Profession Change Fees in Saudi Arabia and How to Change It on Qiwa

The fee for changing an expatriate employee’s profession is shown on Qiwa when the employer submits the request, and it can change, so the amount the platform shows at that moment is the one that applies. The change itself is requested by the employer through the establishment’s Qiwa account, approved by the employee, and checked against the rules for the new profession, including any qualification or professional accreditation it requires and the list of professions reserved for Saudis. Once approved, the new profession is carried over to the employee’s residence records.

What a profession change is and who can request it

Every expatriate employee in the private sector is registered under an occupation, the profession shown on the work permit and the iqama. When the employee’s real job changes, for example after a promotion or a move to another department, the registered profession should be updated so that the records match the work.

The request is made by the employer through the establishment’s account on Qiwa, the platform of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development for labor services. The employee does not submit it alone, but the employee’s approval is part of the process.

Conditions to check before you apply

Qiwa checks several conditions automatically. Reviewing them first saves you a rejected request:

• The establishment’s commercial registration and its Qiwa account are active.
• The employee’s work permit and iqama are valid, and the employee is registered under your establishment.
• The employee has no open report or case that blocks services, such as an absence-from-work report.
• The new profession fits the establishment’s activity.
• The new profession is not restricted to Saudis.
• If the new profession requires a degree or professional accreditation, the employee holds it and it can be verified.
• The establishment’s status allows the service, including its Nitaqat position and any outstanding obligations shown on Qiwa.

The exact conditions are listed on the service page in Qiwa and may be updated, so read them there before you start.

Steps to change a profession on Qiwa

1. Log in to the establishment’s Qiwa account as an authorized user.
2. Open the employee services and choose the profession change service.
3. Select the employee, then choose the new profession from the list.
4. Attach the documents the service asks for, such as an attested degree certificate or proof of professional accreditation.
5. Review the fee shown on the screen and pay it through the payment method the platform offers when it asks you to.
6. The employee approves the request from their individual Qiwa account, so tell them a request is waiting.
7. Follow the request status on Qiwa until it is approved or returned with a reason.

Menu names on Qiwa change from time to time. If you cannot find the service, search for the profession or occupation change service in the establishment services, or check the platform’s help pages.

Professions that need proof of qualification or professional accreditation

For some professions, a job offer alone is not enough. The most common cases are:

• Engineering titles: usually require professional accreditation from the Saudi Council of Engineers.
• Health titles: require classification and registration with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
• Accounting titles: some may require professional accreditation from SOCPA, depending on the title.
• Specialist and skilled titles: may need an attested degree, or a professional verification result where the ministry applies it to that profession.

Start the accreditation with the competent body before you file the profession change. A request for an engineering or health title without valid accreditation is likely to be rejected, and the employee should not work in the new profession until the change is approved.

Professions reserved for Saudis

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development limits certain professions to Saudis, and localization decisions extend to more professions over time. Qiwa will not accept a change that moves an expatriate into a profession limited to Saudis. Before you promise an employee a new title, check:

• The list of professions limited to Saudis published by the ministry.
• The localization decisions for the profession group, which may set a required Saudi percentage rather than a full restriction.
• Your establishment’s Nitaqat position, because moving people between titles can affect localization ratios tied to professions.

Profession change fees: where to find the current amount

Many people ask how much the profession change fee is. We do not quote an amount here, because fees are set by the competent authorities and can change. The amount that applies is the one Qiwa shows when you submit the request and before you pay. Keep in mind that:

• The amount shown can depend on the type of change and the details of the case.
• Other costs may come separately, such as the accrediting body’s fees for professional accreditation or for attesting certificates.
• You should keep the payment receipt and the request reference in the employee’s file.

After approval: updating the iqama

When the request is approved, the new profession is recorded on Qiwa and passed to the employee’s residence records. The employer can check the updated data on Muqeem. If a new iqama card or a reprint is needed, follow the procedure Muqeem shows at that time. Also update:

• The employment contract on Qiwa, if the title, duties or pay changed.
• The wage and occupation registered with GOSI, if they changed.
• Internal HR records and the job description.

Common mistakes

• Letting an employee work in the new profession before the change is approved.
• Choosing a profession that does not fit the establishment’s activity.
• Filing an engineering or health change before professional accreditation is complete.
• Assuming the employee will approve automatically and not telling them a request is waiting.
• Relying on a fee amount from an old article instead of what Qiwa shows.
• Forgetting to update the contract and GOSI records after the change.

Frequently asked questions

An Innovant advisor can review the conditions and documents with you before you submit.

Related reading: Saudi Classification of Occupations: Choosing the Right Profession · Mudad Contract Authentication: How It Works With Qiwa · Qiwa

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