Arabic-language reference guide to work permits, the Iqama (residence permit), sponsor transfer and final exit in Saudi Arabia, after the 2021 Labor Reform Initiative. General legal information, not legal advice; verify current rules on Qiwa/Absher or with Saudi counsel.
A foreign worker needs an MHRSD work permit and a Jawazat-issued Iqama, both the employer's responsibility. Since the 2021 Labor Reform Initiative the old kafala 'sponsor consent' model was substantially eased: a worker can transfer to a new employer through Qiwa without the current employer's consent in defined cases (e.g. contract expiry, three months' unpaid wages, an expired Iqama, or a Red-Nitaqat employer). Withholding a worker's passport is illegal. Premium Residency offers sponsor-independent residence.
