New Rules For Transfer Of Sponsorship For Married Foreigners

Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development Saudi Arabia has issued a circular stating that foreign husband of Saudi wives or non-Saudi wives of Saudi men must transfer their sponsorship in case of separation within 2 months.

The reason for separation can be the death of the spouse or divorce. To Transfer sponsorship the foreigner must find a job within 60 days and MOI, ministry of the interior should be timely informed, Abdul Majeed Rushdi, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development said.

In the circular, it is further stated that the foreigner husband or wife must leave the kingdom if they failed to find a job during the said period of time.

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For Saudi Women,

Their sponsorship of their children, from the foreigner spouse, shall be transferred to another employer upon reaching the age of 18. The circular also stated that it is a necessary requirement to prove that the marriage is solemnized with the approval of the concerned authorities before starting the procedure of transfer of service.

While submitting the documents, a certified copy of the marriage certificate must be attached to the documents. A copy of a valid passport should also be attached.

In addition to that, the consent of the employer either for transfer ship or the cancellation of the contract is a must.

The same applies to the sons and daughters of Saudi Women married to foreigners.

Current Permissions

Currently, the ministry allows the children of a Saudi woman married to a foreigner to work in the professions that are strictly allocated to Saudi nationals and banned to foreigners, only in case the mother is their sponsor.

For the non-Saudi husband, he can work in the private sector without the transfer of sponsorship, but he is not counted in the percentage of Nitaqat System

The Labor Ministry has also announced a rapid Saudization in several sales jobs in the sectors of coffee, tea stalls, sugar, honey, spices, fruits, and vegetable.

In addition to that, dates markets, flowers shops, plants, and agricultural material, drinking water and beverages, gits and luxuries, handicrafts and toys, meat and fish stores, eggs, dairy products and vegetable oils, sales of books and stationery items and students services are also specified for Saudi Nationals.