Exit Re-Entry and Final Exit visas to be activated in 10 Days after Request, If Employer fails to respond
Exit Re-Entry and Final exit visas will be activated in 10 days after the worker submits a request, as per the new labor reform initiative of Saudi Arabia, which is in force from 14th March, 2021.
Exit Re-Entry rules under new Labor Reforms Initiative :
According to the user guide released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the employer will have a 10 days of time to inquire about the exit re-entry visa application submitted by his employee.
- If the employer did not respond in 10 days of time, the employee will be able to issue single re-entry visa for a period of 30 days within 5 days since the expiry of this deadline.
- If the worker will not be able to issue either an exit re-entry visa upon the expiry of the contract with the employer or issue a multiple exit re-entry visa, it is not allowed for the employer to cancel the re-entry visa issued by an expat employee. Read : Know, Who to bear the Job Transfer fee in Saudi Arabia
- The Ministry said that employer can also able to issue exit re-entry visa for expat workers in the same way, they use to issued previously.
Final Exit Visa Rules under New Labor Reforms Initiative :
- About Final Exit visa, the ministry reveals that this service will be available for both employer and the employee as well.
- Regarding the final exit via, the employer will have 10 days of time to inquire about the worker's request to issue a final exit visa, in the absence of any response from the employer, expat worker can issue a final exit visa, its validity will be 15 days from the date of issue.
- If the expat worker leaves Saudi Arabia permanently during the validity of the contract, he will be banned from returning to Saudi Arabia permanently. This is in case, if an expat gets exit re-entry visa and does not return to Saudi Arabia before the expiry of the visa to complete the remaining period of the work contract.
- If an expat worker leaves Saudi Arabia on exit re-entry visa and unable to return to Kingdom before the expiry of the exit re-entry visa, in that case, the right of extending visa is fully with the employer. See Also : Previously reported Huroob status to remain same after new Labor reforms
Job Transfer or Service Transfer Rules under new Labor Reforms Initiative :
- About job transfer service of the expat worker, the ministry said that companies who want to get an expat worker must comply with the provisions of the Wages Protection Program at a rate of not less than 80% for the last 3 months. There should be 100% documentation of the worker contracts in the company and at least 80% in the commitment of the self-evaluation program along with the mandatory application of an approved internal work regulation.
- Only those expats who are in the categories of professions subject to Labor Law will be allowed to transfer their services to another company, one of the major condition is that the worker should have completed at least 1 year with the current employer after his first entry into Saudi Arabia.
- There should not be another job transfer request, the transfer of service will be in compliance with the notice period upon the validity of the documented employment contract.
5 Category professions exempted from the Labor Reforms Initiative :
- The new services under this initiative to be available through Absher and Qiwa platforms, it applies to all expat workers in private sector except to private drivers, home guards, domestic workers, shepherds, gardeners or farmers. Related : Five professions not covered in new Employment contractual system of Saudi Arabia
