Saudi Job Transfer & Profession Change Guide

Learn how expatriate workers can transfer employment and how employers can request profession changes through the official Saudi labor-system services.

What Is Job Transfer in Saudi Arabia?

Job transfer means moving a non-Saudi employee’s employment services from one employer or establishment to another under the applicable Saudi labor-system process. HRSD currently lists Qiwa services for transferring expatriate employees and for transfers under the freedom-of-movement service, subject to the applicable rules.

The exact route depends on the worker’s situation. A new employer may submit an employee-transfer request through Qiwa, while a separate HRSD service allows a resident employee to transfer to a new employer without current-employer approval when the applicable service conditions are met.

Job Transfer Through Qiwa

HRSD’s current employee-transfer service allows an establishment to request the transfer of an expatriate employee from another employer. The establishment logs into its Qiwa account, selects the employee-transfer service, chooses the destination establishment, adds worker information and submits the request with an employment contract.

Transfer Without Current Employer Approval

HRSD currently lists a Transfer of Services from Another Employer (Freedom of Movement) service. It allows a resident employee to move to a new employer without the current employer’s approval, subject to the applicable regulations and conditions.

The current process is described as follows: the new employer submits a job offer through Qiwa, the worker logs into the platform and accepts or rejects the offer, the existing employer is notified, and the system verifies the requirements. After approval, the worker’s data is updated and a new work permit is issued.

What Is Profession Change in Saudi Arabia?

Profession change is a separate service used to change or correct the profession of a resident employee so that the recorded profession matches the work performed, subject to Saudi occupational classification and applicable restrictions.

HRSD currently lists this service through Qiwa. The request is made by an authorized establishment representative rather than being presented as a normal worker-side self-service profession change.

How to Change an Expatriate Profession Through Qiwa

Current Profession-Change Requirements

• The applicant should be an accredited representative of the establishment in HRSD systems.
• All establishment licenses must be valid.
• The establishment must be within the required Platinum or Green range listed by HRSD.
• The establishment status must be current.
• The requested profession cannot be a profession restricted to Saudi nationals.
• Where applicable, professional practice certification is required for regulated professions such as engineering, veterinary and accounting professions.
• The worker must not be in an “awaiting service transfer” status.
• There must not already be a profession-change request in progress for the same worker.
• The worker must not have been issued a final exit visa.

Job Transfer vs Profession Change

Regular Private-Sector Workers vs Domestic Workers

One of the most important distinctions is the worker category. The Qiwa employee-transfer and expatriate profession-change services discussed above relate to the applicable private-sector labor-system processes.

Domestic workers follow separate transfer services through Musaned. HRSD’s current domestic-worker transfer services include processes between individual employers and other domestic-worker transfer routes. Therefore, a domestic worker should not simply follow the private-sector Qiwa transfer steps in this guide.

What Should You Check Before a Job Transfer?

• Review the new employment offer and contract details carefully.
• Check that your personal and employment information is accurate.
• Confirm that the new employer is using the correct Qiwa transfer service.
• Check your current employment status and any pending transfer-related request.
• Keep copies of your employment contract and important employment records.
• Do not assume that a profession change and employer transfer are the same request.

What Should You Check Before a Profession Change?

• Confirm that the new profession matches the actual work being performed.
• Check whether the profession is subject to localization restrictions.
• Confirm that any required professional certificate is available.
• Make sure the establishment licenses and status meet the service requirements.
• Check that the worker is not awaiting a service transfer or another profession-change request.
• Make sure there is no final exit visa that prevents the requested change.

Saudi Job Transfer & Profession Change — Infographic

HRSD Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Related KSA Digital Guide Resources

Official Sources

• HRSD — Request for Transfer of Expatriate Workers
• HRSD — Transfer of Services from Another Employer (Freedom of Movement)
• HRSD — Change Expatriate Profession
• HRSD — Domestic Labor Transfer through Musaned