Saudi Arabia at a glance
| Currency | Saudi riyal (SAR) |
| Where many Indians work | Oil & gas, construction and mega-projects, maintenance, facilities, logistics |
| Residence ID after arrival | Iqama |
| Medical before travel | At a GCC-approved medical centre (booked through the Wafid system) |
| Extra for some trades | Skill Verification Program test (written + practical) |
Saudi Arabia is one of India's Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries. If your passport is marked ECR, your agency must get emigration clearance for you on the eMigrate portal before you fly. That includes the compulsory Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana insurance (₹275 for two years or ₹375 for three, with ₹10 lakh accident cover). If an agent says you can fly on a visit visa and "convert it later", say no. You would be travelling without emigration clearance or insurance.
From CV to flight, step by step
- Get your CV into Gulf format: trade and years at the top, Saudi/GCC experience and certificates clearly listed. See the Gulf CV format.
- Apply to named agencies or employers and attend the interview, in person at the agency or online for many oil and gas clients.
- Get a written offer showing basic salary, allowances, hours, contract length and who pays the ticket.
- Take the skill test if your trade needs it. Your agency books it at an approved test centre in India.
- Medical at a GCC-approved centre. Keep the slip; the visa cannot be processed without a fit result.
- Visa stamping and emigration clearance: the agency handles both. Check your passport has the visa and eMigrate clearance before you fly.
- After arrival your employer arranges your Iqama (residence ID). Your passport should stay with you.
Things to know about working in Saudi Arabia
The Skill Verification Program (SVP)
Saudi Arabia now requires a written and practical skill test for a list of trades, including building electricians, plumbers and welders, before a work visa is issued, and the list is growing. If your trade is covered, the test is done at an approved centre in India and you get a certificate. Ask your agency early whether your trade needs it, so it does not delay your visa.
Oil and gas and the big projects
A large share of Saudi technical hiring is for oil and gas maintenance and shutdowns, and for the country's major construction projects. These jobs often ask for third-party certificates (for riggers, scaffolders, welders) and named past clients on your CV. See oil and gas jobs in the Gulf.
Your contract
Read the contract before you sign and keep a copy. It should match your offer letter: job title, basic salary, allowances, hours and length. If anything changes at the airport or on arrival, contact the Indian Embassy in Riyadh or the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra helpline (1800 11 3090).
Red flags for jobs in Saudi Arabia
- Money before an offer. No genuine employer charges for the job. Pay only a licensed agency's service charge, after the offer, with a receipt.
- No licence number. Every registered agency has an MEA licence number. Check it on eMigrate using our licence-check guide.
- "Visit visa, convert later." You lose your emigration clearance, insurance and legal protection.
- Only a mobile number and a Gmail address. Real agencies show an office address and a licence number.
- "No skill test needed" for an electrician, plumber or welder job. If your trade is on the list, a genuine agency will arrange the test.
How BhejoCV helps
BhejoCV shows checked job adverts for Saudi Arabia from licensed agencies and employers' own careers pages, filtered to your trade. You apply from your own Gmail in one tap, BhejoCV follows up for you, and agency replies show up inside the app. For the full picture across the Gulf, read Gulf jobs for Indians.
Questions people ask
Do Indians need a skill test to work in Saudi Arabia?
For some trades, yes. Saudi Arabia's Skill Verification Program requires a written and practical test for a list of professions, including building electricians, plumbers and welders, and more are being added. Your agency will tell you if your trade is covered and book the test in India.
How much does an agency charge for a Saudi job?
A registered recruiting agent may charge you at most ₹30,000 plus 18% GST, with a receipt, and only after you have a written offer. Anything more is not allowed.
Is a Saudi visit visa a good way to find work?
No. Working on a visit visa is illegal, and travelling for work without emigration clearance means you have no insurance and little protection. Always go on a proper work visa.
What ID will I get in Saudi Arabia?
After you arrive, your employer arranges your Iqama, the residence ID card you need for banking, SIM cards and travel within the country.