Since Saudi Arabia is one of the most attractive countries for expatriate workers from different parts of the world, it has become necessary to have systems that facilitate the management of residents ' Affairs and ensure compliance with the laws. Among these important services is the expatriate inquiry service, a service that allows citizens and employers to find out the details of expatriate workers and easily verify their legal status.
In this article, we review the available ways to inquire about the expatriate, the steps required to take advantage of this service, in addition to important information about the renewal of residency, sponsorship transfer, and penalties that may result from violating the work and residence regulations.
The importance of an expat inquiry service
This service is an important tool for both employers and expatriates, as it helps to:
- Ensure the legal status of the expatriate before appointing or transferring his sponsorship.
- Preventing irregular workers from doing business within Saudi institutions as well as ensuring compliance with Saudi laws.
- Facilitate the transfer of sponsorship procedures, especially if the worker wishes to change the employer.
- Follow up the validity of the residence permit to avoid fines and penalties.
- Protecting the rights of business owners and expatriates from any transactions that do not comply with the laws .
How to inquire about an expat
The Kingdom provides many ways to inquire about expatriates in an easy, safe and fast way, including these methods:
Through the website of the Ministry of human resources and social development, the website of the Ministry of human resources and social development allows you to search for expatriate data easily.This is done by logging into the ministry's official website: mlsd.gov.sa.
- Go to the electronic services and then choose to inquire about an expatriate employee.
- Enter the residence number, border number or passport number, specifying the nationality of the expatriate.
- Type the visual verification code and then press search.
- It will show you the data of the expatriate, such as his name, job status, and the validity of his residence.
Via the Absher e-portal
The Ministry of Interior's platform considers many electronic services to be one of the best personal services platforms in the Kingdom, and the Absher platform provides the service of inquiring about the expatriate by following the following steps.
- Log in to the Absher platform.
- Choose e-services and then click on employment services.
- Specify a query about an expat and enter the required data.
- Click on search and the details related to the agent will appear.
Through the work desk
If it is not possible to inquire electronically, you can go to one of the labor offices in Saudi Arabia and submit a direct inquiry request.
Documents necessary for submitting an application for an inquiry about a worker from the Labor Office
Residence number, passport number or border number.
Submit the application to the competent employee of the Labor Office.
Receipt of information after verification of data.
How to transfer sponsorship for expatriates
In some cases, an expatriate may need to transfer his sponsorship from one sponsor to another, and this is according to certain conditions determined by the Ministry of human resources and social development.
When can an expatriate transfer sponsorship without the sponsor's consent
According to the Saudi law, which is keen to provide a safe working environment for expatriate workers, sponsorship can be transferred without the sponsor's consent in the following cases:
- If the Sponsor does not renew the stay for 30 days after its expiration.
- If the employer is in the red band according to the banding system.
- In case of non-payment of salary for 3 consecutive months.
- If it is proved that the sponsor mistreated the worker, and an official notification of this was submitted.
How to transfer the sponsorship electronically
- Login to the website of the Ministry of human resources and social development.
- Login to the account of the new employer.
- Transition to sponsorship transfer services and data entry of the entrant.
- Submit the application and wait for the approval of the competent authorities.
Renew the expatriate's residence permit in Saudi Arabia
Residence renewal remains one of the most important legal matters that expats must do in the kingdom, so expats should make sure to renew their residence before it ends to avoid fines and legal problems. It is possible to explore the types of residence available in the kingdom, such as permanent residence, special residence, which gives more powers to its owner and requires renewal at longer intervals.
Terms of residence renewal
There are some conditions that must be met to renew residency in general, especially in Saudi Arabia, and there are also some conditions for renewing permanent residency, which differ somewhat from the conditions for renewing residency in general:
- Payment of renewal fees.
- The passport must be valid.
- The absence of traffic violations on the worker.
- The presence of valid medical insurance.
How much is the residence renewal fee
Fees may vary annually according to the type of occupation provided for in the worker's residence, but in general:
- Domestic workers: 600 riyals per year.
- Employment in the private sector: 650 riyals per year.
- Escort fees: SR 400 per month per individual.
What happens when you violate the residence and work regulations
Failure to comply with the residency and work regulations in Saudi Arabia may result in severe penalties for expatriates and employers depending on the type of violation committed .
The most notable punishments
Penalties for late renewal of residence
- A fine of 500 riyals for the first time.
- A fine of 1000 riyals for the second time.
- The final migration is upon repetition.
Penalties for violation of employment with a non-sponsor
- Fines up to SR 50,000.
- Deportation from the kingdom.
Penalties for employment of labor for violation by the employer
- Fines up to SAR 100,000.
- Imprisonment up to 6 months.
- The final deportation of the offending expatriate.
What are the cases of refusal to transfer bail
In some cases, the request to transfer the sponsorship of an expatriate is rejected, as, as mentioned above, there are conditions for the transfer of sponsorship that must be adhered to in order to complete the transfer of sponsorship in a correct manner.
1-expiry of the residence permit : in case of expiry of the expatriate's residence permit, the transfer of sponsorship cannot be completed, as the residence permit must be valid for at least 90 days before submitting the application.
2-valid passport: as it is required to transfer the sponsorship that the expatriate's passport is valid.
3-no violations: the sponsorship cannot be transferred in case of traffic violations or any other violations registered on the sponsor or the expatriate.
4-absence of reports: as it is required to transfer sponsorship, there are no reports of evasion or absence against the worker, and these reports must be processed before the transfer of sponsorship.
Sponsorship transfer fees
The new employer bears the sponsorship transfer fee, which varies depending on the number of times the sponsorship is transferred.The fee is reported.
- The first time to transfer the sponsorship : SAR 2,000.
- The second time to transfer the sponsorship : SAR 4,000.
- The third time to transfer the sponsorship : SAR 6,000.
- The fourth time to transfer the sponsorship : SAR 6,000.
Inquiry about an expat In Saudi Arabia, it has become very easy thanks to the electronic services available through the Ministry of human resources and some platforms such as the Absher platform. This helps to regulate the labor market, protect the rights of both employees and employers, and avoid falling into legal violations.
Here it should be noted that whether you are an employer who wants to know the status of a new employee, or an expat who needs to check your legal status, using these services will enable you to access information with ease and security. Always make sure to comply with Saudi laws to avoid fines and penalties, and be sure to follow up on the validity of your residence and renew it in a timely manner.
