Steps in Changing of Profession – Saudi Arabia

About two weeks ago, our Administration Department issued a circular compelling us all to change our profession.  This is also in response to the Ministry of Labor’s new regulation requiring all companies that their employees should possess the same job title as per their issued iqama.

 

I was at a loss at first because even the people from our Administration Department don’t know the process of they just have difficulty in explaining the requirements.  I’ve asked a lot of people around and I have different reply every time I asked for the requirements.

I decided, out of desperation to ask International Skills Development (ISD), our agent in Manila on the basic requirements of the profession change.  Luckily, I got the reply from Ms. Lorna Calimag. 

Profession change entails a lot of work and they are:

1.    Request a Certified True Copy of your Transcript of Record / Diploma from the University where you graduated.

2.    Submit the Certified True Copy of your Transcript of Record / Diploma to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in the Region where your University is located for Authentication.

3.    Submit the Authenticated Certified True Copy of your Transcript of Records / Diploma that were released from the University and CHED to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for Authentication (Red Ribbon).

4.    Submit to International Skills Development (ISD) the Authenticated Transcript of Records / Diploma from the University, CHED and DFA.  ISD will assist in the Authentication to the Saudi Embassy.

According to ISD, Steps Nos. 1-3 should be done by your relatives.

If you’re based in Saudi Arabia, you have to send an authorization letter to the person who’s going to process your document.  He could be a friend or a relative, stating why you need the document and the person you’re authorizing.  The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) requires a notarized authorization letter so the authorization that you sent through fax or email should be notarized first otherwise they’ll not entertain your request.

From CHED, you will not be able to get the authenticated Transcript of Records / Diploma since they’ll be forwarding the document through a courier (DHL) directly to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).  You’ll only have to pay the amount and give the return address so that your document will be sent back to you.