Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced an AI-powered electronic service that allows businesses to change or correct the registered profession of expatriate employees working under their sponsorship. The service, listed among the ministry's official digital offerings in 2026, is designed to align an employee's recorded job title with the actual work they perform, according to a report by Legit.ng.
Service Accessible via Qiwa Platform
The process is fully online and does not require employers to visit the Ministry of Human Resources in person. To use the service, an establishment must log in to the Qiwa platform, select the career change service, and follow the steps provided on the platform to submit the application. The ministry said artificial intelligence powers the backend of the service to support accurate matching between the employee's actual role and the classifications listed under the Unified Saudi Occupational Classification Guide.
Impact on Foreign Workers
Saudi Arabia hosts millions of expatriate workers, many of whom are Nigerian and other African nationals who travelled to the Kingdom as part of the broader Japa movement. A mismatch between a worker's registered profession and their actual duties can affect their legal standing, benefits, and future employment prospects within the country. By digitising and streamlining the correction process, the Ministry of Human Resources is reducing bureaucratic delays that have historically affected expatriates whose documented roles did not reflect what they actually did on the job.
Broader Digitalisation Push
The service falls under the ministry's wider push to digitalise labour administration in the Kingdom and improve compliance with Saudi employment regulations among businesses that employ foreign workers. In a related story, Legit.ng reported that Saudi Arabia had introduced a 90-day work permit for foreigners looking for jobs.
Changes to Work Permit Rules
Legit.ng previously reported that Saudi Arabia had changed its work permit rules. Under the revised framework, businesses that have been running for less than two years are restricted to a maximum of five work visas. Companies that have crossed the two-year mark can access up to 50 visas, applied for either through a single submission or multiple applications filed within the same week. These changes are part of the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to regulate the employment of foreign workers and ensure compliance with its labour laws.
