Saudi Arabia: Professional Verification Scheme Announced for Select Sri Lanka Nationals

Saudi Arabia’s Professional Verification scheme has expanded to select nationals of Sri Lanka, who will soon be required to have their skills evaluated in their home country prior to obtaining a Saudi entry visa. This follows the initial launch of the program in January 2021, followed by the expansion of the program in a second phase for Pakistani nationals, a third phase for Indian nationals and a fourth phase for Bangladeshi nationals. Sri Lanka nationals seeking employment in Saudi Arabia under 23 technical-based professions such as electricians and auto mechanics will soon need to undergo theoretical and practical tests to evaluate their skills. It is anticipated that similarly to other jurisdictions participating in this program, those who pass the test with a minimum score of 50% will be issued an internationally recognized certification with a five-year validity that will allow them to apply for an entry visa to work in Saudi Arabia.  It is expected that all expenses associated with the program must be covered by the Saudi employer or the applicant’s sponsor, including the work visa, travel tickets, medical and police report. The expansion of the scheme is expected to limit the pool of available candidates for Saudi employers from the affected countries, while increasing the overall processing timeframe and costs. The Saudi government is expected to expand the scheme to further nationalities.