Saudi Professional Verification: How Expat Qualifications Are Checked Before You Arrive
Saudi Arabia's Professional Verification service checks skilled expat workers' degrees before they arrive. It covers 1,007 professions and 160 countries. Here is what to expect.
Saudi Arabia| Country | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Organization | Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) |
| Official source | Gulf News – reporting HRSD's Professional Verification programme ✓ gulfnews.com |
If you are hired for a skilled job in Saudi Arabia, your degree may be checked before you even travel. That is the role of the Professional Verification service run by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What it checks
Professional Verification confirms that a worker's academic qualifications are genuine and match the job they were hired for. The aim is to make sure expat workers have the education and skills the Saudi labour market needs.
It uses two national standards:
- the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations, and
- the Saudi Unified Classification of Educational Levels and Specialisations.
So your degree subject must make sense for the job title on your visa.
Who it covers
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Professions | 1,007 |
| Focus | Occupation groups 1 to 3: managers, professionals such as engineers and health workers, and technicians |
| Countries | 160 labour-sending countries, after the final phase of the rollout |
The service is fully automated and runs through a unified online platform.
Professional Verification vs skills tests
Saudi Arabia also runs a separate practical skills test for many craft and trade jobs, such as electricians and plumbers. That is a different check. Professional Verification is about degrees and qualifications for skilled roles.
What it means for you
- Make sure your job title matches your degree. An engineering visa with an unrelated degree is likely to be flagged.
- Keep certificates attested and ready in clear scans.
- Don't accept a visa for a different profession than the job you will do. Mismatches cause problems later, including when you change jobs or renew.
- Health professionals still need a separate SCFHS licence. See: SCFHS classification and registration on Mumaris Plus.
Related: Saudi work permit correction deadline.
Apply only through the official source.
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