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Qiwa and Iqama Profession Mismatch in Saudi Arabia: Complete OFW Guide 2026

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Qiwa and Iqama Profession Mismatch in Saudi Arabia: What OFWs Should Know

Is your job title in Qiwa different from your Iqama profession or actual work? Learn which differences matter, what Article 38 requires, and how an employer can correct the record.

Qiwa and Iqama profession mismatch

Kabayan, napansin mo bang iba ang job title sa iyong Qiwa contract, Iqama, work permit, o aktuwal na trabaho?

For example:

Your Qiwa contract says Sales Representative, but your Iqama shows General Laborer.
Your registered profession is Technician, but you work mainly as an accountant.
You were promoted to supervisor, but your official records still show your previous occupation.
Your recruitment contract has one job title, while Qiwa shows another.
Your Iqama and Qiwa use different words that appear to describe similar work.

A difference between these records should be reviewed, but it does not automatically mean that every case is a serious violation.

Small wording differences may arise because a company uses an internal job title while the official system uses a standardized occupation. However, a completely unrelated profession can create a compliance concern, particularly when the worker’s actual duties do not match the profession registered in the work permit.

Article 38 of the Saudi Labor Law states that an employer may not employ a worker in a profession other than the profession stated in the worker’s work permit. The worker is also prohibited from working in another profession before the required legal procedures are completed.

This guide explains the difference between Qiwa job titles, Iqama professions, work permits and actual duties—and what an OFW should do when the information does not match.

Quick Answer

When your Qiwa job title, Iqama profession and actual work are different:

Compare all available records before assuming there is a violation.
Determine whether the difference is only wording or represents completely different work.
Ask your employer or HR department for written clarification.
If the registered occupation is incorrect, the employer must normally initiate a change or correction through Qiwa.
Review any profession-change request carefully before accepting it.
Do not accept a false occupation merely to complete a transaction.
Verify the updated Qiwa, work-permit and residency records after approval.

The official HRSD profession-change service is designed to help an establishment change a resident employee’s occupation so that it matches the work actually performed. It also allows the establishment to correct occupations according to the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations.

Qiwa, Iqama, Work Permit and Actual Job: What Is the Difference?

Many OFWs use these records interchangeably, but they serve different purposes.

Qiwa employment contract

Your Qiwa contract records the agreed employment relationship between you and your employer.

It may contain:

job title;
salary and allowances;
work location;
contract duration;
working hours;
leave entitlement;
notice period;
probation period; and
other contractual provisions.

Qiwa requires the employer to include the employee’s job title when creating an employment contract. The worker can review a pending contract and approve it, reject it or request a modification.

Read the PinoyTalks Complete Qiwa Guide to understand the other information that should be checked before accepting a contract.

Work permit occupation

A work permit authorizes a non-Saudi resident to work under the registered employment arrangement.

The occupation connected to the work permit is particularly important because Article 38 directly prohibits an employer from assigning a worker to a different profession before completing the required change procedure.

Iqama profession

The Iqama is the resident’s official identification and residency document.

For an employed expatriate, the resident record normally includes a registered profession connected to the worker’s employment and work-permit information.

However, an Iqama is not the complete employment contract. It does not normally show all contractual details such as salary, allowances, notice period and working hours.

Read the PinoyTalks Complete Iqama Guide for a full explanation of the difference between an Iqama, work permit and Qiwa contract.

Actual work

Actual work means the duties the employee regularly performs.

Examples include:

installing glass and aluminum;
operating machinery;
preparing accounts;
supervising logistics;
providing nursing care;
driving company vehicles;
selling products; or
performing administrative work.

The actual duties should be reasonably aligned with the legally registered occupation.

Does Every Difference Mean a Violation?

No.

A difference should first be examined based on substance rather than wording alone.

Example of a possible wording difference

Qiwa job title: Warehouse Coordinator
Registered occupation: Logistics Clerk
Actual duties: Coordinating inventory and deliveries

These titles may describe closely related work. The employer should still verify that the official occupation is appropriate, but the difference does not automatically establish a violation.

Example of a more serious mismatch

Qiwa job title: General Laborer
Registered profession: General Laborer
Actual duties: Preparing and signing accounting reports

This is a substantially different professional function and may require an authorized occupation change, professional qualification verification or other regulatory compliance.

Another example

Registered profession: Driver
Actual work: Full-time electrician
Qiwa contract: Electrical Technician

Even though the Qiwa contract identifies the actual work, the employer should check why the work-permit or resident occupation remains registered as a driver.

The most important compliance issue under Article 38 is whether the worker is being employed in a profession different from the profession authorized through the work permit.

What Does Article 38 of the Saudi Labor Law Say?

Article 38 provides that:

an employer may not employ a worker in a profession other than the profession listed in the work permit; and
a worker may not work in another profession before the required legal procedure for changing the profession is completed.

This rule applies to both sides of the employment relationship.

The employer should not assign unrelated professional duties without correcting the occupation, while the worker should not knowingly perform a different profession outside the proper legal procedure.

This does not mean that a worker should suddenly abandon the workplace after noticing a difference.

A safer response is to:

document the discrepancy;
ask the employer to clarify it;
request the appropriate correction;
continue following lawful employment procedures; and
seek official assistance if the employer refuses to address a material mismatch.

Why Profession Mismatches Happen

A mismatch may arise for several reasons.

