Saudi Arabia introduces new service for foreign domestic workers
New facility for foreign workers
The latest Saudi Arabia new service gives eligible workers another option to move from private sector companies to individuals seeking domestic workers.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development introduced the facility to make the process more organised and transparent.
The move is expected to provide more flexibility for Saudi Arabia foreign workers who want to change their employment sector.
The new system focuses on the formal transfer of workers into approved domestic professions.
Who can apply?
The new facility is available to eligible Saudi domestic workers and foreign employees who meet specific conditions.
A worker must have a valid work permit to apply for the transfer. The employee must also not be working in a high-level profession.
The restrictions cover educational, technical, healthcare and specialised jobs. Professions that have been fully reserved for Saudi nationals are also excluded.
The position requested by the new employer must be classified as a domestic profession.
For Saudi Arabia foreign workers, meeting these requirements will be important before starting the application process.
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Documents required
Applicants will need to provide several documents for the foreign worker transfer process.
The new employer must submit a salary certificate or a bank statement showing that they have the financial ability to employ the worker.
A waiver from the previous employer must also be submitted. It must be electronically verified and authenticated by the Chamber of Commerce.
The worker must provide a copy of their residence permit showing their fingerprint and signature.
The application must also state the requested domestic profession and provide details of the new employer, including their name and national identification number.
How the new system works
The Saudi worker transfer process is being introduced through an electronic system. This is expected to make applications easier to manage and reduce paperwork.
The Saudi Arabia new service also comes as the Kingdom moves toward mandatory implementation of the Wage Protection Program for domestic workers.
The programme aims to ensure that salaries are paid through approved channels while protecting the rights of both employers and workers.
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File requirements and fees
The ministry said supporting documents can be uploaded electronically in PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, DOCX or XLSX formats.
Each file must not exceed 3 MB.
Under the rules, Saudi citizens can employ up to four domestic workers, while residents can employ up to two.
An annual fee of SAR9,600 will be charged for each additional domestic worker beyond these limits.
Humanitarian exceptions may apply to people with disabilities and those suffering from serious or chronic illnesses.
What it means for workers
The Saudi worker transfer system could give eligible employees a more structured way to move into domestic employment.
For Saudi domestic workers, the new rules may make employment transfers clearer by setting specific requirements and documentation.
The foreign worker transfer process will still depend on meeting all conditions and receiving the required approvals.
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For Saudi Arabia foreign workers, the service could create another employment pathway, but workers and employers will need to carefully check the requirements.
The Saudi Arabia new service also supports the Kingdom’s wider effort to digitise employment procedures.
