Qiwa is Saudi Arabia's official labour platform for private-sector employment services. Expat workers use it to review employment contracts, follow transfer requests, and check employment-related records. Employers use it for services such as contract management, work permits, employee transfers, occupation management, and other workforce processes.
For Pakistani, Indian, and other South Asian workers, the most important point is simple: do not accept a Qiwa contract or transfer request without checking every detail. Qiwa records can affect your salary terms, job title, employer relationship, work permit process, transfer, and contract termination.
Qiwa is not the only complaint channel. A technical Qiwa problem, a report about a labour regulation violation, and a formal dispute over wages or contract rights may need different official routes.
Quick Answer
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| What is Qiwa? | It is the official Saudi labour platform used by workers, employers, and service providers. |
| Can an employee issue a work permit? | Normally no. The employer or establishment handles work permit issuance and renewal. |
| Can a worker see a contract in Qiwa? | Yes. Workers can review pending and current employment contracts in their individual account. |
| Should I accept a contract immediately? | No. Check the employer, job title, salary, allowances, location, hours, duration, probation, and other terms first. |
| Who starts an employee transfer? | The new employer normally starts the transfer request through Qiwa. |
| Does every transfer need current employer consent? | Not always. The route depends on the worker's contract, notice, eligibility, employer compliance, and the rules applied to the case. |
| Can I file every complaint in Qiwa? | No. Qiwa support handles platform issues, while labour violations and employment disputes may go through MHRSD services. |
| Is Qiwa the same as Absher? | No. Qiwa focuses on labour and employment services. Absher focuses on many identity, residency, traffic, travel, and government services. |
| Who pays work permit and transfer fees? | Official MHRSD guidance generally places work permit, Iqama, and transfer-related employer fees on the employer receiving or employing the worker. |
| Are Qiwa rules the same for domestic workers? | Domestic workers usually use Musaned and domestic-worker channels rather than the standard private-sector Qiwa route. |
What Qiwa Is and What It Does
Qiwa is operated within Saudi Arabia's labour market system under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, commonly called MHRSD. It connects employment records and services used by establishments and workers.
For an expat employee, Qiwa may show or support:
- pending and current employment contracts
- contract acceptance, rejection, or amendment requests
- transfer requests from a new employer
- contract termination requests or employment relationship actions
- employment data connected with the establishment
- service notifications and status updates
For an employer, Qiwa includes services such as:
- creating and documenting employment contracts
- issuing and renewing work permits for non-Saudi employees
- starting and managing employee transfers
- changing or correcting occupations where permitted
- managing employee profiles and establishment records
Qiwa does not replace every Saudi government platform. Your Iqama, travel status, final exit, exit and re-entry, traffic matters, and digital identity may involve Absher, Muqeem, the Ministry of Interior, or other official systems.
Read our Saudi Iqama guide if you need the difference between a work visa, work permit, and Iqama.
Who This Qiwa Guide Is For
This guide is mainly for:
- Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, and other expat workers in Saudi Arabia
- new employees checking their first Saudi employment contract
- workers whose employer is issuing or renewing a work permit
- employees considering a transfer to a new company
- workers facing a contract, salary, transfer, or platform problem
- employers and HR staff who want to understand the worker-side checks
This guide focuses on standard private-sector employment. Domestic workers, including house drivers, housemaids, and similar categories, normally follow Musaned and domestic-worker procedures. Government-sector, temporary work, Ajeer, and special employment arrangements may also use different services.
Information and Records to Prepare
You do not need to upload every item below for every Qiwa action. Keep them ready because the exact evidence depends on whether you are reviewing a contract, following a transfer, reporting a violation, or filing a labour dispute.
Keep clean copies outside your work phone and company email. If access is removed after a dispute or termination, you may lose important evidence.
How to Access and Check Your Qiwa Account
Step 1: Open the official Qiwa website
Use the official Qiwa domain and avoid links sent by unknown agents or social media accounts. Fraudsters may copy government branding to collect Iqama numbers, passwords, or verification codes.
Step 2: Sign in through the method shown by Qiwa
Use your own individual account and the official identity verification method presented on the platform. Never give your password or one-time verification code to an agent, colleague, or employer representative.
Step 3: Open your employment services
Look for the employee services related to employment contracts, transfer requests, and your current job. Menu names may change when Qiwa updates the platform.
