New digital system allows eligible workers to move from private companies to individual employers under regulated conditions
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has introduced an electronic service allowing individuals to request the transfer of eligible foreign workers from private-sector establishments to individual employers.
The initiative aims to regulate transfers into domestic professions while simplifying recruitment through a formal digital process.
Under the new rules, workers must hold valid work permits and cannot occupy high-level professional positions. The ministry excludes employees working in education, healthcare, technical, specialist and other designated professional categories.
Furthermore, workers employed in occupations that have been fully Saudised cannot use the service. The position offered by the individual employer must also fall within an approved domestic profession.
Applicants must meet documentation requirements
Individuals seeking a worker transfer must provide an electronically certified waiver from the current employer, authenticated through the relevant chamber of commerce.
Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient financial capacity by submitting either a salary certificate or bank statement. Moreover, they must provide a copy of the worker’s residency permit containing the expatriate’s fingerprint and signature.
Applications must identify the intended domestic occupation and provide the prospective employer’s name and national identification number.
The ministry will accept supporting documents in several electronic formats, including PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, DOCX and XLSX, with individual files limited to 3 MB.
Wage protection rules accompany reforms
The new transfer mechanism comes alongside mandatory implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Wage Protection Program for domestic workers. The system requires employers to pay salaries through approved channels, strengthening transparency and regulatory compliance.
Meanwhile, authorities confirmed an annual fee of SR9,600 for every additional domestic worker exceeding prescribed limits.
Saudi citizens may employ up to four domestic workers before the additional fee applies, while residents may employ two.
However, the ministry will provide exemptions for qualifying humanitarian circumstances, including households supporting people with disabilities or individuals suffering from chronic or serious illnesses.
The measures form part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to digitize labour services while strengthening oversight of employment practices.
