When you get a job in Saudi Arabia and after going through all the hiring and visa processing process, you enter Saudi Arabia and formally join the company, your sponsor proceeds with the process of getting your Iqama in a few days or weeks. Your Iqama is your resident permit and your main identity and Iqama is the most important card you need to carry with you all the times and to get any services. Your Iqama legally associates you with your employer and you are legally allowed to work only for your legal sponsor who provided you the job and got iqama issued for you. However, many times, people opt to switch the job for better opportunities and the primary question that comes into their minds is about the iqama “Is my Iqama transferable?”.
In this post, I will explain about how to know if your iqama is transferable and what to do for changing job in Saudi Arabia.
What is the meaning of a Transferable Iqama?
In simple words, transferable Iqama means that your employer is willing to release you and you are able to switch job to another company or another kafeel/sponsor without leaving Saudi Arabia through an internal process of change of sponsor.
There is no specific categorization of all Iqama professions as transferable or non-transferable though there are a few professions explicitly categorized as non-transferable (e.g. farmers). Iqama is provided to you by your employer who hired you and who did all the efforts to bring you in the kingdom and beared all the associated costs. So it is all about the agreement/contract signed between you and your employer and If your agreement/contract prohibits you from job change, your iqama becomes non-transferable in that sense. If your employer has set no such restriction on you or if you have worked for a longer enough duration for your employer and your employer is willing to release you for any new opportunity that you are interested in; your Iqama will be considered transferable.
How to Check if Your Iqama is Transferable or Not?
As stated above, Its a matter of understanding between you and your sponsor/kafeel whether your iqama can be transferred or not (except for any restricted professions like farmers). So you just need to consult with your HR or management and they can share with you an official verdict whether you are free to change your job or there is any restriction imposed on you from your employer in the contract/agreement. Read your contract very carefully and if you find any such clause signed by you, then you should follow it and respect the agreement conditions.
In general, if you have good relationship with your management and you have served your company with honesty and professionalism, your management will be kind enough to facilitate you for your better future.
How to Switch Job if Iqama is not Transferable
Remember that your employer can force you to stay in the company by not providing you iqama tranfer but nobody can stop you from resigning. If you resign and leave Saudi Arabia in a legal way, you are always eligible to get your visa stamped for new job and re-enter Saudi Arabia to join your dream job with new sponsor/kafeel.
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However, keep in mind that you will have to go through all the steps of visa processing again in your home country in this case including medical, documents attestation/verification etc. and It may take longer time.
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