02 January 2025

Saudi Arabia temporarily extends grace period for foreign workers to regularize their stay

On 3 December 2024, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (Ministry) published a notice, according to which foreign nationals whose employment contract with a private Saudi company has ended have an additional 60 days from the date of termination of the contract to obtain sponsorship from another employer or leave the country. This is a temporary measure and is effective from 1 December 2024 until 29 January 2025, as per media reports. In general, foreign nationals working with Saudi companies whose employment contract with their current employer ends have 60 days to find a new sponsor or leave the country. The recent regulation provides them an additional 60-day period to do so. Individuals who seek to remain in the country must request their previous employer to access the Qiwa platform and review and approve relevant documents to transfer sponsorship to their new employer.

A Tax Alert prepared by EY's People Advisory Services, and attached below, provides additional details.

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Attachment

Full text of Tax Alert

Document ID: 2025-0101