Sunday, January 19, 2025
Saudi Arabia tightens work visa rules for Indian expats
People from India who want to work in Saudi Arabia will now have to prove their education and employment history before they can apply for a work visa. Trending: Saudi Arabia uncovers 2.5 Trillion dollars treasure
Professional verification methods for obtaining work visas would be adopted starting from January 14, according to a circular from the Saudi mission in India.
The circular stated that "The professional verification will become one of the mandatory requirements for issuing Saudi Arabia's work visas."
This pre-verification measure was first suggested six months ago as a way to manage the arrival of Indian workers, considering the country's limited capacity for authorized training centers, and to keep quality standards high.
The goal is to make it easier to enter Saudi Arabia's labor market and to keep workers there. The improvement of the quality of the kingdom's workforce and the simplification of the recruitment procedure are other goals. Recommend: Saudi Arabia tightens tobacco products sales rules
Owners of businesses and HR departments are now required by law to check the credentials and information given by expatriate workers.
Furthermore, the regulations governing the extension of exit and re-entry visas, as well as the renewal of Iqamas (residency permits), have been revised by Saudi Arabia for expats.
Expats, including those presently residing outside the kingdom, are now able to renew their Iqamas, according to an announcement made on X by the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) in Saudi Arabia.
Indians in Saudi Arabia:
With 2.69 million expat workers, Bangladesh is the country with the largest expat community, followed by India, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. See Also: KSA strictly enforces vaccination for Umrah passengers
Over 2.4 million Indians are believed to be working in Saudi Arabia as of 2024, with 1.64 million employed by private companies and 785,000 working as domestic workers.
One important aspect of Saudi Arabia's labor market is the presence of Indian laborers. On the other hand, many people are upset since there are not enough verification testing centers.
In Rajasthan, for example, you can find driving test centers in the cities of Ajmer and Sikar. A member of the Rajya Sabha named Haris Beeran was quoted by TNIE as saying that applicants, particularly those from the South, are forced to travel great distances to these places, encountering difficulties with language and logistics.
Furthermore, the kingdom intends to raise recruiting standards and entice qualified expatriate personnel as part of its Saudi Vision 2030 goal. Follow Saudi Expatriates on X
Saudi Arabia tightens work visa rules for Indian expats - Saudi-Expatriates.com
