-EU nations.

Typical routes for obtaining permission to live and work in Saudi Arabia include:

• Work Visa/Iqama: This is the most common route for expatriates moving for employment. Your employer will typically sponsor your visa application.
• Family Visa/Iqama: If you are joining a family member who is already a resident in Saudi Arabia, you may apply for a family visa.
• Study Visa: For those pursuing education in Saudi Arabia.
• Residence Permit: Beyond the initial entry visa, you will typically need to obtain a residence permit (Iqama) once you are in the country, which allows you to live and work legally for an extended period.

It is absolutely essential to verify the latest requirements, application procedures, and necessary documentation directly with the official Saudi Arabian government portals or the Saudi embassy/consulate in your home country. Regulations can change, and official sources will always provide the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Housing & Rental

Finding suitable housing in Saudi Arabia can be a straightforward process, especially with the right approach. Here's what you can expect:

• How to Find Housing: Many expatriates find housing through company-provided accommodation, real estate agents specializing in expat rentals, online property portals, or by word-of-mouth within expat communities. Compounds are a popular choice for many expats, offering amenities and a community environment.
• Typical Rental Process: Once you find a property, you'll typically sign a rental agreement with the landlord or their agent. This agreement will outline the terms of the tenancy, including rent amount, duration, and responsibilities.
• Deposits: It is standard practice to pay a security deposit, usually equivalent to one or two months' rent, which is refundable at the end of your tenancy, provided the property is returned in good condition.
• Temporary vs. Long-Term: Many individuals opt for temporary serviced apartments or hotel stays upon arrival to give themselves time to explore neighborhoods and secure long-term accommodation. Long-term leases are typically for one year, often renewable.

What Affects the Cost of Your Move

The total cost of your relocation to Saudi Arabia is influenced by several key factors. Understanding these can help you budget effectively:

• Volume of Goods: The more items you ship, the higher the cost. This is usually measured in cubic meters (CBM) for sea freight or weight for air freight.
• Distance: The geographical distance between your origin and destination naturally plays a significant role in transport costs.
• Seasonality: Moving during peak seasons (e.g., summer months for many international moves) can sometimes lead to higher demand and potentially higher prices.
• Access at Origin and Destination: Difficult access, such as narrow streets, lack of parking, or multiple flights of stairs without an elevator, can incur additional charges for specialized equipment or extra labor.
• Mode of Transport: Air freight is significantly faster but also more expensive than sea freight. A combination of both may be an option for essential items.
• Extra Services: Additional services like professional packing and unpacking, specialized handling for fragile or valuable items, storage solutions, and comprehensive insurance will add to the overall cost.

For an accurate estimate tailored to your specific needs, it's always best to request a free, no-obligation quote from a reputable relocation provider.

Timeline & Packing Tips

A well-organized timeline and smart packing strategy can significantly reduce the stress of an international move. Here’s a general checklist style guide for 4-8 weeks out:

• 8 Weeks Out:
  • Declutter your home: Decide what to keep, sell, donate, or discard. This reduces your shipping volume.
  • Research visa and residence requirements thoroughly.
  • Obtain multiple quotes from international moving companies.
• 6 Weeks Out:
  • Confirm your moving company and date.
  • Start gathering important documents: passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic records, medical records, driver's license, and any documents related to your visa application. Keep these in a secure, easily accessible folder.
  • Notify schools, doctors, and other professional services of your move.
• 4 Weeks Out:
  • Begin packing non-essential items. Label boxes clearly with contents and the room they belong to.
  • Arrange for utility disconnections at your current home and connections at your new Saudi Arabian residence (if possible remotely, otherwise plan to do it upon arrival).
  • Inform banks and credit card companies of your upcoming move.
• 2 Weeks Out:
  • Confirm travel arrangements.
  • Pack a "first-night box" with essentials you'll need immediately upon arrival (toiletries, medications, a change of clothes, important documents, chargers).
  • Arrange for mail forwarding.
• Packing Tips:
  • Use sturdy boxes and quality packing materials.
  • Wrap fragile items individually with plenty of cushioning.
  • Create an inventory of all packed boxes and their contents.
  • Do not pack prohibited items (check customs regulations carefully).
  • Keep a separate bag for items you'll carry with you on the plane.

For a personalized moving plan and an accurate cost estimate, request a free quote on relocation123.com.

Visas, immigration & documents

Moving to this country often involves visas, residence permits, document translation/legalization and customs paperwork. Our verified partners handle the move itself; for visa or immigration help, send the request below and we'll point you the right way.

• Residence permit / visa (work, study, family)
• Document translation & apostille
• Customs clearance for personal effects
• Travel & goods insurance

Get help with your move →

Customs & Import Rules

Moving to Saudi Arabia: Your Essential Customs & Import Guide

Relocating to Saudi Arabia involves navigating specific customs regulations. This guide provides a clear overview of what you need to know to ensure a smooth import process for your personal belongings and household goods.

If you're relocating as a new resident

When moving your household goods and personal effects to Saudi Arabia, you'll need to provide several documents to facilitate customs clearance. It's important to register with the customs portal (fasah.sa) upon your arrival once your residence permit (Iqama) is issued.

What you'll need

• Copy of Airway Bill (for airfreight) or Original Bill of Lading / Sea Waybill / Express Release (for sea freight)
• Descriptive Inventory / Packing List
• Itemized Valued Inventory
• Certificate of insurance (if applicable)
• E-Authorization to customs broker through the customs portal (www.fasah.sa)
• Copy of consignee’s passport (bio page and entry visa page)
• Copy of Residence Permit (Iqama) for expatriates or National ID (Bataqa) for citizens
• Muqeem print-out

Good to know

• Customs duties typically range from 5% to 20% on the assessed value of goods.
• A 15% customs VAT is applied to the declared value.
• Books and used clothing in reasonable quantities are exempt from customs duties.
• If original receipts or invoices for items are not available, customs authorities will assess their value based on the local market.
• All containerized shipments must be on pallets or in lift vans. Failure to do so will incur a penalty of US$ 267.00 for a 20 ft container and US$ 334.00 for a 40 ft container for bad stowage.
• The owner of the shipment must be physically present in Saudi Arabia at the time of customs clearance.
• Your personal attendance during the physical customs inspection is not required.
• Photos, books, video tapes, and CDs are subject to inspection by the security office.

