Navigating the Saudi labor market as an expatriate can be complex, especially when it comes to changing employers. One of the most common concerns among foreign workers is whether it’s possible to transfer sponsorship—commonly known as an Iqama transfer—if their current employment contract is not registered in Qiwa, Saudi Arabia’s official digital labor platform. The good news? Under the 2025 Labor Reform Initiative (LRI), employees now have greater flexibility and legal protections that may allow such a transfer, even without a Qiwa-registered contract no contract in qiwa can i transfer my employer to another.

According to Saudi labor regulations, a contract that isn’t registered on Qiwa is considered non-compliant with official requirements. This lack of registration can actually work in the employee’s favor when seeking an employer transfer.