The ministry explains that a valid work permit is one of the essential requirements associated with issuing or renewing an expatriate worker’s legal residence permit in the Kingdom.

The digital service enables eligible establishments to complete work permit transactions without visiting ministry offices, helping employers manage their administrative responsibilities more efficiently.

The published guidance provides important information concerning application deadlines, eligibility conditions, service charges, payment procedures and the expected time required for system updates.

According to the ministry, an establishment must issue a work permit for an expatriate employee within the first 90 days following the worker’s entry into Saudi Arabia.

Employers should therefore monitor the arrival dates of newly recruited foreign employees and ensure that the required employment information is accurately recorded in the relevant government systems.

Regarding renewals, the ministry confirms that an establishment may renew an existing work permit when 180 days or fewer remain before the permit’s expiration date.

This advance renewal window allows businesses to plan their employment documentation requirements without waiting until the existing permit has already expired.

The ministry also specifies that work permits cannot be issued or renewed when an establishment is classified within the red category of the Nitaqat programme.

Official Qiwa guidance additionally states that the establishment must remain active and comply with the Wage Protection Programme requirements applicable to the work permit service.

Employers or their authorised representatives should verify the establishment’s regulatory status before attempting to issue or renew permits for expatriate employees.

Where the required conditions have not been satisfied, the transaction may remain unavailable until the relevant compliance issues have been addressed.

To initiate the service, an employer or authorised representative must access the official Qiwa platform using the establishment’s approved account credentials.

The applicant then selects the relevant establishment, opens the work permit issuance or renewal service, and identifies the expatriate employees whose permits require processing.

After reviewing the employee information and submitting the request, the electronic system generates a payment reference number for the applicable transaction.

The employer can use that reference to settle the required charges through participating Saudi banks using the approved Sadad payment system.

Regarding fees, the ministry’s official service page lists SAR 100 as the charge associated with the issuance and renewal of work permits.

However, employers must distinguish this published service fee from other financial obligations that may apply to expatriate employment and residency procedures under Saudi regulations.

The SAR 100 figure should not automatically be interpreted as the complete amount payable for every employee or the total cost of all associated immigration transactions.

Businesses are therefore encouraged to review the amounts calculated by Qiwa before completing payment, particularly where additional legally applicable charges are involved.

The ministry classifies the work permit issuance and renewal service as an immediate electronic transaction when all eligibility requirements and payment conditions have been satisfied.

According to its published frequently asked questions, the updated work permit status generally appears on the Qiwa platform approximately one hour after payment has been completed.

However, the payment status may take up to 24 hours to appear in systems associated with the General Directorate of Passports, including Absher Business and Muqeem.

Employers should allow for these different system update periods before concluding that a successfully submitted and paid transaction has encountered a processing problem.

Another important clarification concerns the cancellation of work permits after their issuance or renewal through the official platform.

The ministry explicitly states that a work permit cannot be cancelled once it has been issued or renewed, making the verification of employee information particularly important before submission.

Employers should also distinguish work permit processing from residence permit issuance or renewal because the permit constitutes only one part of the applicable regulatory requirements.

For additional assistance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development provides official support through its unified customer service number, 19911, and its authorised electronic communication channels.

The ministry’s published instructions are intended to help employers maintain accurate employment documentation and complete the required administrative procedures within the applicable deadlines.

Expatriate employees are also encouraged to coordinate with their employers regarding the validity of their work permits and the related residence documentation.

Businesses should rely on the official ministry website and Qiwa platform for the latest applicable requirements rather than unofficial service providers or unverified social media claims.

These procedures represent existing government services and regulatory requirements, not newly introduced fees or legislation announced on the date this article was prepared.

Source: Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development – Work Permit Issuance and Renewal Service.