Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has outlined an electronic service that allows eligible expatriate employees to transfer to a new employer without obtaining approval from their current employer, subject to the applicable labor regulations and employment mobility requirements.

According to the ministry’s official service information, the transfer process is available through the Qiwa digital platform. A prospective employer can submit a job offer to an expatriate worker, who can then review the offer and decide whether to accept or reject it through their personal Qiwa account.

The procedure begins when the prospective employer submits an employment offer through the platform. The worker subsequently logs into Qiwa to respond, while the existing employer receives a notification of the transfer request. The system verifies the applicable requirements before approving the transfer, updating employment records, and issuing the new work permit.

The ministry identifies the electronic service as free of charge and lists its processing time as immediate. However, this does not mean that every employment transfer is automatically completed without contractual obligations. Workers must still comply with applicable employment regulations, including any relevant notice requirements.

Under the applicable implementing regulations, a non-Saudi employee may transfer to another employer without the current employer’s consent through the standard mobility route after completing 12 months from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia and providing at least 90 days’ notice, unless the parties agree otherwise. Other legally recognized situations may allow transfers under different conditions.

The ministry also provides a separate electronic transfer service accessible through the Qiwa Individuals account. Workers can navigate to the services section and select the employment mobility option. The official service description indicates that the procedure is fully automated and does not require supporting paper documents.

Expatriate workers and employers are encouraged to review employment contracts, verify eligibility, and confirm the conditions applicable to their circumstances before initiating a transfer. Using the official Qiwa platform and ministry channels helps ensure that applications follow the approved procedures and protects applicants from misleading information.

Source: Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development