Many expatriates in Saudi Arabia ask:
“If I am on a Free Visa / Azad Visa, can I transfer to a company? What documents are required and how much does it cost?”
Here is the important information based on the current Qiwa and Saudi Ministry of Human Resources (MHRSD) system:
✅ Can a Free Visa / Azad Visa Holder Transfer to a Company?
It may be possible, but eligibility depends on your actual legal status in the Saudi government systems.
“Free Visa” or “Azad Visa” is a commonly used term and is not itself an official expatriate visa category. The important factors are your Iqama, work permit, Qiwa status and eligibility for employee transfer.
Saudi Arabia’s Qiwa system provides an electronic Employee Transfer service for transferring non-Saudi workers to a new employer.
📄 What Documents Are Required?
For the standard Qiwa Employee Transfer service, MHRSD currently states that the service is fully electronic and does not require separate paperwork/documents.
Generally, the process works like this:
🔹 The new company submits a job offer through Qiwa
🔹 The worker logs into Qiwa and accepts the offer
🔹 The existing employer is notified where applicable
🔹 Qiwa verifies the requirements
🔹 After approval, the worker’s employment information is transferred and the new work permit is issued.
The worker needs a valid Iqama number for the transfer process; a border number cannot be used for this service.
💰 How Much Does the Transfer Cost?
According to the current MHRSD service information:
Employee Transfer Service: FREE ✅
However, other employment-related government costs may apply.
For example:
• Work Permit issuance/renewal service fee: SAR 100
• Iqama-related fees, where applicable
• Expatriate levy/other applicable government charges
• Profession-change fees, if required
• Medical insurance and other employment requirements
The exact total depends on the worker’s situation and the new company’s status.
👨💼 Who Pays the Transfer Cost?
Under Article 40 of the Saudi Labor Law, the employer bears the cost of transferring the services of a worker to whom the employer wishes to transfer the worker’s services. The law also places relevant residence and work-permit costs on the employer.
⚠️ Important Warning for “Free Visa” Holders
If your Iqama is sponsored by one person/company but you are actually working for another company without completing the legally required transfer or authorization, this can create a legal problem.
Saudi Labor Law states that a non-Saudi worker must have the required work permit and cannot work for another employer or on their own account except according to the applicable legal procedures.
Therefore, do not pay an agent simply because someone says, “Free Visa transfer is guaranteed.”
First check:
✅ Iqama status
✅ Work permit status
✅ Qiwa eligibility
✅ Current profession
✅ New company’s Qiwa eligibility
✅ Any restriction or violation appearing in the system
📌 Important: The final eligibility and payable amount should be confirmed through the official Qiwa/MHRSD system, because requirements can depend on the worker’s and company’s individual status.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Qiwa | Employment Information
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