Transferring an Employee's Sponsorship in Saudi Arabia: The Process

How transfer of services works when hiring an expatriate who already lives in Saudi Arabia, and the checks that stop a transfer stalling.

Hiring an expatriate already in the Kingdom means transferring their services to your company rather than issuing a new visa. Since the 2021 labour reforms, transfers run through Qiwa, and in defined cases workers can move without the current employer's consent, for example at the end of a contract. Conditions, fees and notice rules are set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and should be checked for each case.

Before stage one

Before offering a transfer, check both sides. Your company must be in a Nitaqat band that allows receiving transfers and have no blocks on its file. The candidate must have a valid iqama, a clear record with their current employer, and an eligible situation, such as a contract that has ended or the consent of the current employer.

• Your company can receive transfers under its current Nitaqat band.
• The candidate iqama is valid, or the route for an expired one is understood.
• The candidate contract status with the current employer is known.
• The occupation on the iqama suits the role, or a change of occupation is possible.
• No outstanding fines or cases that would block the transfer.

Stage 1: Confirm eligibility

Check the candidate record on Qiwa and the conditions for transfer in their situation: with consent, at contract end, or under one of the other routes the reforms introduced.

• Deliverable: Written confirmation of the transfer route.
• Owner: HR.
• Approval gate: An eligible route exists.

Stage 2: Make the offer

Issue an offer that states salary components, start date and occupation, conditional on a successful transfer.

• Deliverable: Signed conditional offer.
• Owner: Hiring manager.
• Approval gate: Offer consistent with your contract template.

Stage 3: Submit the transfer request

Submit the request on Qiwa. The candidate accepts it, and where the route requires, the current employer responds within the set period or notice runs.

• Deliverable: Transfer request submitted and accepted by the candidate.
• Owner: HR.
• Approval gate: Request shows as progressing without errors.

Stage 4: Pay fees and complete transfer

Pay the transfer and related charges, and complete the transfer once the conditions are met. The iqama moves to your company.

• Deliverable: Transfer completed.
• Owner: Government relations officer.
• Approval gate: Employee listed under your company on Muqeem.

Stage 5: Document and register

Document the new contract on Qiwa, register the employee with GOSI under your company, add them to your insurance policy and set them up in payroll.

• Deliverable: Contract, GOSI, insurance and payroll in place.
• Owner: HR and finance.
• Approval gate: No gap in insurance between employers.

Stage 6: Settle occupation and dependants

Change the occupation if needed, following the applicable rules, and check that dependants remain correctly linked to the employee.

• Deliverable: Occupation matches the role; dependants in order.
• Owner: HR.
• Approval gate: Family records consistent with the new sponsor.

Handovers between stages

The weak handover is between the old and new employer. The previous employer must settle the final pay and end-of-service, and the employee's GOSI record should show a clean end and start. Ask the candidate for their final settlement and check that there is no overlap or gap in insurance before the first day.

How you know it is finished

The transfer is complete when the employee appears under your company on Qiwa and Muqeem, their contract is documented, GOSI and insurance are active, the occupation matches the job, and dependants are correctly recorded.

Domira works with foreign investors on the property side of entering Saudi Arabia: finding land or premises, due diligence, design, construction and asset management. For licensing, tax and legal steps, work with a licensed adviser; we coordinate with yours so the property decision fits the structure you choose.