Step 4: Check personal and employer details
Confirm that your name, employer, job title, and other visible records match your real situation. A spelling, profession, or establishment mismatch may cause problems in later services.
Step 5: Download or save important records
Save a copy of your contract and screenshots of important requests. Qiwa status messages can change as an employer, worker, or authority completes the next action.
Qiwa Work Permits for Expat Employees
A Saudi work permit is an employer-side labour authorisation for a non-Saudi employee. It is connected with the worker's legal employment and the wider Iqama process.
The employer or authorised establishment representative normally uses Qiwa to issue or renew the permit. A worker may be able to monitor related employment information, but the worker does not normally issue the permit personally.
What the employer normally handles
The employer may need to:
- keep the establishment eligible to use the service
- maintain correct employee and establishment data
- select the employee for permit issuance or renewal
- complete the request through Qiwa
- obtain the payment reference where required
- complete payment through the approved channel
- resolve blocks linked to establishment compliance, employee data, or another government requirement
What the employee should check
Check:
- whether the employer name is correct
- whether your occupation matches the work you were hired to perform
- whether your contract is documented
- whether your Iqama and work permit processes are being handled before expiry
- whether the employer is asking you to pay charges that official guidance places on the employer
- whether a claimed Qiwa problem is supported by a real screenshot or request number
Official MHRSD guidance states that the employer bears specified costs for recruiting a non-Saudi worker, issuing and renewing the Iqama and work permit, and certain related processes. The receiving employer also bears the service transfer fee. A worker should not assume every private payment demand is valid.
For renewal problems, see guide to renewing your Iqama in Saudi Arabia.
Qiwa Employment Contracts
A documented Qiwa contract is one of the most important records in your Saudi employment relationship. The employer enters the contract details and sends the contract to the employee. The employee can then review the terms and take the available action.
Official Qiwa and MHRSD guidance says the contract process includes details such as the job title, contract duration, working hours, financial obligations, and additional terms.
What to check before accepting
Review every section, including:
- employer's legal name and establishment
- employee name, Iqama number, and passport details
- job title and occupation
- basic salary
- housing, transport, food, or other allowances
- work location and whether transfer between locations is allowed
- working hours and weekly rest
- contract start date and duration
- probation terms
- annual leave and other leave terms
- notice and termination clauses
- non-compete or confidentiality clauses, where included
- any additional benefits promised in the offer
- language differences between Arabic and English versions
Do not accept a contract only because HR says it is a routine form. Compare it with your signed offer letter and written promises.
Accept, reject, or request a correction
The action shown in your account may allow you to accept, reject, or request changes. Use the option that matches the facts.
- Accept only when the terms are correct and you understand them.
- Reject when the contract belongs to the wrong employer or contains terms you will not agree to.
- Request a correction when the employment relationship is genuine but a detail is wrong.
Before taking action, save the current version. If you reject or request an amendment, write a clear reason and keep evidence of the correct term.
Contract termination through Qiwa
Qiwa also supports electronic actions related to ending the contractual relationship in eligible cases. Do not treat a termination button as automatic proof that all notice, salary, leave, end-of-service, transfer, Iqama, or final-exit matters are complete.
Before submitting or accepting a termination action:
- read the reason and last working date
- check the notice requirement in your contract and current rules
- save your salary and leave records
- ask for a written settlement calculation
- confirm what will happen to your transfer, Iqama, and final-exit status
For permanent departure, read guide to cancelling your Iqama and exiting Saudi Arabia properly.
Employee Transfers Through Qiwa
Qiwa's Employee Transfer service allows an establishment to request the transfer of a non-Saudi employee from another employer or between eligible establishments.
The normal worker journey is:
- a new employer creates the transfer request
- the worker receives or views the request in Qiwa
- the worker checks the new employer and proposed contract
- the worker accepts or rejects the request
- the request moves through the applicable notice, employer, eligibility, and government steps
- the receiving employer completes the remaining process
- related records are updated after approval and completion
The exact route can differ. Current employer consent is not the only factor. Contract status, notice, length of service, employer compliance, worker status, and special eligibility conditions may affect what Qiwa allows.
