Indians form the second-largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia.
New Delhi: According to some estimates, more than two million Indians are working in Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait among others.
To work in these countries, professionals as well as non-professionals need to apply for a work visa. Once it is approved then they can start working in the country where they have applied for.
As per the latest reports, Indian workers who are planning to apply for a work visa to work in Saudi Arabia, will now be required to complete a pre-verification of professional and academic qualifications. This provision will start from January 14.
Talking about Saudi Arabia, Indians form the second-largest expatriate community in the kingdom, after Bangladesh with a population of more than 2.4 million, as reported by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The idea to submit complete pre-verification of professional and academic qualifications was proposed six months ago. It was contemplated upon to cut down the influx of Indian workers, due to the limited number of qualified training centres and to ensure quality control.
Saudi Arabia, in line with the 2030 vision, has started modifications in the labour sector to make it more flexible for expatriates to have employment contracts and stricter certification requirements for certain jobs are also part of the changes.
“Professional verification procedures for issuing work visas will be implemented from January 14,” says a circular issued by the Saudi mission in India as reported by The New Indian Express adding that professional verification will become one of the mandatory requirements for issuing work visas.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has also announced a rule upgrade for expats renewing their Iqama, or residency permits, and extending exit and re-entry visas.
In a post on X, Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports announced that dependents of expats as well as domestic workers located outside the kingdom can now renew their Iqama.
Expats outside the country can also extend the period of single or multiple exit and re-entry visas.
