Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has introduced a new electronic service that enables individuals to request the transfer of expatriate workers from private-sector companies to individual employers. The initiative streamlines the process for hiring eligible foreign workers in domestic professions while ensuring compliance with Saudi labor regulations and worker protection requirements.
MHRSD Introduces Online Expat Worker Transfer Service
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has launched a fully electronic service allowing individuals to transfer eligible foreign workers from private-sector establishments to personal sponsorship for domestic occupations.
The service aims to regulate worker transfers, simplify procedures, and ensure all transfers comply with Saudi Arabia's labor regulations. According to ministry sources cited by Okaz, the service is available electronically without requiring applicants to visit ministry offices.
Who Can Transfer an Expat Worker?
The electronic service is intended for individuals wishing to employ eligible expatriate workers in domestic professions.
However, several conditions must be satisfied before the transfer request can be approved.
Eligibility Conditions for Worker Transfer
- The expatriate worker must have a valid work permit.
- The worker must not belong to restricted professional categories.
- The requested occupation must be classified as a domestic profession.
- All required documents must be submitted electronically.
Professions Not Eligible for Transfer
MHRSD has excluded workers employed in high-level and specialized occupations from the new transfer service.
The restricted professions include:
- Educational professions
- Technical professions
- Healthcare professions
- Specialist occupations
- Professions fully Saudized under localization policies
Documents Required for Expat Worker Transfer
Applicants must upload several supporting documents when submitting the electronic request.
- Electronically certified waiver from the current employer.
- The waiver must be authenticated by the Chamber of Commerce.
- Salary certificate of the new employer, or
- Bank statement proving financial capability.
- Copy of the worker's valid Iqama bearing the worker's fingerprint and signature.
- Details of the domestic profession.
- Name and national ID number of the new employer.
Accepted File Formats for Document Upload
MHRSD accepts supporting documents in multiple electronic formats.
- JPG
- JPEG
- PNG
- DOCX
- XLSX
The maximum file size allowed is 3 MB for each uploaded document.
Wage Protection Program Now Mandatory for Domestic Workers
The introduction of the electronic transfer service comes alongside the mandatory implementation of Saudi Arabia's Wage Protection Program for domestic workers.
Under the program, employers must pay domestic workers' salaries through approved electronic payment channels. The initiative strengthens transparency, safeguards workers' rights, and improves compliance with employment contracts.
Annual Fee for Hiring Additional Domestic Workers
MHRSD has also implemented an annual fee for employers exceeding the permitted number of domestic workers.
Domestic Worker Limits
- Saudi citizens: Up to four domestic workers.
- Resident expatriates: Up to two domestic workers.
An annual fee of SR9,600 will apply to every additional domestic worker beyond these limits.
Certain humanitarian cases are exempt from the additional fee, including individuals with disabilities and those suffering from chronic or serious medical conditions.
How the New Service Benefits Employers and Workers
The electronic transfer service offers a regulated and transparent mechanism for transferring eligible expatriate workers from companies to individual employers.
By combining electronic applications, document verification, financial eligibility checks, and wage protection requirements, MHRSD aims to strengthen labor market governance while protecting the rights of both employers and domestic workers.
Conclusion
The launch of MHRSD's electronic worker transfer service marks another step in Saudi Arabia's ongoing digital transformation of labor services. Individuals can now complete worker transfer requests online, provided all eligibility conditions, documentation, and financial requirements are met. Together with the Wage Protection Program, the initiative enhances transparency, protects workers' rights, and supports a more regulated domestic labor market.
