Saudi Arabia has waived Yemenis’ Work Permit Arrears as part of a Status Adjustment Initiative That Began Today
Dubai: Under a new 60-day initiative, Saudi Arabia has eliminated unpaid work permit fees for qualified Yemeni workers on the Qiwa platform, allowing them to regularise their status and change jobs.
Starting this Sunday, the program will include Yemeni professionals who were reported absent from work prior to June 16, 2026. According to Qiwa, employees who previously had residency permits would be exempt from past-due work permit fees. Workers on final-exit visas classified as absent are likewise covered, as long as the General Directorate of Passports cancels those visas.
Workers reported missing but with residency permits, those reported absent but without residency permits, and workers still in the kingdom with expired residency permits are all eligible.
When an eligible employee moves to a new location, the initiative will eliminate any outstanding work permit charges. Instead of requiring the new employer to pay accumulated fees from prior periods, the initiative will calculate new work permit costs and financial levies from the date of transfer.
Additionally, the General Directorate of Passports has announced processes for Yemeni citizens living in the kingdom without legal status. Depending on their situation, they can use different pathways.
Through recognised digital platforms like Absher, Qiwa, and Musaned, the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development allow Yemenis whose residency cards have expired to transfer to employers who need their services.
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