What to verify before accepting a transfer
Check:
- new employer's legal name
- job title and actual duties
- salary and allowances
- work city and location
- contract duration
- probation clause
- joining date
- notice obligations with the current employer
- who will pay transfer-related employer fees
- whether the new employer has asked for an unofficial payment
- whether you have a written plan for Iqama, insurance, and payroll updates
Do not resign, stop attending work, or pay an agent only because someone says a transfer is guaranteed. The transfer is not complete until the official process reaches completion.
For detailed consent and eligibility issues, read guide to Saudi Iqama transfer without current employer consent.
Complaints and Problems: Use the Correct Channel
The word "complaint" can describe three different problems. Choosing the wrong route can delay the case.
1. Qiwa technical support problem
Use Qiwa's official support or contact option when the problem is technical, such as:
- you cannot see a genuine contract
- a transfer request does not appear
- the platform shows an error
- your account data does not load
- the service status appears stuck without an employment dispute
- you need clarification about a Qiwa service screen
Attach the request number, screenshot, date, time, and a short description. Do not send passwords or verification codes.
2. Report of a labour regulation violation
MHRSD provides an official service for reporting private-sector labour regulation violations. This can be relevant when the issue is a reportable workplace or establishment violation rather than a personal claim for money or contract rights.
The official service may ask for establishment data, location, and evidence of the violation. Use the current MHRSD service instructions because categories and submission methods can change.
3. Formal labour dispute
A dispute over unpaid wages, contract terms, termination, entitlements, or another employment claim may require MHRSD's Friendly Settlement for Labor Disputes service.
MHRSD describes Friendly Settlement as the first stage for labour disputes between a worker and employer. The worker submits the claim and supporting documents electronically. The service attempts settlement and may refer an unresolved case to the labour court under the applicable procedure.
The official page currently describes the service as free and says it is not the standard route for domestic labour. It also lists a filing period and procedural conditions. Because deadlines can affect rights, confirm the current deadline and required documents directly in the official service before submission.
Evidence to organise before complaining
Create a simple timeline:
- date you started work
- contract date and relevant clause
- date the problem began
- amounts unpaid or disputed, where relevant
- dates you contacted HR or the employer
- employer's response
- Qiwa request or contract status
- action you want, such as correction, payment, settlement, or service completion
Keep the facts separate from assumptions. A short, dated timeline is usually more useful than a long emotional message.
Step-by-Step: Use Qiwa Safely as an Employee
Step 1: Confirm the official account
Sign in only through the official Qiwa platform and protect your verification codes.
Step 2: Check your personal data
Compare your Qiwa details with your passport, Iqama, and employment records.
Step 3: Review the employer record
Make sure the establishment shown is the company you actually work for or plan to join.
Step 4: Read the full contract
Compare salary, allowances, title, location, duration, hours, and termination terms with your offer.
Step 5: Save evidence before acting
Download the contract and take screenshots of pending requests and messages.
Step 6: Accept, reject, or request a correction
Use the action that reflects the real agreement. Do not accept incorrect terms to "fix later" unless you have verified an official correction process.
Step 7: Track the status
Check Qiwa after the employer or authority takes the next action. Save any request number.
Step 8: Escalate through the correct channel
Use Qiwa support for technical issues, MHRSD violation reporting for reportable labour violations, and Friendly Settlement for a formal employment dispute where applicable.
Fees and Timelines
| Service or issue | Who normally acts | Fee and timing guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Qiwa individual account access | Employee | No general employee account fee is shown in the public service overview. Use only the official platform. |
| Work permit issuance or renewal | Employer | Official guidance places the relevant work permit and Iqama costs on the employer. Processing depends on eligibility, payment, and linked records. |
| Employment contract review | Employer sends, employee reviews | The time depends on how quickly both parties review, correct, and approve the contract. |
| Employee transfer | New employer, employee, and other parties where required | Timing varies by contract, notice, eligibility, establishment status, and completion of official steps. |
| Qiwa technical support | Worker or employer | Response time depends on the support case and evidence provided. |
| Labour regulation violation report | Worker or other eligible user through MHRSD | The official service lists its current service level on the portal. Confirm it when submitting. |
| Friendly Settlement labour dispute | Worker or employer through MHRSD | The official page currently describes the service as free and provides a target process for settlement or referral. Confirm current deadlines and steps before filing. |
Fees change often. Confirm the exact amount in the official portal before payment.
