SA · Expiry & renewal tracking
Renew your Saudi recruitment licence on time
An HRSD recruitment or labour services licence runs five years, or ten for a large human resources company (Article 8 of the Rules for Practicing Recruitment and Labor Services Activities). The company requests renewal at least 180 days before expiry, with the bank guarantee renewed (Article 15).
In Saudi Arabia, recruitment and labour services activities are governed by the Rules for Practicing Recruitment and Labor Services Activities published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD). No recruitment or labour services activity covered by the Rules may be practised without a licence under them (Article 70).
The licence term depends on the type of company: ten years for a large human resources company, and five years for a medium recruitment company, a recruitment company and a small recruitment company. To obtain a licence the company must meet the minimum paid-up capital and provide a bank guarantee in the name of the Ministry or a body it authorises, or alternatively insurance covering the risk of failures in clients' rights (Article 8(3) and Article 3).
Renewal is made at the company's request through the approved platform. The renewal request must be submitted at least 180 days before the licence expires, together with a renewal of the bank guarantee covering the renewal period plus two additional years, and any documents the competent agency requires. The company also needs adequate insurance cover for the risks of professional failures (Article 15(1) and (2)).
At a glance
| Rules | HRSD Rules for Practicing Recruitment and Labor Services Activities |
|---|---|
| Licence term | 10 years for a large human resources company; 5 years for medium, standard and small recruitment companies (Art. 8) |
| Renewal request | Through the approved platform, at least 180 days before expiry (Art. 15(1)) |
| With the request | Bank guarantee renewed to cover the renewal period plus two additional years (Art. 15(1)) |
| Insurance | Adequate cover for the risks of professional failures (Art. 15(2)) |
| Possible decisions | Approve, approve for a set period, refuse with reasons, or suspend up to 30 days for remarks to be fixed (Art. 15(3)) |
Where the Ministry requires insurance cover for the risk of failures in clients' rights, the company may not practise its activity if the remaining insurance period is less than 3 months (Article 8(4)).
Who is responsible?
The licensed company. It submits the renewal request through the approved platform; the competent agency within HRSD studies the request, the company's evaluations, recorded violations and minimum performance standards before deciding (Article 15).
If the deadline passes
If renewal is refused, the company must stop its activity after the licence expires, settle all its obligations to its employees, workers, clients and employers, and remains responsible to the Ministry; the Ministry or its delegate keeps the bank guarantee for two years from the licence expiry date (Article 15(3)(c)). Practising any covered activity without a licence is prohibited (Article 70).
Bank guarantee follows the licence
The competent agency may also ask for a higher bank guarantee during the licence, for example when mediation contracts or requested visas increase, when market conditions change, or when complaints and delays increase (Article 8(5)). Keep the guarantee's own expiry date tracked next to the licence.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each licensed company and record the licence expiry date shown on the licence.
- For this licence type, ExpirySuite sends an extra reminder 180 days before expiry, the latest day to submit the renewal request, and then 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before and on the expiry date.
- Add the bank guarantee (or the insurance policy) as its own document with its expiry date, so the renewal can include a guarantee that covers the new term plus two years.
- Assign a responsible person (for example your licensing or compliance manager) so the right person gets the reminder; overdue records are reported to managers on days 3, 7 and 14.
- Emails arrive in each recipient's language, Arabic included.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is a Saudi recruitment licence valid?
- Ten years for a large human resources company and five years for medium, standard and small recruitment companies (Article 8 of the HRSD Rules).
- When must the renewal request be submitted?
- At least 180 days before the licence expires, through the approved platform (Article 15(1)).
- What happens to the bank guarantee on renewal?
- It must be renewed to cover the renewal period plus two additional years and attached to the renewal request (Article 15(1)).
- What if HRSD refuses the renewal?
- The refusal must give reasons. The company must stop its activity after the licence expires and settle its obligations, and the Ministry keeps the bank guarantee for two years from the expiry date (Article 15(3)(c)).
Sources
Last checked: Oct 1, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
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