Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has relaxed rules for students and announced long and short-term educational visas for foreign students, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
This decision was taken by the Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, at Al-Salam Palace.
Long-term educational visas are being granted to students, researchers, and experts, for the purposes of academic study and research visits.
While short-term visas will be granted to students, researchers, and visiting trainees, for the purposes of language study, training, and participation in short programs and student exchange programs.
The holder of a long and short-term educational visa is exempted from the statutory requirement related to providing a sponsor.
Earlier, foreigners wishing to work in Saudi Arabia, which hosts about 13 million expatriates, needed a Saudi sponsor. However, the Kingdom has abolished that condition for most professions within what is known as the initiative to improve the contractual relationship.
