📅 June 2026 · 10 min read · Based on official Qiwa portal (qiwa.sa)

Qiwa Portal Guide for Employees 2026 — How to Use It in Saudi Arabia

Q: How do I register on Qiwa as an employee?

Go to qiwa.sa, click 'Individual' login, and sign in using your Absher account (your Iqama number and the OTP sent to your Saudi mobile number). No separate registration is needed if you already have an Absher account.

Everything an employee needs to know about Qiwa: how to log in, view your contract, request a job transfer, file a complaint, and check your work permit — explained step by step.

What is Qiwa? Qiwa (قِوى) is Saudi Arabia's official Ministry of Human Resources platform for labour market services. Both Saudi nationals and expats in the private sector use it to manage their employment rights and obligations online.

What Can You Do on Qiwa?

Qiwa gives employees direct access to their employment records and rights without going through HR. The key things you can do as an employee:

📄

View Your Contract

See your authenticated employment contract, including salary, job title, and contract type.

🔄

Request Job Transfer

Apply to transfer to a new employer without needing consent from your current employer in most cases.

📋

File a Labour Complaint

Submit grievances about unpaid salary, contract violations, or unfair dismissal directly to HRSD.

🪪

Check Work Permit

View your work permit (Iqama-linked) status, expiry, and the employer it is tied to.

📊

View Salary Info

Check whether your employer is paying your salary on time through the Wage Protection System (WPS).

🏢

Check Employer Nitaqat

See your employer's Saudization (Nitaqat) colour band, which affects your ability to transfer.

Qiwa vs Absher — What's the Difference?

Many expats confuse the two. They are separate government platforms run by different ministries:

Platform	Ministry	Main Purpose	Used for
Qiwa (qiwa.sa)	Ministry of Human Resources (HRSD)	Employment & labour rights	Contracts, job transfers, complaints, work permits
Absher (absher.com.sa)	Ministry of Interior	Identity & residency	Iqama renewal, exit visas, family dependents, travel
Muqeem (muqeem.sa)	Ministry of Interior / NJCC	Residency verification	Checking Iqama status, work permit validity

✅ You log into Qiwa using your Absher credentials (Iqama number + OTP to Saudi mobile). No separate registration needed if you already have Absher.

How to Log In to Qiwa — Step by Step

1Go to qiwa.sa

Open your browser and navigate to qiwa.sa. Click on "Individual" (not Company).

2Click "Login with Absher"

Qiwa uses Absher as the identity provider. You will be redirected to the Absher login page.

3Enter your Iqama number and password

Use your Iqama number as the username and your Absher password. If you do not have an Absher account, you must create one first at absher.com.sa.

4Enter the OTP

A one-time password is sent to your Saudi mobile number registered with Absher. Enter it to complete login. If you changed your SIM or number, update it in Absher first.

5Access your Qiwa dashboard

You now see your employee dashboard. Your name, employer, job title, and contract type are displayed. All services are accessible from the left-side menu.

⚠️ No Saudi SIM? If you do not have a Saudi number registered in Absher, you cannot receive the OTP and cannot log in. You must first update your number by visiting an HRSD office or a Saudi telecom provider (STC, Mobily, Zain) with your Iqama.

How to View Your Employment Contract on Qiwa

All private-sector employment contracts must be authenticated on Qiwa. Once authenticated, you can view the full details of your contract at any time.

Log in → click "My Contracts" in the left menu
Your current contract is listed with status: Authenticated, Pending, or Rejected
Click on the contract to view your job title, basic salary, allowances, contract duration, and probation period
If your contract shows "Not Authenticated", your employer has not submitted it — this is a legal violation you can report via the complaint system

✅ An authenticated Qiwa contract is legally binding. If your actual salary differs from what appears on the contract, you have grounds for a formal complaint.

How to Request a Job Transfer on Qiwa

Since 2021, expat workers in Saudi Arabia can transfer to a new employer without needing the current employer's permission in most cases, once they have completed at least one year of service.

Eligibility requirements

Minimum 1 year of service with the current employer
Valid Iqama at time of request
New employer must have a valid work permit quota and a good Nitaqat rating (Platinum, Green, or Yellow)
No active legal dispute blocking the transfer

Transfer process step by step

1The new employer initiates the request

The transfer must be started by the new employer on Qiwa, not by you. The new employer logs into their Qiwa business account and submits a transfer request for your Iqama number.

2You approve the request

Log into Qiwa → "My Services" → "Job Transfer". You will see the pending request. Review the new contract terms and click Approve.

3Current employer is notified

Your current employer receives a notification and has 15 days to respond. They can approve, reject, or ignore it.

4Auto-approval after 30 days

If the current employer rejects or does not respond within 30 days (and you have completed 1 year of service), the transfer is automatically approved by the system.

5Work permit is transferred

Once approved, your work permit (kafala) is transferred to the new employer. Your Iqama remains valid during this process.

⚠️ Under 1 year of service? If you have been with your employer for less than 12 months, the transfer requires the current employer's written consent. Without it, the transfer will be rejected — regardless of the new employer's status.

