Direct Answer / Quick Summary:

To change an expatriate worker's profession (Ta'deel al-Mihna) in Saudi Arabia, the sponsoring establishment initiates the transaction through Qiwa Business (أعمال) under Services → Change Occupation (تغيير المهنة).

Mandatory Accreditations: Professional titles require pre-requisite verification before submission: Engineering roles require an active Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) membership; accounting and finance titles require SOCPA registration; technical trades require passing the Takamol Professional Verification Program (Fahs Mihni)* exam.

100% Localized Occupations:* Expatriates cannot be assigned to professions reserved exclusively for Saudi citizens under Saudization decrees (e.g., HR Manager, Recruiter, Receptionist, Security Guard, Public Relations Officer, Cashier).

Statutory Fees: The total cost is SAR 2,000 (SAR 1,000 Qiwa platform service fee + SAR 1,000 Ministry of Interior Jawazat fee paid via SADAD Biller 048). Once approved on Qiwa, the new profession is finalized and a replacement residency card is printed via Muqeem*.

The Regulatory Shift: From Jawazat Paperwork to Digital Qiwa Governance

Historically, changing an expatriate worker's job title required physical paper submissions to the Ministry of Labor and local Jawazat passport offices, accompanied by physical attestation of degrees by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce.

Under Vision 2030 and the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations (based on ISCO-08), the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) digitized the entire occupational modification ecosystem into Qiwa:

Step 1Prerequisite

Accreditation Validation

Employee obtains verified registration from SCE, SOCPA, or SCFHS prior to application

Step 2Qiwa Portal (SAR 1,000)

Qiwa Business Submission

Employer GRO selects candidate, inputs new unified occupation code, and pays Qiwa fee

Step 3Instant Clearance

MHRSD Compliance Check

Automated system audits establishment Nitaqat color and confirms title is not localized

Step 4SADAD (SAR 1,000)

SADAD Jawazat Settlement

Employer pays the Ministry of Interior occupational change fee via online banking

Step 5Fully Finalized

Muqeem Card Reissuance

GRO finalizes profession update in Muqeem; updated physical Iqama card is printed

Regulated Professions: Mandatory Council Registrations & Verification Exams

MHRSD strictly prohibits selecting regulated professional titles unless the expatriate worker has already obtained certified accreditation from the relevant national regulatory body:

Professional SectorGoverning Accreditation AuthorityMandatory Verification Requirements
Engineers & ArchitectsSaudi Council of Engineers (SCE)Verified degree attestation, verified data-flow report, active SCE membership.
Accountants & Financial AuditorsSaudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA)Certified accounting degree, SOCPA professional registration certificate.
Healthcare PractitionersSaudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS)Prometric exam passage, data-flow primary source verification, professional license.
Craftsmen & Industrial TradesTakamol Professional Verification Program (Fahs Mihni)Successful completion of practical and theoretical trade exams at accredited test centers.
Unregulated General RolesMHRSD General ClassificationRelevant attested university diploma or degree aligned with commercial activity.

If an establishment attempts to select an engineering title (e.g., Mechanical Engineer) for a candidate without active SCE membership, the Qiwa portal blocks submission immediately with error ERR-PR-403: Missing Professional Accreditation.

100% Localized Professions: Roles Banned for Expatriates

Under ministerial Saudization decrees promulgated under Article 36 of the Saudi Labor Law, specific occupational classifications are strictly reserved for Saudi nationals.

The Qiwa system hard-codes these restrictions, permanently disabling them for non-Saudi Iqama holders:

Statutory Safeguards & Rights Protection

Mandatory protections enforced by MHRSD & Saudi Labor Law

1
Human Resources & PersonnelHR Director, HR Specialist, Personnel Manager, Recruitment Specialist, Attendance & Payroll Coordinator.
2
Administrative & Front DeskReceptionist, Customer Service Representative, Executive Secretary, Office Administrator.
3
Security & WatchmenSecurity Director, Corporate Security Guard, Facility Safety Watchman.
4
Government RelationsGovernment Relations Officer (GRO / Mandoob), Public Relations Representative.
5
Retail & Cash HandlingRetail Cashier, Sales Manager in 100% localized retail sectors (perfumes, women's apparel, gold/jewelry).

Attempting to change an expat's profession to any of the above roles or employing an expat in a localized role under a fictitious title violates Article 36, carrying statutory fines up to SAR 20,000 per violation and immediate establishment portal suspension.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Changing Profession via Qiwa Business

Only the establishment's authorized commercial manager, Corporate PRO, or Government Relations Officer (GRO) can initiate a profession change:

Step 1: Login to Qiwa Business Portal

1Open your web browser and navigate to https://qiwa.sa.
2Click Sign In (تسجيل الدخول) and choose Business Account (حساب أعمال).
3Authenticate using Nafath SSO.
4Select the specific establishment Commercial Registration (CR) from your corporate portfolio.

Step 2: Access the Change Occupation Service

1From the main service navigation menu, click on Work & Employees (العمل والموظفون).
2Select Change Occupation / Profession (تغيير المهنة).
3The dashboard will display your active workforce list with search filters for Iqama Number, Border Number, and Current Profession.

Step 3: Select Candidate & Target Occupation Code

1Search for the employee using their 10-digit Iqama Number.
2Click Modify Profession (تعديل المهنة).
3Browse or search the unified ISCO-08 Saudi Occupational Directory.
4Select the target profession title. The portal runs real-time automated validation checks:

- Verifies whether the role is restricted to Saudi nationals.

- Cross-checks the employee's National Information Center file for required SCE / SOCPA / Fahs Mihni credentials.

