In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), it's essential to maintain consistency between your Iqama profession and your actual job to comply with regulations. The Ministry of Labor (MO) conducts routine workplace inspections to ensure alignment between expatriates' Iqama professions and their residency permits. To avoid legal issues, it's crucial for individuals must ensure that the profession stated on their Iqama matches their current occupation. Maintaining uniform information across all documents is imperative for compliance with Saudi regulations.
Changing your profession on an Iqama in Saudi Arabia involves a specific procedure, and it's crucial to follow it meticulously to avoid any complications.
Effortlessly update your profession on your Iqama in Saudi Arabia with our detailed guide. Follow the latest procedure, gather necessary documents, understand charges, and find answers to FAQs to ensure a smooth process.
First of all let us discuss what is Iqama? Iqama serves as a residency permit, providing evidence of an immigrant's legal standing in the country. It is applicable for various purposes such as banking services, ATM usage, money transfers, obtaining mobile SIM cards, and international travel.
Latest Procedure and Requirements for Changing Profession on Iqama:
Prerequisites to Change Iqama Profession
1. Maintain a clean record without any traffic violations.
2. Ensure that your Iqama has not expired and that you are currently present in Saudi Arabia.
3. Possess an attested degree relevant to the desired profession.
4. Successfully pass the Saudi Profession Verification Exam.
5. Fulfill the profession change fee of 1000 Saudi Riyals.
6. Set your working status to "Pending Service Transfer."
7. Inform both the current and future professional bodies about the change
8. Register with the pertinent professional organization corresponding to your field:
• For accounting and auditing, register with SOCPA.
• Engineers and technicians should register with the Saudi Council of Engineers.
• Health and medical professionals must register with SCFHS Mumaris Plus.
• Veterinarians need to register with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Documents Needed to Change Iqama Profession
• Passport copy.
• Iqama copy.
• Letter of Employment.
• Letter of Authorization.
• Attested degree relevant to your new profession.
• Grade sheet.
• Photograph.
• Resume or CV.
Who Cannot Change Their Iqama Profession?
Those unable to change their Iqama profession include individuals in specific categories, such as those engaged in domestic professions like house drivers, maids, farmers, gardeners, etc.
Process of Changing Profession on Iqama
Request through GRO: For a profession change on your Iqama, reach out to your HR department (Idariyah) or sponsor (Kafeel). The change process will be facilitated through the Qiwa platform.
Employee Acceptance: As the candidate, register with the Qiwa platform, navigate to the Individual Account, select Change Occupation, and accept the request.
Ministry of Labor Approval: Upon confirmation of your application by the Ministry of Labor (MOL), your employer will issue a new Iqama card reflecting your updated profession.
How to Track Changed Iqama Profession?
To confirm the modification in the Iqama profession, individuals can check the "Absher" platform.
FAQs
How Long Does the Process Take?
The process typically takes around one week.
Can I Change Profession if My Iqama is Expiring?
Ensure that your Iqama status is valid and not expiring within a week of the application.
What Happens if My Documents Don't Match?
Discrepancies in documents can lead to rejection of the request and potential legal issues. Ensure all data matches across documents.
Is Attested Degree Necessary?
Yes, degree attestation by the Saudi Embassy is essential, especially when your degree details and occupation differ.
This information provides a comprehensive overview of the process for changing your profession on an Iqama in Saudi Arabia. Remember to double-check all requirements and documents to ensure a smooth process.