How to File a Labour Complaint on Qiwa

Qiwa's complaint system (formerly through HRSD offices) lets you submit grievances directly online. Common reasons employees file complaints:

Unpaid or delayed salary
Employer not renewing your Iqama
Actual salary differs from authenticated contract
Unfair dismissal without EOS payment
Employer withholding passport (illegal in Saudi Arabia)
Unsafe working conditions

How to submit a complaint

Log in to Qiwa → "Complaints & Grievances"
Click "New Complaint"
Select the complaint category from the dropdown
Describe the issue in detail (English or Arabic accepted)
Upload supporting documents (contract, pay slips, messages, etc.)
Submit — you receive a case reference number
HRSD typically contacts both parties within 5–10 working days

✅ If mediation fails, your case is automatically referred to the Labour Court. Keep all reference numbers and correspondence as evidence.

Qiwa and the Wage Protection System (WPS)

Through Qiwa, employees can check whether their employer is compliant with the Wage Protection System — the Saudi government's requirement for employers to pay salaries electronically and on time.

Log in → "Wage Protection" to see your salary payment history
If your employer is non-compliant with WPS, this directly supports a salary complaint
Employers with WPS violations face work permit suspension and fines from HRSD

Qiwa for Employers — Key Functions

If you manage HR for a business, Qiwa is the primary platform for employment compliance:

Function	What it does
Contract authentication	Submit and authenticate employee contracts (mandatory for all private-sector workers)
Work permit issuance	Issue new work permits for expat employees linked to the company's Iqama quota
Work permit renewal	Renew expiring work permits tied to employee Iqamas
Nitaqat compliance	Track your company's Saudization percentage and maintain Platinum/Green band status
Job transfer management	Approve or respond to incoming and outgoing employee transfer requests
Establishment profile	Update company details, add authorised users, and manage branch registrations

Qiwa Nitaqat Bands — Why They Matter for Expats

Nitaqat is Saudi Arabia's Saudization programme. Every private-sector company is classified into a colour band based on its ratio of Saudi to expat employees:

Band	Meaning	Impact on expat workers
🟢 Platinum / Green	High Saudization compliance	Full work permit services, can receive transfer requests
🟡 Yellow	Mid-range compliance	Limited services, can receive transfers
🔴 Red	Low Saudization	Work permit renewals blocked, cannot receive transfers

⚠️ If your current employer is in the Red band, your Iqama renewal may be blocked even if your employer is willing to renew it. Check their Nitaqat status on Qiwa before it becomes urgent.

Common Qiwa Issues and How to Fix Them

Problem	Solution
Cannot log in — OTP not received	Your Saudi mobile number in Absher is wrong or expired. Visit an HRSD office or Absher self-service kiosk to update your number.
Contract shows "Not Authenticated"	Your employer has not uploaded the contract. Remind HR, or file a complaint on Qiwa if they refuse.
Job transfer request rejected immediately	Either you have less than 1 year of service, your new employer is in the Red band, or there is a legal block on your file. Check each condition individually.
Salary on contract differs from actual pay	File a WPS complaint on Qiwa immediately. Keep pay slips as evidence.
Qiwa shows wrong employer	This means your work permit is still linked to a previous employer. The transfer was not completed properly — contact HRSD.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Qiwa portal? ▼

Qiwa (قِوى) is Saudi Arabia's official government platform for labour market services, operated by the Ministry of Human Resources. Employees use it to view contracts, request job transfers, and file grievances. Employers use it to manage work permits and comply with Saudization requirements.

Can expats use the Qiwa portal? ▼

Yes. All private-sector employees in Saudi Arabia — both Saudi nationals and expatriates — can access Qiwa to view their employment contract, check their work permit status, and submit labour complaints.

How do I register on Qiwa as an employee? ▼

Go to qiwa.sa, click "Individual" login, and sign in using your Absher account (your Iqama number and the OTP sent to your Saudi mobile number). No separate registration is needed if you already have an Absher account.

How long does a Qiwa job transfer take? ▼

If the current employer rejects or ignores the request, the transfer can proceed after 30 days for workers who have completed 1 year of service. The entire process typically takes 30–60 days depending on the employer's response.

Is Qiwa the same as Absher? ▼

No. Absher is the Ministry of Interior platform for identity and travel documents (Iqama renewal, exit visas, dependents). Qiwa is the Ministry of Human Resources platform for employment contracts, job transfers, and labour rights. You log into Qiwa using your Absher credentials, but they are separate systems.

What can I do if my employer refuses to authenticate my contract on Qiwa? ▼

Contract authentication is mandatory under Saudi Labour Law. If your employer refuses, you can file a formal complaint on Qiwa under the "Complaints & Grievances" section. HRSD will investigate and can penalise non-compliant employers.

Is there a Qiwa mobile app? ▼

Yes. The Qiwa app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It offers the same features as the website — login, contract viewing, transfer requests, and complaints — optimised for mobile use.

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