Every country and organization has a unique mandate and set of rules for its personnel. These rules are frequently changed. Switching from one business to another is usually an unavoidable aspect of any career. However, it is critical to grasp and thoroughly comprehend the rules and regulations that govern such transfers.
This assures that you are not ignorant, and as a result, you will not make mistakes that have serious implications. The new Iqama transfer rules released by Saudi Arabia will be discussed in this article.
What is iqama?
Iqama is a legal document that confirms your character and identity as an employee granted permission to live and work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Your sponsor or employer is generally in charge of processing this document. Your employer applies for the legal permits required to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
What is an Iqama Transfer?
An Iqama transfer denotes a change in the sponsor. This frequently happens when you switch jobs. However, this process is extremely difficult. It is mostly determined by the regulations of your current firm and your employer’s desire.
In addition, this transfer is charged. You must pay the fee as well as any additional charges imposed by your employer. This process often takes a few weeks to several months. As a result, it is critical to request such transfers in a timely and spontaneous manner.
However, there is an issue here. Not all Iqama are transferable, and those that are must be completed with your present sponsor. If your existing sponsor rejects your request, you will be unable to find employment with a different employer. As a result, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has implemented new regulations that relax the strict laws.
New Rules for Foreign Workers.
The year 2021 offered excellent news to all foreign laborers working in Saudi Arabia. From March 2021, you are not required to obtain permission from your employer when leaving the country, transferring sponsorships, or changing jobs.
With the implementation of these legislation, you will no longer have to rely on your employer. These adjusted labor regulations are put in place to attract talented individuals from all around the world. Before 2021, attempting to leave the KSA without the authorization of your employer would be considered a fugitive. However, these new laws give international workers much-needed independence.
This also contradicts our previously discussed situations. If your company refuses to transfer your sponsorship, you can ask the Saudi government.
Furthermore, the new regulations require the digitization of employee-employer contracts and bonds. These rules are being introduced to protect expats from exploitation and discrimination, while also increasing transparency.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s creative and novel regulations will revolutionize Saudi Arabia’s position as a major worldwide competitor. These new legislation help to improve the occupational mobility of foreign workers.
Conditions for transferring services without employer consent.
Expatriate employees are those who live in another country for work or business reasons. Although the restrictions have become less stringent, an expat worker must meet certain standards before transferring services without the agreement of their employer. An employee is only eligible for this transfer if they match the following requirements.
If employees want to benefit from job mobility services, they must meet the following prerequisites.
- As an expatriate worker, you must adhere to KSA laws.
- Additionally, you should have at least a year of experience with your current workplace.
- The employee must have a properly documented work bond or contract.
- The new employer must submit the new employment offer that the employee has received via the Ministry’s Qiwa site.
- You must notify your current employer of the Iqama transfer, including the notice period.
- If you are an employee searching for an Iqama transfer without your current employer’s agreement, you must meet the following requirements to profit from the new laws.
- If you do not have an employment contract within three months after arriving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you can ask for transfer.
- If your current company fails to pay your earnings or salary for three consecutive months, you are qualified to apply under the new law.
- If your employer is absent for an extended period of time for whatever cause, such as travel, death, or jail, you are immediately eligible.
- Iqama expiration date.
- If you protest as an employee about your employer’s involvement in a tattasur, which is an attempt to conceal evidence, you will be eligible to ask for an Iqama transfer. However, you must ensure that you are not complicit in this cover-up with your employer.
- If you, as a worker, have solid evidence that your employer is involved in human trafficking, you can provide it and immediately file for an Iqama transfer.
- The current Kafeel agrees to the transfer.
- There are times when you and your employer are in a legal disagreement. Sometimes your sponsor appoints a person to attend these proceedings on his behalf. If your current sponsor or his chosen representative fails to appear at two litigation sessions, you may request an Iqama transfer.
Remember these guidelines so that your current Kafeel or job does not exploit you. Apart from you, your possible new employer can also file for the Iqama transfer. They must meet the conditions listed below.
