Saudi Arabia: Professional Verification Scheme Expanded

• Origination of scheme. The Professional Verification Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in 2021, in order to evaluate the skills of foreign nationals working or seeking to work in Saudi Arabia.
  • Phase one. The initial phase of the program was focused on foreign nationals who were already working in Saudi Arabia (affecting over 1,000 professions across 23 sectors).
  • Phase two. The second phase of the scheme was aimed at Pakistani nationals applying to work in certain technical-based professions in Saudi Arabia and required these individuals to have their skills evaluated in their home country prior to obtaining a Saudi entry visa.
• Purpose of the scheme. The Professional Verification Scheme is intended to regulate the Saudi labor market by ensuring that workers meet international standards and have the skills and expertise needed to succeed in the workplace.

• New process for obtaining entry visa. Indian nationals seeking employment in certain technical-based professions will soon need to undergo theoretical and practical tests to evaluate their skills before they can obtain an entry visa to Saudi Arabia. Individuals who pass the tests 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.
• Testing locations. Indian nationals will be able to take these tests at accredited assessment centers in New Delhi and Mumbai that have yet to be announced.
• Applicable professions. Indian nationals will have to undergo these tests if they are seeking to work in the following professions: plumbers, electricians, welders, refrigeration/air conditioning technicians, and automobile electricians.
• Government agencies involved. The new requirement stems from a collaboration between Saudi Arabia’s MHRSD and India’s National Skill Development Corporation.

• Smaller candidate pool. The expansion of the Professional Verification scheme may limit the pool of Indian nationals from which employers are able to recruit.
• Lengthier processing times. Due to the additional step in the recruitment process, employers and foreign nationals should expect that the overall processing time for work authorization, as well as the costs of recruitment, will increase. It is unclear at this time if employers will be responsible for examination fees.

The MHRSD is expected to announce the implementation date of this third phase of the Professional Verification Scheme shortly. It is also expected that the Professional Verification Scheme will be expanded to additional foreign nationals and occupations in the future. Fragomen will report on any developments.