Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched a special status correction process for a category of expatriate workers residing in the Kingdom irregularly, allowing eligible individuals to complete the necessary procedures electronically through the Qiwa and Musaned platforms.

In an official statement issued on Sunday, October 11, 2026, the ministry confirmed that the initiative covers eligible Yemeni nationals included under the relevant government directives and is available across all regions of Saudi Arabia for a period of two months.

The eligible categories include Yemeni workers whose residence permits have expired and those registered as absent from work, provided that they hold valid travel documents and meet the applicable requirements and regulatory conditions.

For workers with expired residence permits, the initiative allows eligible individuals to transfer their services to new employers who require their employment, using the designated government digital platforms to complete the relevant procedures.

The ministry explained that Qiwa handles the transfer procedures for professional workers, while Musaned provides the corresponding services for support workers, in coordination with the Absher platform and other relevant government authorities.

Eligible workers and employers can complete the status correction procedures electronically without visiting government offices, subject to the requirements and checks applicable to each case.

Another important feature of the initiative is the ability of eligible workers with recorded absence-from-work reports to have those reports cancelled and transfer their services to new employers after completing the prescribed procedures.

The ministry emphasized that valid travel documents are an essential eligibility requirement for workers with expired residence permits as well as those registered as absent from work. Other regulatory conditions must also be satisfied.

The announced two-month period began on October 11, 2026. Eligible individuals and prospective employers should therefore review the official platforms and complete the required steps within the specified window.

The initiative does not constitute a general amnesty for all expatriate nationalities, nor does it automatically cancel every immigration or labour violation. Its scope is limited to the eligible Yemeni nationals covered by the official directives.

According to the ministry, the initiative reflects cooperation between government agencies to facilitate lawful status correction, regulate worker transfers and support a more efficient labour market while protecting contractual rights.

Workers and employers are encouraged to use the official Qiwa and Musaned platforms and follow the relevant government guidance rather than relying on unverified information circulated online.

Source: Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development