- The employer’s business must be eligible to obtain visas while adhering to the laws and regulations.
- They should follow the Wage Protection Program regulations.
- They should support labor contract documentation and digitization.
- They must also follow the self-evaluation programs.
- In addition to these laws, you must be familiar with the numerous procedures involved, such as confirming your Iqama status. From here on out, we’ll look at some particular and gain a deeper understanding of the technical components.
How to Check Iqama Transfer Status?
Here are some fast procedures we devised to make this procedure go more smoothly.
Step 1: The first step is to visit the Ministry of Labor’s official website, which is only available in Arabic, therefore follow these instructions.
Step 2: Once the webpage has loaded, choose the fourth option from the menu. The choice translates as Naqal Kafala.
Step 3: Once on the following screen, select the second option. Now you must enter your Iqama number and the image code into the visible text box. Once you’ve finished entering these details, select the option in the bottom right corner.
Step 4: Once you’ve completed all of the steps, your sponsor’s name will appear in the brackets. This page contains additional information such as the Application Number and Date of Transfer. By cross-checking these facts, you can determine the status of your Iqama transfer.
What amount will you be charged?
When you apply for these transactions, you will be charged certain costs. A domestic worker’s first Iqama transfer typically costs 600 SR, while renewal costs 350 SR.
If you are a worker over the age of 18, the Muqeem insurance and renewal fees total 500 SR.
Similarly, your new Kafeel or employer is required to pay 2000 SR when he hires you for the first time. This charge is increased by 2000 SR for each new transfer.
When Is Your Transfer Request Rejected?
It is critical to understand why the Ministry will reject your application. To avoid being trapped in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, look into these situations and try to avoid them.
Workers with expired passports will be automatically denied. As a result, make sure you renew your passport well before its expiration date. If you have a final exit or re-entry stamp on your passport, your transfer request will be denied.
Furthermore, any worker with a criminal background, a worker who has violated traffic regulations, or a runaway is disqualified to participate in the KSA’s new effort.
Keep these tips in mind while applying for a new job under the altered rules.
What to Do If You’re Stranded?
In an effort to make the proceedings more open, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted the stranded workers unique rights. These rights allow these workers to register on wafid.com.sa and discover a variety of jobs in private enterprises that fit their qualifications.
Applying for Iqama Transfer Online
The Iqama can be transmitted online based on the parameters listed below.
- The first step is for your new employer to submit a transfer request for sponsorship through the Ministry of Labor (MoL) account. You must have your prior Iqama with you as verification.
- Following that, your prior employer must accept the transfer request using the MoL portal. Once this is accepted, your information will be sent to the new employer.
- If you want to cancel an Iqama transfer, there are two options.
- You can either keep the request open for 90 days, after which the sponsorship transfer becomes null and void and is immediately terminated.
If this procedure appears to be time-consuming, your new employer may withdraw the application as well. This is almost an instantaneous procedure.
Until now, we have examined the numerous viewpoints that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provides to foreign workers. However, domestic workers are not subject to the same adjustments. Let us find out what their current state is.
Iqama Transfers for Domestic Workers
Domestic workers are natural inhabitants of the country. These are the persons who work in their own nation and hold citizenship. Regardless of their vocation, these persons are categorized as domestic workers. Domestic workers is a word with two meanings, however in this case it refers to native laborers. As a result, do not be confused when we use this term in reference to this article.
The transfer of Iqama from an individual to an establishment is still prohibited. Transferring the other way around is also not permitted.
However, after a duration of 7 years, domestic workers are qualified to apply for Iqama transfers if they meet certain standards.
If the domestic employee wishes to change occupations, an Iqama transfer is an option. Furthermore, it should not have been renewed for longer than one year at a time.
These rules and regulations may appear overpowering at times. There is a potential that you will feel lost or bewildered. But don’t worry! At AstroLabs, we are committed to assisting you in understanding these complexity. AstroLabs is committed to assisting all of these developments. We hope this detailed guide has answered most of your questions. If you have any problems or need assistance with your iqama transfers, contact AstroLabs.