What workers should do now

If you are not sure your permit is valid, act before the deadline:

  1. 1

    Step 1: Check your work permit in Qiwa

    Sign in to your Qiwa individual account with Nafath and check your work permit expiry date and employment status.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Ask your employer in writing to renew

    Work permits can be renewed up to 180 days before expiry. If yours has expired, send HR a dated written request to renew it and keep a copy.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Keep records of your employment

    Save salary transfers, your contract and any messages about renewal. These help if there is later a dispute about wages or status.

  4. 4

    Step 4: Use official channels if the employer refuses

    If your employer will not regularise your status, consider the ministry’s labour complaint and friendly-settlement routes, or a Qiwa employee transfer if you are eligible.

The 31 December 2026 deadline

On 30 June 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) extended the grace period for employers to correct the status of certain expatriate workers until 31 December 2026.

Two groups are covered: workers whose work permits have been expired for more than 12 months, and workers who joined an establishment but had no work permit issued within six months of starting. The ministry warned that employers who do not regularise these workers by the deadline may face legal action under the labour regulations.

The separate Qiwa three-month removal rule

A different rule took effect on 1 July 2026. Qiwa can automatically remove a resident employee from an establishment’s employment record once the work permit has been expired for more than three months and the employer has not renewed it within the allowed period.

Reports indicate an exception where the work permit expires before the Iqama, the Iqama remains valid for at least 180 days, and the employer cannot renew the permit in that window. Employers remain financially responsible for wages and obligations for the period the employee worked, up to the removal date.

Do not confuse the two: the 31 December date is a grace period for long-standing cases, while the three-month rule applies continuously to any permit left expired.

What employers should do now

Audit every non-Saudi employee’s work permit and Iqama expiry dates in Qiwa and Muqeem, renew lapsed permits and pay the outstanding fees, and align HR and payroll records with Qiwa status. Keep evidence of renewal attempts where renewal was not possible.