Saudi Tightens Work Visa Rules For Indian Workers, Mandates Crucial Step

Indians planning to apply for a work visa for Saudi Arabia will now be required to undergo pre-verification of their professional and educational qualifications. The Saudi mission in India in a circular said professional verification procedures for issuing work visas will be implemented from January 14. "The professional verification will become one of the mandatory requirements for issuing work visas," the circular read, according to a report by The New Indian Express. The move mandating the pre-verification requirement was proposed six months ago as a strategy to control the number of incoming Indian workers, given the limited capacity of qualified training centres in the country, and to maintain quality standards. It is aimed at facilitating smoother access to Saudi Arabia's labour market and improving worker retention rates. It also expects to streamline the recruitment process and enhance the quality of the workforce in the kingdom. Under the new rules, establishment owners and HR departments are being encouraged to verify the certificates and information provided by expatriate employees.