The Worker Service Transfer is a digital service offered through Saudi Arabia’s Qiwa platform under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. It facilitates the official and smooth transfer of expatriate workers’ services from one employer to another, ensuring employee rights and full access to employment data and history.
The process begins with employer or HR manager login, selecting “Employee Transfer,” choosing the correct transfer path such as “Transfer worker from another employer,” entering the worker’s Iqama number, and specifying the receiving company. The transfer request is sent to the worker via SMS for approval, followed by consent from the previous employer to finalize the transfer.
Conditions include no residency violations by the worker, limited residency duration limits for transfers to new employers, and the existence of a validated employment contract. Employers must notify previous employers 30 days before contract expiry as per transfer regulations. The platform tracks the request status from initiation to issuance of a new Iqama.
The service offers a flexible mechanism for companies to manage workforce needs efficiently with minimal legal delays, increasing transparency and labor compliance. It supports the Saudi labor market development and boosts private sector HR management.
Importance
Regulates workforce mobility maintaining all parties’ rights.
Speeds up transfer processes to meet business demands.
Improves transparency and compliance between workers and employers.
Provides detailed tracking and reporting for transfer status and regulation adherence.
Challenges
Obtaining worker’s consent through digital communication.
Managing notification and transfer timeframes.
Handling complex or non-compliant transfer cases.
Keeping system updated with latest labor law changes.
Target Sector
General
Affiliated Authority
Qiwa platform
Estimated DurationN/A
Gov Approval Window1 working day
Service Pricing80
Government Fee2000
Mandatory Conditions
✓For incorporation facilities: All other entities under the unified number must be in the medium green range at least or very small green except for the entity under incorporation.
✓ When transferring services, the employee's approval of the application, including the employment contract, is required.
✓Your establishments belonging to the same establishment group must not have any expired business licenses.
✓Your facility must comply with the Wage Protection System.
✓The transfer of employees must not exceed the permissible recruitment balance (visas and transfers) of the level of the medium green bands (for establishments in the expansion period).
✓ Fees are calculated for 2,000 riyals for the first time, 4,000 riyals for the second time and 6,000 riyals for the third time and more.
✓The employee must currently be working within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
✓The employee must not have an ongoing transfer process (i.e., a transfer request that has not yet been completed).
✓The employee must not hold an exit visa.
✓The employee must not hold a final exit work permit.