Do not pay a cash "Qiwa fee" to an unknown agent. Ask for the official service name, invoice, and payment reference. If the fee is an employer responsibility, request a written explanation before paying.
Common Mistakes and Delays
Qiwa, Iqama, and Your Wider Saudi Employment Process
Qiwa is one part of a connected process:
- the employer recruits or hires the worker
- the employment contract is created and documented
- the employer handles the work permit
- the Iqama and linked records are issued or maintained
- the worker uses Qiwa for contract and transfer actions
- the worker uses other official platforms for identity, residency, travel, or other services
- the employment relationship is renewed, transferred, or ended through the applicable official steps
Workers coming from Pakistan should first understand the complete Saudi work visa process from Pakistan.
Official Sources Checked
This guide was checked against official Saudi sources. Portal menus and service conditions can change, so confirm your case before taking action.
- Qiwa official platform
- Qiwa Employment Contracts service
- Qiwa Employee Transfer service
- Qiwa Work Permit definition
- MHRSD Friendly Settlement for Labor Disputes
- MHRSD Reporting Violations of Labor Regulations
- MHRSD guidance on employer fees and costs
- Musaned official platform for domestic workers
Last checked: 17 July 2026.
Related GulfVisaHub Guides
- Saudi Work Visa from Pakistan 2026
- Saudi Iqama Explained
- How to Renew Your Iqama in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Iqama Transfer Without Current Employer Consent
- How to Cancel Your Iqama and Exit Saudi Arabia Properly
Frequently Asked Questions
Qiwa is the official labour platform used for private-sector employment services. Workers can review employment contracts and transfer requests, while employers use services such as contract management, work permits, employee transfers, and occupation management. Other matters may still require Absher, Muqeem, MHRSD, or another official platform.
Yes. Use your Qiwa individual account and open the employment contract service. Check pending and current contracts, then compare the employer, salary, allowances, job title, location, hours, duration, and termination terms with your written offer.
Do not accept the wrong salary only because HR promises to change it later. Save a copy, ask the employer to correct the contract, and use the available rejection or amendment option. Keep your offer letter and written salary evidence.
The employer or authorised establishment representative normally issues and renews the work permit. The employee should monitor the situation and keep records, but does not normally complete the employer-side permit process personally.
Official MHRSD guidance generally places work permit, Iqama, and specified recruitment costs on the employer. It also states that the employer receiving a transferred worker bears the service transfer fee. Confirm any payment request through the official portal before paying.
The new employer normally creates the transfer request. The worker reviews the new employer and contract, then accepts or rejects the request. The case then follows the applicable notice, eligibility, employer, and government steps until completion.
Some transfers may proceed without current employer consent when the applicable conditions are met. Consent is not the only factor. Contract status, notice, worker eligibility, employer compliance, and the official Qiwa route can affect the result.
Use Qiwa's official support or contact channel for a technical platform problem. Include screenshots, the request number, the date, and a short description. Do not send your password or one-time verification code.
An unpaid salary claim may require MHRSD's labour dispute process rather than Qiwa technical support. Organise your contract, bank statements, salary records, messages, and a dated calculation, then check the current Friendly Settlement service requirements.
No. A violation report alerts MHRSD to a possible private-sector labour regulation violation. A labour dispute is a claim between a worker and employer, such as unpaid wages or a contract disagreement, and may use Friendly Settlement.
Domestic-worker cases normally use Musaned and the official domestic-worker channels. The standard Friendly Settlement page states that its listed route is not for domestic labour. Check Musaned or MHRSD for the correct current service.
No. Qiwa mainly covers labour and employment services. Absher covers many government services related to identity, residency, travel, traffic, and other personal records. A Saudi worker may need both platforms for different parts of the employment and residency journey.
Bottom Line
Qiwa is the main Saudi platform to understand your private-sector contract, work permit relationship, and employee transfer request. Use it carefully, save every important record, and never accept incorrect terms or share verification codes.
For complaints, first identify the problem. Use Qiwa support for a platform error, MHRSD violation reporting for a reportable labour violation, and Friendly Settlement for an employment dispute where applicable.
Requirements can change. Confirm your case through Qiwa, MHRSD, Musaned for domestic workers, your employer's authorised HR or PRO team, or a licensed professional before payment or submission.