Qiwa Work Permit Renewal in Saudi Arabia: Steps & Rules
Employers renew expatriate employees’ work permits through Qiwa. HRSD allows renewal when 180 days or fewer remain before permit expiry. Eligibility also depends on establishment status, Nitaqat classification and employee records. The current service guide includes an Iqama-expiry check, so employers should review both documents before applying.
What Is a Qiwa Work Permit?
A work permit is the labour authorisation allowing a non-Saudi employee to work in Saudi Arabia. Employers manage issuance and renewal through Qiwa.
It differs from an Iqama, which is the employee’s residence permit. The Saudi National Platform’s work-permit service identifies a work permit as a condition for issuing or renewing regular residency. Completing one transaction does not automatically complete the other.
For HR teams, this means tracking two expiry dates and confirming completion in the relevant systems.
When Can You Renew a Work Permit in Saudi Arabia?
HRSD’s renewal guidance states that renewal is available when 180 days or fewer remain before the work permit expires.
However, its August 2026 user guide also requires the employee’s Iqama expiry to be within 180 days. Check both dates; the work-permit window alone does not establish eligibility.
If the dates differ and Qiwa blocks renewal, retain the error message and ask support to clarify the employee’s case. Avoid treating an unavailable renewal option as permission to ignore an approaching deadline.
Qiwa Work Permit Renewal Requirements
HRSD’s current user guide lists these eligibility checks:
- Establishment: Active status, permitted economic sub-activity and a Nitaqat condition described as “not red for 8 consecutive weeks.”
- Employee: Working status, Iqama expiry within 180 days and an eligible occupation.
- Existing records: No valid final-exit visa or final-exit work permit; no pending permit, transfer or contract-termination request; no unused permit awaiting Iqama renewal.
- Permit validity: The existing work permit must not be active for more than 15 months.
Occupation licensing or correction may be required; fully Saudized occupations are excluded.
HRSD’s general service page separately confirms that permits cannot be issued or renewed while an establishment is in the red Nitaqat band.
Use the eligibility result shown for each employee when preparing the request.
How to Renew a Work Permit Through Qiwa
Follow the process in HRSD’s official user guide:
- Sign in to Qiwa and select the establishment.
- Open Services → Work permits → Issue or renew work permit.
- Select the employees and continue.
- Choose the available permit period for each employee.
- Review Fee details, including expiry information and additional charges.
- Accept the terms and submit.
- Complete payment. For SADAD, use the generated number through your bank within 14 days.
Before submission, check employee identifiers and the requested periods against your renewal schedule. Keep the request reference and payment receipt together so another team member can follow up without repeating the application.
Qiwa Work Permit Renewal Fees
HRSD and the Saudi National Platform list a SAR 100 service fee. This should not be presented as the complete renewal cost for every employee.
HRSD’s published financial rules distinguish the work-permit fee from the separate financial consideration, commonly called the expatriate labour levy. Those rules also provide for quarterly payment arrangements, with domestic workers and equivalent categories excluded.
For budgeting, separate:
|
Cost category |
What employers should check |
|
Work-permit service fee |
Applicable charge for the selected period |
|
Labour levy |
Amount and any exemption applied to the establishment |
|
Other assessed charges |
Explanation of each item in the payment summary |
|
Iqama renewal |
Separate residency transaction and applicable costs |
Check the live assessment before approving payment. A quotation for administrative assistance should also distinguish government charges from the provider’s professional fee.
What Happens After Work Permit Renewal?
HRSD indicates that the permit status updates approximately one hour after payment, while payment information reaches passport systems within 24 hours. These are published processing indications, rather than a guarantee for every transaction.
Once the update appears, complete any required Iqama renewal separately, subject to the residency service’s requirements. The National Platform describes residency processing as a subsequent action after work-permit payment.
Save confirmation of both renewals and update your employee register. A payment receipt alone should not be your only completion record.
Common Renewal Issues and How to Address Them
The employee cannot be selected.
Review the eligibility message and employee record before starting another request. Check whether an existing transaction needs attention.
The establishment has a Nitaqat restriction.
Review its classification and the corrective action required. Escalate unresolved eligibility questions through official support.
The amount differs from your budget.
Reconcile the selected period and each assessed charge. Ask for clarification before approving an unexplained difference.
Payment is complete, but the status has not changed.
Allow for the published update periods. If the delay continues, provide support with the request reference and bank receipt.
The permit has been expired for a long time.
Seek case-specific guidance promptly. HRSD announced a correction deadline of 31 December 2026 for specified cases involving permits expired for over 12 months or permits not issued for over six months after joining. This targeted measure should not be treated as a general renewal extension.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can an employee renew their own Qiwa work permit?
The renewal is an establishment service. The employer manages the application through its business account
2. Can we apply before the permit expires?
Yes. HRSD specifies a 180-day renewal window, subject to eligibility checks.
3. Is SAR 100 the total renewal cost?
No. Separate labour charges may apply; review the assessed payment breakdown.
4. Does work-permit renewal automatically renew the Iqama?
No. Iqama renewal is a separate residency transaction.
5. Can a renewed work permit be cancelled?
HRSD states that a permit cannot be cancelled after issuance or renewal.
How Arabian Horizon Supports Work Permit Renewals
Arabian Horizon helps employers manage Qiwa work permit renewals through its HR & Government Portal Management service. We review employee records, monitor renewal dates, prepare applications and follow up on outstanding actions, subject to the required portal authorisation.
For related government procedures, our PRO & GRO Services support document preparation and coordination with the relevant authorities. Our Visa & Immigration Services assist with related employee residency and visa requirements.
