Change Iqama Profession 2026: Qiwa Steps, Fee & Rules

Short answer: you cannot change your Iqama profession yourself. Your employer files the request on Qiwa Business, and you approve it in your Qiwa Individuals account (Services → Change Occupation). Qiwa lists the government fee as SAR 1,000 for a change and free for a correction, and under the Labour Law the employer pays it, not you.

Last checked: November 2026.

Who can change the profession on your Iqama?

Your profession (المهنة) is the job title on your work permit and Iqama. For a company worker it is managed by the Ministry of Human Resources (HRSD) through Qiwa:

Only the employer can start a profession change, from its Qiwa Business account (Occupation Management).
You (the employee) see the request in Qiwa Individuals and accept or reject it.
There is no Absher option for a company worker to change their own profession.

House workers (driver, maid, cook) are not on Qiwa. Their records are handled through Musaned and the employer’s Absher account, so this guide does not cover them.

Change vs correction: two different services

Qiwa’s “Occupation Management” has two options. Knowing which one applies can save your employer money.

Service	When it’s used	Government fee (per Qiwa)
Change occupation (تغيير المهنة)	You now do a different job, e.g. from “labourer” to “electrician” or “accountant”	SAR 1,000
Correct occupation (تصحيح المهنة)	Your Iqama has an old, vague title that doesn’t match the official Saudi occupation list (for example “worker”, “ordinary worker”, “engineer”, “doctor”, “specialist”, “expert”)	Free

Note: HRSD’s own service page for “Change expatriate Profession” says “Free Service”, while Qiwa’s service pages list SAR 1,000 for a change. The amount shown in Qiwa when your employer submits the request is the one that applies.

Conditions your employer must meet

According to HRSD’s service page, a profession change is only possible when:

The company is in the Platinum or Green Nitaqat band (not Red). See Check Iqama Colour (Nitaqat) Status.
All the company’s licences are valid and its status is active.
The new profession is not restricted to Saudis (Saudization). HRSD says this cannot be done.
You are not “awaiting service transfer”, you have no final exit visa, and there is no other profession change already in progress for you.
For some jobs you need a professional licence first:
- Engineers: valid membership/practice certificate from the Saudi Council of Engineers
- Accountants: certificate from the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA)
- Vets: practice certificate from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture

General Manager: since early 2026, Qiwa no longer allows expats to be moved to “General Manager” through a normal profession change request. An expat can still hold that title only if they are named as general manager in the company’s commercial registration.

Step by step: how a profession change works

Step 1: Employer submits the request

Your HR or PRO logs in to Qiwa Business → Services → Occupation Management → Manage occupation requests, chooses Change occupation (or Correct occupation), selects you, picks the new profession from the official list and submits.

Step 2: You approve it in Qiwa Individuals

Log in at sso.qiwa.sa (with Nafath or your Iqama number and password). Need help? See our Qiwa login guide.
Go to Services → Change Occupation.
Open the request and check the new profession title carefully.
Click Approve (or Reject if it’s wrong).

Respond quickly. Several Saudi service providers report that the request expires if the employee doesn’t respond in about 10 days. Qiwa’s public pages don’t state the exact time limit, so don’t wait.

Step 3: Fee paid and Iqama updated

After you approve, the employer pays the fee and the change goes to the Ministry of Interior (Jawazat) records. The employer then updates the Iqama through Muqeem or Absher Business. Your digital Iqama in Absher shows the new profession once the change is complete. A new printed card is only needed if your employer requests one.

Step 4: Check that everything matches

Check the new profession in:

Absher → your digital Iqama
Qiwa Individuals → your contract and work details
GOSI → your registered occupation (your employer may need to update it separately)

A mismatch between these records can cause problems later with visas, transfers and certificates.

Can you refuse a profession change?

Yes. A change needs your approval in Qiwa, so you can reject a request that is wrong or that you didn’t agree to. A correction of an old generic title may not ask for your approval in the same way, so check your Qiwa notifications.

Before you accept, think about:

Family visas: the profession on your Iqama affects whether you can bring your family on a residence (permanent) visa.
Your contract: a new title should match your actual job and salary in your Qiwa contract.
Licensed jobs: if the new title is engineer or accountant, you must keep that professional licence valid.

Which professions are eligible for a family visa?

This is the main reason many Indian workers want a profession change, so here is the honest answer:

There is no official public list of professions that qualify for a permanent family visa. The check happens inside the visa system when you apply, based on the profession on your Iqama.
In practice, professional and skilled titles (engineer, accountant, technician, manager, teacher, IT, medical) are commonly accepted, and basic labour titles (labourer, worker, cleaner) are commonly refused. This is based on applicants’ reports, not a published rule.
On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Interior announced that highly skilled workers can process family entry visas alongside their own work visa (spouse, sons under 25, unmarried daughters). It did not publish a list of qualifying professions or a salary minimum.

Don’t pay an agent who promises a “family-visa profession”. The change still has to go through your employer on Qiwa, and the new title must match the work you really do.

Common problems and fixes

Problem	Likely reason	What to do
No request in Qiwa Individuals	Employer hasn’t submitted it yet, or it expired	Ask HR to (re)submit, then check Services → Change Occupation
Employer says “Qiwa won’t allow it”	Company in Red Nitaqat band, or profession restricted to Saudis	The company must improve its band first; a Saudi-only title can’t be used
Engineer title refused	No valid Saudi Council of Engineers membership	Register or renew with SCE first, then reapply
”Awaiting service transfer” blocks it	You have a pending job transfer	Finish or cancel the transfer, then apply
New title shows on Qiwa but not Absher	Jawazat update not finished	Ask the employer to complete the update on Muqeem / Absher Business
Employer wants you to pay the fee	Not allowed under the Labour Law	The employer bears profession change fees (Qiwa labour education page). Call HRSD 19911 if needed

FAQ

Can I change my Iqama profession myself on Absher?

No. For company workers, only the employer can submit the request on Qiwa. You only approve it.

How much does it cost to change the profession on an Iqama?

Qiwa lists SAR 1,000 for a change and nothing for a correction of an old generic title. The employer pays.

How long does it take?

Qiwa lists the service as instant once all approvals are done. Most of the waiting is for your approval and the employer’s payment and Jawazat update.

Can I change my profession during my first year?

Your first year doesn’t block it. What matters is that your employer meets the conditions above (Green/Platinum band, valid licences) and that you have no pending transfer or final exit.

Will changing my profession change my salary or contract?

Not automatically. The salary is in your Qiwa contract. If your job really changed, ask for the contract to be updated too.

Can I change my profession when I move to a new employer?

The new employer can request a change after the transfer is complete. While you are “awaiting service transfer”, a profession change is blocked.

Sources: HRSD, “Change expatriate Profession” service page (hrsd.gov.sa, conditions and steps); Qiwa, Occupation Management and Change Occupation service pages (qiwa.sa, fees SAR 1,000 / free); Qiwa labour education, Work Permits for Non-Saudis (employer bears profession change fees); Saudi Press Agency, 6 Oct 2026 family visa announcement; EY tax alert, Feb 2026 (General Manager title restriction).

Disclaimer: Qiwa screens and fees change. If a step or amount looks different, follow what Qiwa shows or call HRSD on 19911.

Change Iqama Profession in Saudi Arabia: Qiwa Steps and Fee

Who can change the profession on your Iqama?

Change vs correction: two different services

Conditions your employer must meet