- Verifies the establishment's Nitaqat Saudization quota bandwidth.

Step 4: Pay the Qiwa Platform Service Fee

1Once validated, the system displays the commercial invoice for the Qiwa Service Fee: SAR 1,000 (plus applicable VAT).
2Pay the invoice online using Mada, Visa, or Mastercard.
3Qiwa issues an electronic approval notification, sending the update to the Ministry of Interior database.

Step-by-Step Guide: Settling the Jawazat Fee & Muqeem Reissuance

Completing the Qiwa workflow is Step 1. To make the profession legally effective on the worker's physical residency card, the company must execute the Ministry of Interior procedures:

Step 1: Pay the Jawazat Fee via SADAD (Biller 048)

1Log into your Saudi business or personal banking portal (SNB, Al Rajhi, Riyad Bank, etc.).
2Go to Government Payments (SADAD / المدفوعات الحكومية).
3Biller Category: Alien Control / Jawazat (الجوازات).
4Service Type: Change of Profession (تغيير المهنة).
5Transaction: Payment (دفع).
6Enter the worker's 10-digit Iqama Number.
7The system populates the statutory fee: SAR 1,000.
8Confirm and pay the fee.

Step 2: Finalize in Muqeem & Print New Card

1Open the Muqeem Portal and sign in.
2Go to Electronic Transactions → Change of Profession (تغيير المهنة).
3Select the employee whose profession was approved on Qiwa.
4Click Finalize Profession Update (إتمام تعديل المهنة).
5Under Resident Card Services, request a replacement physical card (Muqeem Card) reflecting the updated profession title.
6The card is delivered to your registered corporate National Address via Saudi Post (SPL).

Cost Summary & Financial Matrix

Fee ElementRecipient Government EntityStatutory AmountPayment Channel
Qiwa Platform FeeTakamol Holding / MHRSDSAR 1,000 (+ 15% VAT)Credit Card / Mada on Qiwa
MOI Jawazat FeeMinistry of Interior (Jawazat)SAR 1,000SADAD Banking (Code 048)
SCE Professional Fee (If Engineering)Saudi Council of EngineersSAR 500 – 1,250 / yrSCE Portal SADAD
SOCPA Fee (If Accounting)SOCPASAR 300 – 1,000 / yrSOCPA Portal SADAD
Total Standard CostGovernment Statutory MinimumSAR 2,000 (+ VAT)Multi-Agency Settlement

Top 5 Qiwa Profession Change Errors & How to Fix Them

1. "Target Profession Banned Under Saudization Quota"

Root Cause: Sponsoring company attempted to assign an expatriate to a 100% localized role (e.g., HR, Secretarial, Cashier) or a role subject to regional Saudization quotas.
Resolution: Review MHRSD ministerial decree lists and select an open operational or technical role permitted for expatriate sponsorship.

2. "Candidate Lacks Valid Saudi Council of Engineers Membership"

Root Cause: Selected title contains the word "Engineer", "Surveyor", or "Architect", but candidate's degree is not accredited on the SCE portal.
Resolution: Candidate must complete degree verification on SCE (saudieng.sa) and obtain an active membership number before HR re-submits the Qiwa request.

3. "Establishment Nitaqat Does Not Permit Profession Modification"

Root Cause: Establishment is categorized in the Red or Low Green Nitaqat band, which automatically freezes non-essential government services.
Resolution: Company must hire additional Saudi citizens through Taqat to raise its Nitaqat color to Medium Green, High Green, or Platinum.

4. "Iqama Card Expired or Inactive"

Root Cause: Candidate's residency card has passed its maturity date on Muqeem.
Resolution: Sponsoring company must pay work permit fees and renew the Iqama before initiating a profession modification.

5. "Discrepancy Between Qiwa and Physical Iqama Card"

Root Cause: Qiwa approval completed, but company GRO failed to pay the SAR 1,000 SADAD fee or finalize the card reprint on Muqeem.
Resolution: Settle the Jawazat SADAD fee and execute the Muqeem transaction immediately; Qiwa approval without Muqeem execution leaves the official immigration profile out of sync.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can an employee change their own profession on Qiwa Individuals?

No. Profession change is strictly an enterprise-level regulatory transaction. Only the sponsoring employer's authorized representative can initiate the modification through Qiwa Business.

Can an expatriate change their profession to "Laborer" (Aamil) to bypass degree requirements?

While legally permitted for general operations, changing a professional employee's title to a laborer role restricts their eligibility for family visit visas, permanent family residency status, and executive driver licensing.

How long does a Qiwa profession change take to reflect on Absher?

Once the Qiwa approval is issued, the SADAD fee is paid, and the Muqeem transaction is completed, the new profession reflects in the Ministry of Interior's Absher and Jawazat databases within 15 to 45 minutes.

Does changing profession require amending the employment contract?

Yes. Under MHRSD regulations, once the profession change is approved, the employer must submit an electronic Contract Amendment on Qiwa to align the authenticated job title and salary terms with the new role.

Who is legally responsible for paying the profession change fees?

Under general commercial norms and corporate agreements, if the profession change is requested by the employer for operational compliance, the employer bears the fees. If requested by the worker for personal reasons (e.g., qualifying for family residency), the separation of financial liability is governed by mutual written agreement.

Need Guidance on Workforce Localization & Professional Accreditations?

Whether you are an enterprise restructuring occupational classifications or an expatriate executive aligning professional licensing with MHRSD regulations, explore our authoritative Qiwa Platform Master Manual or consult our corporate regulatory specialists for expert assistance.