Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched a new electronic service allowing eligible expatriate workers employed by private-sector companies and establishments to transfer their services to individual employers under the domestic worker category. The service is subject to specific conditions and is intended to simplify the process of transferring workers from establishments to domestic employment.
To qualify, the worker must have a valid work permit, and the requested occupation must fall within an approved domestic worker category. Workers employed in certain higher-level professions, including education, technical, healthcare and specialist roles, as well as occupations that have been fully Saudised, are not eligible. Applications require an electronic release letter from the previous employer attested by the Chamber of Commerce, proof of the new employer’s salary or financial capacity, and a copy of the worker’s Iqama carrying their signature and fingerprint.
The application must also specify the intended domestic occupation and provide the new employer’s name and national identification number. The service follows the introduction of the Wage Protection System for domestic workers, which aims to ensure salaries are paid through approved channels, protect the rights of workers and employers, and improve transparency and regulatory compliance in Saudi Arabia’s labour market.
