Saudi Arabia Foreign Workers Get 60-Day Grace Period for Job Transfer in 2025
Saudi Arabia foreign workers have received a major boost in job security and legal rights. The Kingdom has announced a new rule through its Qiwa platform, giving foreign workers a 60-day grace period after their contract ends before they can be officially declared “absent from work.” This change, effective July 31, 2025, allows workers time to legally transfer jobs, return to their employer, or exit the country—provided their Iqama remains valid.
What Saudi Arabia Foreign Workers Can Do During the Grace Period
Under the old system, employers had the power to immediately label a worker as absent after the end of a contract. This left many foreign employees vulnerable to legal trouble, job loss, or even deportation.
The updated policy, however, requires employers to wait 60 days before flagging a worker as absent, but only if the Iqama (residency permit) remains valid for the full duration. This new approach brings clarity, fairness, and legal protection for foreign workers.
Saudi Arabia foreign workers: Key Points of the New 60-Day Rule
60-Day Grace Period: Employers cannot report a worker as “absent” for 60 days post-termination.
Valid Iqama Required: The grace period applies only if the Iqama is valid for at least 60 more days.
Managed on Qiwa: The system is fully integrated into the Qiwa.sa platform, linked to both the Ministry of Human Resources and Ministry of Interior.
No Expiry, No Flagging: If the Iqama is set to expire within 60 days, employers cannot use the absence reporting feature.
What Can Foreign Workers Do During the Grace Period?
The two-month window opens up critical options for foreign employees, including:
1. Transfer to Another Employer
Eligible workers can use Qiwa to change sponsorship to a new employer without requiring the current sponsor’s permission.
2. Return to Their Previous Job
If invited, the employee can resume work with their original employer.
3. Leave Saudi Arabia
Those who do not wish to stay can exit legally, avoiding fines or penalties.
If no action is taken within 60 days, the system will automatically mark the worker as “absent from work”, remove them from the employer’s records, and alert the authorities.
The Role of the Qiwa Platform
Qiwa is Saudi Arabia’s official digital labor management system introduced under Vision 2030. It allows:
Contract creation and renewal
Sponsorship transfer requests
Legal documentation and verification
Dispute resolution and employee protection
The platform promotes transparency and minimizes employer exploitation.
Historical Background: Labor Reforms in Saudi Arabia
This new grace period is the latest step in a larger reform journey. In 2021, Saudi Arabia began overhauling its labor policies by phasing out key aspects of the Kafala (sponsorship) system, long criticized for enabling exploitation. Since then, the government has launched multiple digital tools like:
Qiwa.sa (job and contract management)
Musaned (domestic worker recruitment)
Absher (residency, visa, and passport services)
These efforts are part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s plan to diversify the economy and improve the quality of life for citizens and residents alike.
By implementing the 60-day grace period, Saudi Arabia is reinforcing its commitment to becoming a modern, fair, and competitive labor destination for skilled workers from around the globe.
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