transferring sponsorship to women and required procedures

transferring sponsorship to women and required procedures

The Saudi government has set conditions for transferring sponsorship to women, in order to protect Saudi women from the risks to which they may be exposed. The sponsorship system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the systems that regulate the relationship between the worker and the employer. It is worth noting that when transferring sponsorship from one sponsor to another, this procedure is common among workers. With legal changes that support women as independent entities, they are able to assume the responsibilities assigned to them.

Objectives of the conditions for transferring sponsorship to women from a legal perspective

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has introduced numerous initiatives and programs that fall within the framework of the conditions for transferring sponsorship to women, aiming to achieve an effective balance between the employer and the rights of the worker, including women working or residing under the sponsorship of a family member.

These initiatives seek to regulate the labor market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia so that it is characterized by transparency and justice among members of society.

The residency regulations also clarify that the conditions for transferring sponsorship to women vary depending on their social status and the profession they practice, and also contribute to facilitating the movement of workers between institutions in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

These efforts focus on protecting the rights of expatriates and preventing cases of exploitation or abuse by some sponsors, in addition to accelerating legal and administrative procedures through complete digital transformation via electronic platforms.

Categories to which the conditions for transferring sponsorship to women apply

Saudi law is keen to update the conditions for transferring sponsorship to women in line with the requirements of the labor market and the rights of residents. Women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoy all their legal rights, and the most important cases in which sponsorship may be transferred include the following:

• A wife holds a residence permit under her husband’s sponsorship, meaning that the husband is not Saudi.
• A divorced or widow who wishes to transfer her sponsorship to another sponsor or a specific entity.
• A worker, whether a domestic worker or working in a formal profession — who wishes to transfer her sponsorship from one employer to another.

transferring sponsorship to women and required procedures

Conditions for transferring sponsorship to women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

There are specific conditions for transferring sponsorship to women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is worth noting that these conditions apply to both men and women, in order to ensure that all parties within institutions and companies obtain their full rights. The most prominent of these conditions are the following:

The most important conditions for transferring sponsorship to women and the procedures required for 2025

• Validity of residence: The woman’s residence must be valid when submitting the sponsorship transfer application.
• Approval of the previous sponsor: The approval of the current sponsor is required to transfer sponsorship to another sponsor, except in legal cases that prevent this.
• Matching the profession to the activity of the new sponsor: The profession practiced by the woman must be permitted and compatible with the activity of the new entity.
• Age and legal capacity: In some cases, the woman must be at least of a specific age and have the legal capacity to complete the transfer procedures.

transferring sponsorship to women and required procedures

Steps in the procedures for implementing the conditions for transferring sponsorship to women

There are specific steps and procedures for implementing the conditions for transferring sponsorship to women, and these steps have been simplified to be completed electronically through official government platforms such as the Absher platform, the Qawa platform, and the Musaned platform, without the need to visit the competent authorities in person. The most prominent of these steps are the following:

• First, check the availability of the conditions for transferring sponsorship to the woman before starting the procedure.
• Register electronically through official platforms, or through authorized service offices authorized to complete these procedures.
• Enter all required data accurately, and attach the necessary documents through the relevant websites.
• Submit the application and wait for approval, which may take some time if there is additional review of data or special cases.
• After approval, the transfer of sponsorship is officially activated by the competent authority such as the General Directorate of Passports, the Ministry of Labor, or the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
• Pay the fees required to complete the transaction and complete the transfer process successfully.

What are the conditions for transferring sponsorship to a woman?

• The consent of the previous sponsor must be obtained before transferring sponsorship to another sponsor.
• You must have spent at least six months with the previous sponsor.
• There are no complaints or cases filed against the sponsored man or woman.
• Payment of sponsorship transfer fees stipulated by the competent authorities.

What is the new sponsorship transfer system in Saudi Arabia?

When transferring sponsorship, the Saudi system requires the availability of a set of basic controls to ensure the integrity of legal procedures, the most prominent of which are:

Obtaining the approval of the previous sponsor

The consent of the old sponsor is essential, as obtaining it is a formal acknowledgment of the termination of the contractual relationship, which contributes to the protection of all parties involved. This step also ensures that sponsorship is transferred in a regular manner in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and prevents any legal disputes that may arise in the future between the sponsor and the sponsored woman.

Passport and residence validity

The resident’s passport and residence must be valid when submitting a request to transfer sponsorship, as applications issued by expired documents are not accepted. This condition is one of the basic requirements to ensure the legality of procedures and the ease of documenting data in official systems. The validity of documents also facilitates the transfer process without delay or rejection, and reflects the resident and host’s commitment to the regulations in force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Commitment to the legal age

The worker’s age must not be less than 21 years at the time of submitting the sponsorship transfer application, in order to ensure legal eligibility for work and residence. Commitment to this legal aspect ensures that the male or female worker obtains all human rights in a professional and organized manner.

The new sponsor’s record is free of violations

There should be no legal or labor violations recorded against the new employer, so that the sponsorship transfer process is accepted in a regular manner and in accordance with applicable laws.

What are the types of sponsorship in Saudi Arabia?

There are several types of sponsorship within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and knowing and identifying these types is one of the basic factors that ensure achieving justice between the parties of society. The most prominent of these types are the following:

• Debt guarantee: Under this guarantee, the guarantor is obligated to pay the principal debt, whether this debt is cash or other compensation equivalent in value.
• Guarantee of the property: The guarantor is obligated to deliver the guaranteed item if it exists, or to pay its value or the like if it perishes or is lost.

What are the sponsorship requirements?

• All parties to the declaration must be eighteen years of age or older.
• None of the parties to the declaration must be mentally incompetent.
• If the applicant is an agent of a party, the agency must be in effect at the time of submission.
• The bail amount must not exceed 100,000 Saudi riyals.

transferring sponsorship to women and required procedures

The conditions for transferring sponsorship to women contribute to enhancing the empowerment of Saudi women within the labor market, as this decision came to give them greater opportunities to develop their skills and achieve professional independence in a professional manner. As part of its Vision 2030, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aspires to enhance the status of women in Arab and international societies by enabling them to assume leadership positions and actively participate in the economic development process. Women’s responsibility for sponsorship is one aspect that embodies the Kingdom’s interest in educating, supporting and empowering them through various possible means.

For reservations, legal consultations and arbitration, do not hesitate to contact a specialized lawyer from Abdul Majeed Al Rashid Law Firm and Legal Consultations