Does the worker need to be present in the country at the time of change of sponsorship?

 Immigration laws in Saudi Arabia are clear. Juzaat is responsible for foreigners' residence card 'Iqama' and exit re-entry 'Izhur wawadah' or final exit which is called 'Izhur Nahai' in Arabic.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior has made several changes in the Iqama rules for foreign employees, which are important for foreigners to be aware of.

A person inquired from Jazaat, "I am out of the country on the promise of emigration, Iqama has 60 days left to expire, while the promise of emigration will expire after one day, it is to be known whether the period of the promise of emigration can be increased."

Answering the question, Jujazat said that 'in order to extend the period of emigration and promise, it is mandatory that the period of Iqama should be at least 90 days'.

In case the expiry period of Iqama is less than the fixed period, it is not possible to extend the period of exit promise. It is necessary to renew the Iqama before extending the period of exit and promise.

It should be noted that after the changes in the Iqama laws of foreign employees, such persons who have gone out of the country on exit and Iqama can be extended even while living abroad.

Among the facilities provided at the beginning of this year is that the foreign worker's iqama can be renewed for three, six, nine and twelve months.

Those persons who have gone abroad and their iqama or emigration visa is expiring should either come to the country at the appointed time. If it is difficult to come to the country at the appointed time, in this case, after extending the period of Iqama, increase the period of exit and promise.

By taking advantage of the existing facility, the period of Iqama can be extended for at least three months.

 One person inquired, 'Can a worker's sponsorship be changed to another branch of the company while he is abroad?'

Answering the question, Juzaat said that the worker must be present in the state at the time of change of sponsorship. After the worker returns to the country, the sponsorship can be changed.

It should be noted that according to the law, the commercial registration for the other branch of the company is different. According to the Ministry of Manpower Act, if the same company has multiple branches, the CR of each branch will be separate.

If it is intended to change the sponsorship of a worker from an agra company to another company or to another branch of the same company, in this case, the worker must be present in the country in the system of the Ministry of Manpower, without which this process is not possible.