What is Qiwa?
Qiwa is the labor-market platform run by the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). It consolidates employment services that were previously managed across separate channels, providing employers, employees, and freelancers with a single platform for work-related government transactions. For expatriate workers in the private sector, Qiwa is the system where their employment relationship is formally recorded and many legally significant actions are taken.
What Qiwa handles
Qiwa covers a broad set of labor services:
- Work permit issuance and renewal: employers apply for and renew work permits (the labor component of a worker's authorization to work, alongside the Iqama) through Qiwa.
- Contract authentication: employment contracts are uploaded by employers and digitally approved by workers on the platform, creating a legally recognized record of agreed terms.
- Job transfers (naqal kafala): workers wishing to change employer can initiate a transfer request through Qiwa. Labor reforms have expanded the scenarios in which a transfer is permitted without the current employer's consent, subject to eligibility conditions such as contract status and length of service.
- Nitaqat (Saudization) compliance: establishments can view their Saudization band and workforce composition, which affects their ability to process work permits and government transactions.
- Freelance visas: the platform supports the freelance work permit, allowing some categories of expatriate to work independently without a single corporate sponsor.
- Labor dispute filing: workers can raise formal disputes with their employer through Qiwa, initiating a conciliation or arbitration process.
How to use Qiwa as a worker
- Log in to qiwa.sa using your Nafath credentials (your Iqama number and a Nafath-verified OTP).
- Review any contracts your employer has uploaded under the contracts section and approve them digitally if the terms match your agreed employment conditions.
- To initiate a job transfer, navigate to the transfer services section and check your eligibility based on your contract status and service period.
- To raise a dispute, use the labor dispute service and follow the guided steps to submit your complaint.
- Check notification alerts for any pending actions such as contract approvals or employer responses to transfer requests.
Eligibility rules for transfers, dispute timelines, and fee amounts are set by MHRSD policy and may change. Confirm current conditions on the portal or by contacting MHRSD before making a decision.
What expats use Qiwa for
Expatriate workers most commonly use Qiwa to review and authenticate their employment contracts, to check whether a job transfer is possible, and to raise a formal complaint if a labor dispute arises. Workers who have completed the qualifying period and whose contracts are in good standing have access to more self-service options than those who are early in a contract or have unresolved issues. Keeping your contract authenticated and your Qiwa account active helps protect your labor rights and ensures your records are current if a dispute or transfer ever becomes necessary.