Diplomatic moves

Diplomats benefit from specific exemptions, but require official documentation to avoid duties and inspections.

What you'll need

• E-Authorization to customs broker through the customs portal (www.fasah.sa)
• Copy of consignee’s passport (bio page and entry visa page)
• Copy of diplomatic ID
• Duty / Inspection Exemption from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with counter-approval from Customs Head Quarters (Ministry of Finance)

Good to know

• You should register with the customs portal (fasah.sa) upon arrival once your diplomatic ID is issued.
• Without the proper Duty & Inspection Exemption Certificate, your shipment will be treated as ordinary cargo, subject to full physical inspection and duty payment.

Bringing special items

Vehicles

Importing vehicles into Saudi Arabia has strict rules regarding age, type, and conformity to local standards.

What you'll need

• Title Certificate / Car Registrations
• Conformity Certificate from a SASO accredited testing laboratory at the origin country (can also be secured locally in Saudi Arabia)
• Police Clearance / de-registration from the origin country
• Other proofs of ownership (e.g., Purchase Invoice if available)
• Proof of payment for new cars (if available)

Good to know

• Customs duty for cars is 15% based on the customs' final assessed value.
• Vehicles older than 5 years are not permitted for import.
• Right-hand drive cars are not accepted.
• Expatriates are allowed to import only one car.
• The vehicle owner and the consignee must be the same person.
• All vehicles must meet Saudi Standards. The SASO office may require replacement or conversion of some car parts at the owner's expense.
• Personal belongings are not allowed inside the car during shipment.
• Applications for the SASO Conformity Certificate may be rejected, requiring the car to be re-exported at the owner's expense.

Restricted & prohibited items

Saudi Arabia has very strict regulations on certain items. It's crucial to be aware of these to avoid confiscation, fines, or even imprisonment.

Prohibited Items (subject to automatic confiscation, fines, and/or imprisonment)

• All games of chance (gambling paraphernalia) including chess sets, dice, backgammon, etc.
• Weapons and firearms (real or ornamental, antiques), including guns, ammunition, fireworks, spears, etc. (Importing these may lead to investigation, fines, and/or prison).
• Military uniforms or military equipment of any kind.
• Alcoholic beverages, any food products containing alcohol (e.g., vanilla extract, cooking wines), and items used in the preparation or manufacture of alcoholic drinks. Bringing these without declaration is considered smuggling and incurs heavy penalties (e.g., US$ 200.00 per bottle of wine; large quantities may lead to court and imprisonment).
• Any kind of narcotics and/or unidentified medicines.
• Any type of radio transmitter or communications equipment (including receivers, VHF, Marine, police bands, walkie-talkies).
• Stuffed animals, statues, figurines, carvings, or objects depicting human or animal form.
• Pornographic materials and literature, including fashion magazines with people wearing underwear or swimsuits.
• Any foodstuffs containing alcohol, pork, and related pork meat products.
• Any books pertaining to religions other than Islam.
• Christmas trees and their decorations.
• Animal skin in commercial quantity.

Goods Subject to Censorship (may be removed for review, penalties apply for confiscation)

• Exposed film, including prints, slides, etc.
• Records, books, magazines, pictures/photos, and other printed matters.
• Personal computers, audio/video CDs, diskettes, USBs, computer hard disks, printers.
• Mobile or cellular phones.
• Audio/video VHS/VCR/cassette tapes, phonograph recordings.
• Any other items that store information.

Good to know

• Items marked as subject to re-export (like some weapons or communication equipment) can be re-exported at your expense if found.
• To reduce clearance time for items subject to censorship, pack them separately for easy access and mark the cartons clearly on the inventory.
• A penalty will be charged for confiscated CDs, VCR tapes, and books after censorship: US$ 135.00 each for CDs & VCR tapes, and US$ 14.00 each for books.

Alcohol & tobacco

Alcoholic beverages and any products containing alcohol are strictly prohibited. This includes items like vanilla extract, cooking wines, and even books or kits related to making alcohol. Bringing these without declaration is considered smuggling and carries severe penalties, including heavy fines and potential imprisonment for large quantities.

Frequently asked questions

What are the general customs duties and taxes?
Customs duties typically range from 5% to 20% of the assessed value, plus a 15% customs VAT on the declared value.

Do I need to be present for the customs inspection?
While the shipment owner must be in Saudi Arabia for clearance, your personal attendance during the physical customs inspection is not required.

What happens if I don't have receipts for my belongings?
If receipts or invoices are unavailable, customs authorities will assess the value of your items based on the local market value.

Are there any specific packing requirements for sea shipments?
Yes, all containerized shipments must be on pallets or in lift vans. Failure to comply will result in penalties for bad stowage.

Can I import any type of book or media?
Books and used clothing in reasonable quantities are generally duty-exempt. However, all books, photos, video tapes, CDs, and other media are subject to inspection by the security office for content censorship. Books pertaining to religions other than Islam are prohibited.

What are the rules for importing electrical appliances?
New electrical appliances are subject to a 5% customs duty based on their CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value. Purchase receipts or invoices are required for new items. If absent, customs will assess the value.

For personalized assistance with your move to Saudi Arabia, please contact relocation123.com.

Get help with your move →