A sponsorship transfer letter is issued by a worker's current employer to say it has no objection to the worker's services moving to another employer from a set date. This page has that consent letter, the request letter the new employer writes, a statement of the worker's dues up to the transfer date and a checklist to run before filing. Type the details into the page and download it ready to sign and stamp.
The letter names both employers, the worker and iqama number, the effective date and how the dues are settled, and carries the signatory's signature and the company stamp. The transfer itself happens on the Qiwa platform; the letter supports it and does not replace it.
Transfer of sponsorship and transfer of services
"Transfer of sponsorship" (kafala transfer) is the common name; "transfer of services" is the official term in Saudi Arabia now that the relationship between an expatriate worker and an employer is governed by the employment contract. Three parties are involved: the employer the worker leaves, the employer the worker joins, and the worker. A consent letter is asked for when the new employer wants written consent before starting the process, or when the worker moves while the contract is still running.
Steps to transfer services on Qiwa
- Both employers and the worker agree on the date, and the current employer issues the consent letter from the first tab.
- The worker's dues up to the transfer date are worked out in the Dues statement tab and signed by both sides.
- The new employer files the transfer request on Qiwa, the current employer responds, and the worker approves from their own account.
- The new employment contract is documented once the transfer is complete.
Conditions, deadlines and fees change, so read them on the platform at the time of the request rather than from any template.
What the consent letter contains
| Item | What to write |
|---|---|
| Both employers | Name as on the commercial registration, with the CR number in advanced mode. |
| Worker | Name as on the iqama, iqama number, occupation and nationality. |
| Effective date | A specific day in both calendars, not "once procedures are complete". |
| Settlement of dues | Settled, agreed for a set date, or carried over under a written three-party agreement. |
| Approval | Signature of the authorized signatory, company stamp and the worker's acknowledgment. |
The key sentence reads: "has no objection to transferring the services of the worker whose details are given below to your company with effect from…". You can download the sponsorship transfer letter in Word to adjust the wording, or as a PDF to print and stamp.
The worker's dues before the transfer
Before the letter, work out three items: wages up to the transfer date, the annual leave balance, and the end-of-service award under Article 84 of the Labor Law. In the example above the worker earns SAR 6,750 a month: half a month's wages is 3,375.00, 12 days of leave is 2,700.00 and the award for three and a half years is 11,812.50, so the total due is SAR 17,887.50. After deducting an unpaid advance of 1,500.00, the net is SAR 16,387.50.
A statement signed by both sides is what you go back to if they disagree later; a verbal arrangement proves nothing.
Common mistakes in a sponsorship transfer letter
- Writing the worker's name differently from the iqama, so it does not match the platform records.
- A letter with no specific effective date.
- Issuing the letter before the dues are calculated and the statement signed.
- Treating the letter as a completed transfer before the request is accepted on Qiwa.
Regulatory notes
Transfers of expatriate workers' services are governed by the Saudi Labor Law and decisions of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, including the Labor Reform Initiative, which allows a move without the employer's consent in specific cases. Check the current conditions on Qiwa, and the current text of Article 84 before calculating the award.
When worker files are kept on scattered paperwork
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Frequently asked questions
Does a sponsorship transfer need the current employer's consent?
Normally the request is filed and the current employer responds on Qiwa. In cases set by the Labor Reform Initiative, such as the end of the contract, the worker can move without that consent. Check the current cases on the platform.
Is the transfer letter enough on its own?
No. The letter records the current employer's consent and how the dues are settled; the transfer only takes effect once the request is filed on Qiwa and accepted by the parties.
What does the new employer do in a transfer of services?
It files the transfer request on the platform, pays the fees the platform sets and documents the new contract. The request letter in the second tab is what it sends to ask for consent before filing.
Can a worker transfer during a fixed-term contract?
Yes, if the parties agree. Moving without the employer's consent before the contract ends has conditions and may mean compensation under the contract and the Labor Law, so read the termination clause and the platform's conditions.
Is there an Arabic version of this letter?
Yes. The Arabic page has the same four documents in Arabic, with masculine or feminine wording; the link is below the template above.