Saudi Arabia Extends Expat Work Permit Correction Deadline to December 2026

Last updated: Jul 13, 2026

Saudi Arabia has extended the deadline for expatriate workers and their employers to fix expired or missing work permits to December 31, 2026.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) made the announcement to give establishments and workers more time to sort out their paperwork.

If you’re an expat working in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, or anywhere else in the Kingdom, this affects you if your work permit has lapsed or was never issued.

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What actually changed

Every expat employee in Saudi Arabia needs a work permit (rukhsat al-amal), which is separate from your iqama, or residence permit. Employers issue and renew these permits through Qiwa, the government’s official labor platform.

The HRSD announcement pushes back the grace period for correcting long-lapsed work permits to December 31, 2026.

The ministry says the extension follows a strong response from establishments and workers during the earlier phase of this correction drive.

Watch out: This extension is generous, but it doesn’t cancel a stricter rule that’s already in force. Since July 1, 2026, Qiwa has been automatically removing workers from an establishment’s official employee records once their work permit has been expired for more than three months.

Removal from Qiwa’s records doesn’t erase the problem.

Employers stay financially responsible for wages and other obligations owed to the worker for the entire period the permit was expired, right up to the official removal date.

There’s one notable exception. If a worker’s iqama is still valid for at least 180 days and the employer genuinely cannot renew the work permit within that window, Qiwa allows the worker to stay registered with the establishment despite the expired permit, according to Qiwa’s guidance cited in the KPMG alert.

Who this grace period covers

The extension applies to two specific groups of expatriate workers, according to the official announcement:

Expired permits: Workers whose work permits have been expired for more than 12 months.
Never-issued permits: Workers who joined an establishment but have not had a work permit issued for them within 6 months of starting the job.

If either applies to you or someone on your payroll, you now have until December 31, 2026 to sort it out before the ministry applies what it calls “the prescribed statutory procedures” — in other words, penalties.

How to check and fix your status before the deadline

Correcting the paperwork is mostly on the employer, since work permits are issued to establishments, not individuals.

Here’s how the process works:

Employers log into Qiwa and review their establishment’s employee list for any expired or missing work permits.
Renew within the window: Qiwa allows renewals up to 180 days before a permit’s expiry date, so don’t wait until the last minute.
Pay the fee: according to HRSD’s official service page, issuing or renewing a work permit carries a base ministry fee of 100 SR, paid through Sadad. Establishments with more non-Saudi staff than Saudi staff may also owe monthly expatriate levies, so confirm the exact total on Qiwa before paying.
Workers can check their own status through Absher, the Ministry of Interior’s portal, even though the actual permit renewal has to be done by the employer.
Still stuck? Call HRSD’s service line on 19911 or visit an employment office if your employer isn’t responding.

If you’re relocating to Saudi Arabia for a new job and are still arranging flights to Riyadh or short-term accommodation in Riyadh while your paperwork is processed, ask your employer to confirm your work permit is issued within that first six-month window.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between an iqama and a work permit?

Your iqama is your residence permit, tracked through Absher and the Ministry of Interior. Your work permit is a separate labor authorization that your employer issues through Qiwa, and it’s what legally allows you to work for that specific establishment.

What happens if my status isn’t corrected by December 31, 2026?

HRSD has said it will apply statutory procedures against establishments that miss the deadline. If your permit has already been expired for more than three months, you may also have already been automatically removed from Qiwa’s employee records under the separate July 2026 rule.

Is it my job or my employer’s job to renew the permit?

It’s your employer’s responsibility, since work permits are issued to the establishment through Qiwa, not to individual workers. You can and should follow up with HR if you notice your permit has lapsed.

How can I check my own status right now?

Log into Absher to check your iqama and residency status. Your employer can check the establishment’s work permit records directly through Qiwa.

Sources

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