Employee Sponsorship Transfer Policy
Legal status of all employees—both Saudis and non-Saudis— protects the company from legal repercussions. Consequently, the sponsorship transfer & work permit policy establishes the essential framework to guarantee this protection. It determines the various procedures necessary for both the transfer of sponsorship to and from the company, and the registration of all employees.
Created by
Naif O. Alawbathani
|
Human Resources Adviser
Written by HR experts Fully customizable Saudi labor law ComplaintShare the calculator with an HR college
What’s included in the sponsorship transfer & work permit policy?
The sponsorship transfer and work permit policy emphasizes that all employees must be under the company's sponsorship, thereby strictly prohibiting the hiring of any individuals outside this framework.
The work permit policy explicitly confirms the necessity for every employee to get his own work permit, affirming the company's commitment to registering all workforce members on Qiwa platform.
Given that Saudi sponsorship transfer may occur without the company's consent, this policy adopts a flexible approach to such situations, outlining methods to minimize these cases as possible.
The sponsorship transfer policy is driven by two fundamental principles. First, the importance of adhering to official sponsorship transfer rules in Saudi Arabia, such as GOSI, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and Saudi Labor Law for transfer of sponsorship.
Second, it is driven by employee's right to renew their permits and transfer their sponsorship easily without delay, which maintains current talents retention and streamlines the recruitment process for new, skilled ones.
Sponsorship Transfer & Work Permit Policy - Table of contents
1. Sponsorship & Work Permit Status
2. Prohibition of Work Without Sponsorship or Official Registration
3. Qiwa Registration Requirement
4. Cases of Sponsorship Transfer Without Consent – To Be Avoided
5. Responsibility for Transfer Fees
6. HR Department Responsibilities
7. Internal Compliance & Risk Mitigation
8. Contract Documentation Process
9. Internal Authorization for Transfer Requests Drag
10. Document Reference and System Integration
11. Relevant Legal References
Why do you need a sponsorship transfer & work permit policy?
Defining the responsibilities of each entity regarding the verification of employment statuses.
Protecting business from non-compliance risks, such as penalties and shutdown.
Hiring new talents smoothly.
Minimizing sponsorship transfer without the company's approval.
How do you use the model?
Download the template and review the content.
Customize it with name, logo and specific organizational structure.
Share it with Hr department, department heads, and company management.
Ensure compliance by getting the sponsorship transfer & work permit policy reviewed by a legal/HR expert.
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FAQ
How to transfer sponsorship in Saudi Arabia?
Follow these 5 steps to transfer sponsorship in saudi arabia:
log in to your Qiwa account.
From the “Electronic Services”, Choose “Employee Transfer Service”
Select the current employer of the worker being transferred.
Choose the employee name you want to transfer to your company.
Add the employee employment contract.
How to check sponsorship transfer in KSA?
To easily check the status of sponsorship transfer, log in to your Qiwa account. You can find the status within the “Employee Transfer Request” service.
How to cancel transfer sponsorship in Saudi Arabia?
To cancel transfer sponsorship, go to the “Employee Transfer” service at Qiwa, then follow these steps:
Log in to your Qiwa account.
Choose “Employee Transfer” from “Services” page.
Go to the “Requests sent by you” section.
Select the request you want to cancel, then click ‘Cancel request’.
Confirm the cancelation
What is a work permit?
As mentioned in sponsorship transfer and work permit policy, a work permit is a mandatory legal document that allows non-Saudi nationals to be employed in Saudi Arabia. Employers must go through the work permit process within the first 90 days of the employee's arrival in the Kingdom, and it's a prerequisite for obtaining an Iqama (residence permit).
While initially free for the first three months, work permits require periodic renewal. The validity of a work permit typically ranges from 3 to 12 months, depending on the employee's profession and the company's requirements. Businesses can apply for work permits through Qiwa platform's dedicated service.
How to check if work permit is valid?
To check Saudi work permit validation, log in to your business account at Qiwa platform. Navigate to “Employee data” and check the work permit status and end date.