Saudi Arabia: Academic Verification Platform Launched

Saudi Arabia has launched an online platform for immediate use, called the Qualification Verification Program (QVP), to verify that certain foreign national applicants for a work visa have the necessary academic qualifications for the listed occupation prior to entering Saudi Arabia. Currently, the QVP platform must be used by those work visa applicants who are from countries that do not have a Saudi Cultural Attaché (62 countries in total) and also work in the following industries: agriculture; aviation; commerce; construction; contracting and construction; culture; education; energy; entertainment; financial; health; information technology or telecommunications; logistics; media; sports; tourism; and industry and mineral resources. Saudi authorities have not publicly listed which countries lack a Saudi Cultural Attaché and as a result, foreign nationals should consult their relevant Saudi consular post for more information. This is a new step in the work visa application process that is expected to take up to 15 days; however, it is unclear at this time whether the new system will increase or decrease processing times. The QVP process is expected to gradually expand to include foreign nationals from all countries and industries who are applying for work visas and is part of the Professional Accreditation program, which is included in Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to regulate its labor market. Prior to the implementation of this new system, there was no professional verification system. However, all foreign nationals continue to be subject to the requirement of legalizing their academic qualifications before submitting them as part of their work visa application, regardless of whether they qualify for use of the QVP at this time.