Saudi Arabia launches new skill-based visas for expats

Expatriates seeking employment in Saudi Arabia will now be assessed under a newly introduced skill-based work permit system as the Kingdom moves to streamline its labor market and attract global talent.

This decision, announced by Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmed Al-Rajhi, came into effect for new workers from July 1, while existing foreign workers began reclassification from June 18. Under the new system, foreign workers are divided into three categories: high-skill, skilled, and basic. The classification is based on education, experience, skills, wages, and age. The goal is to attract global talent, improve worker performance, and support Vision 2030, which includes major projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Project.

The government is using the Qiwa platform for digital evaluation, following the Saudi Classification of Professions and Education Levels. This will help employers find better-qualified staff and reduce reliance on low-skilled workers. Unemployment in the Kingdom has also decreased. In the first quarter of 2025, the total unemployment rate fell to 2.8%, while the rate for non-Saudis dropped to just 0.8%, showing strong demand in the private sector.

Foreign workers are still a large part of the population, making up 44.4% of the total, and 89.9% of them fall within the working-age group. The country’s Professional Verification Program, which checks qualifications before workers arrive, now includes 128 countries and will expand to 160. Employers are advised to update worker information on Qiwa, and employees who qualify can apply for reclassification. A points system will allow workers to balance less education with strong experience.