Skill Verification Program (SVP) in Saudi Arabia: 2025 Update
Saudi Arabia’s Skills Verification Program (SVP) is transforming how foreign workers are assessed, hired, and retained across the Kingdom. Launched in July 2021 by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), the program ensures that expatriate workers in technical and skilled roles meet the required standards before obtaining or renewing their work visas.
This initiative is closely aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to create a more efficient, qualified, and competitive labor market while reducing dependency on unverified foreign labor.
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🧭 What Is the Skills Verification Program?
The SVP requires expatriate workers in technical roles to pass both theoretical and practical assessments that evaluate their job-specific competencies.
The program currently covers more than 1,000 professions across 23 sectors, ranging from construction and manufacturing to healthcare and electrical trades.
The theoretical exam tests safety, regulations, and technical knowledge, while the practical exam assesses on-site skills and performance. Both are conducted at authorized testing centers recognized by the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO).
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💪 Why the SVP Matters for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s labor market relies heavily on expatriate workers, particularly in skilled trade and healthcare sectors. As the Kingdom undergoes massive economic diversification under Vision 2030, ensuring workforce quality has become critical.
According to Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia will require 175,000 additional healthcare workers by 2030 to meet infrastructure and population growth demands. Similar shortages exist across construction, electrical, and maintenance sectors, highlighting the urgent need for verified and competent labor.
The SVP addresses these gaps by:
- Preventing the entry of unqualified foreign workers
- Enhancing productivity and workplace safety
- Ensuring labor rights and fair wages through skill-based classification
- Supporting the Saudization initiative by setting clear competency benchmarks
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The SVP operates under a two-tier system:
- External Examinations – Conducted in countries such as Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Egypt, where workers must pass the skill test before arriving in Saudi Arabia.
- Internal Examinations – For workers already in the Kingdom who need to renew or change their work permits.
Once a worker passes the SVP exam, the results are automatically linked to their Iqama (residence permit) and MHRSD records, ensuring transparency for both employers and employees.
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🧩 Key Sectors Impacted
The SVP primarily targets technical and vocational professions, including:
- Electricians, plumbers, and welders
- Automotive mechanics and air conditioning technicians
- Machine operators and industrial workers
- Healthcare technicians and support staff
Each category follows a standardized occupational code under the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations.
📊 Early Results and Future Outlook
While the full results of the program are still emerging, early indicators show a positive trend in workforce quality. The SVP has encouraged companies to adopt structured training programs and to partner with accredited testing centers to improve compliance.
Industry observers expect that by 2030, all skilled labor entering Saudi Arabia will have to pass standardized verification, reducing recruitment mismatches and strengthening employer trust.
The initiative is also expected to support the National Transformation Program (NTP), which focuses on improving job localization, productivity, and human capital efficiency.
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🧠 Final Thoughts
The Skills Verification Program represents a major step toward a more transparent, qualified, and efficient Saudi workforce. By combining pre-departure testing, local re-certification, and digital verification, the SVP helps employers reduce hiring risks and ensures that only verified, skilled professionals contribute to the Kingdom’s growth.
As Saudi Arabia continues to modernize its labor ecosystem, the SVP will remain a cornerstone of its Vision 2030 workforce transformation goals, fostering both local and expatriate excellence in equal measure.
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