No objection letter template (NOC) for employees in Saudi Arabia
A no objection letter, or NOC, is a letter in which an employer states it does not object to something an employee wants to do, such as studying, travelling, applying for a visa or a licence. This no objection letter template names the purpose and the receiving body, confirms the employee’s job, and limits the letter to that purpose.
Replace everything in [square brackets] with your details.
[Company name]
[Commercial registration number] · [Address] · [Phone]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Reference: [Reference number]
To: [Name of the receiving body, or “To whom it may concern”]
Subject: No objection letter
We certify that [Employee full name], a [Nationality] national holding [National ID / Iqama] number [Number], has been employed by [Company name] since [Start date] as [Job title], and is still in our employment as of the date of this letter.
The company has no objection to [describe the purpose precisely, for example: the employee enrolling in (programme) at (institution) outside working hours / the employee travelling to (country) from (date) to (date) during approved annual leave / the employee applying for (licence or membership)].
This letter is issued at the employee’s request for the purpose stated above only. It does not change the terms of the employee’s employment contract, and it does not create any financial or other obligation on the company beyond what is stated in it.
This letter is valid until [DD/MM/YYYY].
[Name of the authorised signatory]
[Job title]
[Signature and company stamp]
When to use it
Employees ask for a no objection letter when a third party needs confirmation that the employer agrees to something: a university or training course, a visa application or travel during leave, a professional licence or membership, or a bank or government body that asks for it. Issue it only for a purpose the company is comfortable with, and in writing.
How to fill it in
- Name the receiving body when you know it; otherwise use “To whom it may concern”.
- Describe the purpose precisely: what, where, and the dates if any. A vague NOC can be used for things you did not intend.
- Confirm employment with the job title and start date, using the same data as in Qiwa.
- Limit it. State that it is for the stated purpose only, does not change the contract and creates no obligation beyond its text, and give an expiry date.
- Keep a copy with its reference number in the employee’s file.
Legal points to keep in mind
- Leave and other work. A worker may not work for another employer while on any of the leaves in the Labour Law (Article 118), so be careful with a NOC that touches on work elsewhere during leave.
- Changing employer for non-Saudi workers is a transfer of services through Qiwa, with its own rules; a NOC letter does not replace it.
- Travel for an expatriate employee needs an exit and re-entry visa issued through the government platforms, which the letter does not replace either.
Common mistakes
- An open-ended NOC with no purpose and no expiry date.
- Including the salary when it was not asked for.
- Having it signed by someone not authorised to sign for the company.
In RafiqHR, the no objection letter is one of the standard letters: it is issued from the employee record in Arabic or English with a QR code anyone can scan to verify it.
Frequently asked questions
Does an employee need a no objection letter to change jobs in Saudi Arabia?
Moving a non-Saudi worker to a new employer is a transfer of services through Qiwa. Since the Labour Reform Initiative of 2021, a worker can move without the current employer’s consent in defined cases, such as when the documented contract has ended. A NOC letter is not the mechanism for that; check the case on Qiwa.
Should a no objection letter mention salary?
Only if the receiving body asks for it. Most NOCs only need the job, the start date and the purpose. When salary is needed, a salary certificate is usually the better document.
Who should sign a no objection letter?
Someone authorised to speak for the company, usually the HR manager or the general manager, on letterhead with the company stamp.
This is general information to help you understand the topic. It is not legal advice. Rules and rates change: always check the official text on the relevant authority’s platform and consult a qualified adviser before acting.