Incorrect information during recruitment

The visa or initial employee record may have been created under a general occupation that does not accurately describe the position offered to the worker.

Employer data-entry error

The company may have selected the wrong occupation when creating the employee’s record or contract.

Promotion or role change

A worker may be promoted from technician to supervisor, or moved from sales to administration, without the employer updating the official occupation.

Qiwa specifically advises employers to update the occupation when an employee’s position changes, the employee is promoted or the original role was entered incorrectly.

Transfer to a new employer

A transferred worker may continue carrying an occupation linked to the previous job even though the new employer assigned different duties.

Saudi occupational-classification updates

Saudi Arabia uses a standardized occupational classification. Some broad or older professions may need to be corrected so that they align with the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations.

The current work-permit classification system groups occupations into nine principal occupational groups and classifies expatriate work permits as high-skilled, skilled or basic based on applicable criteria.

Internal company title versus official occupation

A company may use a title such as Team Leader, Senior Associate or Coordinator, while the official occupational system uses another standardized title.

This is why the actual duties and official occupational classification should be reviewed together.

Why the Correct Profession Matters

An accurate profession helps ensure that:

the work-permit occupation reflects the employee’s actual duties;
the employment contract contains the correct job information;
professional qualification requirements are followed;
the establishment complies with Saudi occupational-classification rules;
occupations restricted to Saudi nationals are not assigned improperly; and
future employment transactions use accurate records.

Qiwa does not allow an expatriate employee’s occupation to be changed to a profession reserved for Saudi nationals. HRSD also requires certain professional approvals or certifications for regulated occupations.

An inaccurate profession may also create confusion when the employee later needs to prove their professional experience, apply for a transfer or obtain an experience certificate.

However, avoid claiming that every minor wording difference will automatically block travel, banking, final exit or employer transfer. The actual effect depends on the transaction, occupation and live government record.

Profession Mismatch Versus Salary or Contract Mismatch

A profession mismatch should not be confused with other contract problems.

A worker may have:

the correct profession but the wrong salary;
the correct Iqama profession but the wrong Qiwa job title;
the correct Qiwa contract but an outdated work-permit occupation;
the correct occupation but incorrect working hours;
a different job title in the Philippine agency contract; or
an actual job that differs from all official records.

Each problem may require a different correction.

For differences between a Philippine agency contract and the Saudi Qiwa contract, read:

Which Contract Is Valid in Saudi Arabia: Qiwa or Agency Contract?

Change of Occupation Versus Correction of Occupation

Qiwa distinguishes between changing and correcting an employee’s occupation.

Changing an occupation

A profession change is generally used when the worker’s actual position has changed or when the employer needs to move the worker to another eligible occupation.

Examples may include:

technician to supervisor;
sales representative to warehouse coordinator;
mechanic to equipment technician; or
another genuine change in duties.

The employer submits the request through Qiwa, and the worker receives it in their Qiwa individual account. The worker may accept the new occupation, request an amendment or reject it. Qiwa states that the employee should respond within 10 days. After employee approval, the establishment completes the process and pays the required government fees through Absher or Muqeem.

Correcting an occupation

Occupation correction is intended to align certain existing or broad occupations with the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations.

Correction differs from a normal change because:

available choices may be limited to predefined occupations;
the request is reviewed by the National Information Center;
the correction service is free;
it can generally be used only once per employee; and
it applies only to qualifying occupation categories.

If another profession change is needed later, the employer must use the change request rather than another correction request.

Who Can Submit the Request?

The employee cannot independently edit their official occupation.

Qiwa states that only the establishment’s:

Group Manager; or
authorized Establishment Delegator

can initiate a change or correction request through the Occupation Management service.

The worker’s role is to review and respond to an occupation-change request when employee approval is required.

Do not give your Qiwa, Absher or Nafath password to another person. An employer does not need your private password to submit the request from its own business account.

Step-by-Step: How an Employer Changes an Employee’s Occupation

According to Qiwa’s current official guide, the employer or authorized representative follows these steps:

Sign in to the Qiwa business account.
Open Services.
Select Occupation Management.
Choose Manage occupation requests.
Select Change occupations.
Select the employee using the name or Iqama number.
Choose the proposed new occupation.
Review the request.
Accept the applicable terms and conditions.
Submit the request.

The request is then sent to the employee’s Qiwa individual account.

The worker can:

accept the occupation;
request an amendment; or
reject the request.

After the worker approves it, the establishment completes the transaction and pays the associated government fees through the applicable Absher or Muqeem channel.

Step-by-Step: How an Employer Corrects an Occupation

For an eligible occupation correction, the employer follows this general process:

Sign in to the Qiwa business account.
Open Services.
Select Occupation Management.
Choose Manage occupation requests.
Select Correct occupations.
Find the employee.
Choose from the predefined correction options.
Review and submit the request.

The request is then reviewed by the National Information Center.

The employer can monitor the request through the list of occupation-change requests in Qiwa.

Requirements for Changing a Profession

Qiwa lists several employee requirements for an occupation change.

The employee must generally:

have a valid work permit;
have no pending occupation-change request;
have no pending employee-transfer request;
not have a final-exit visa; and
hold the required professional certification for regulated occupations.

Qiwa currently identifies additional professional-certification requirements for certain engineering, veterinary and accounting occupations.

The establishment must also meet the applicable requirements, which include being operational, legally registered and eligible to use the service.

HRSD’s current profession-change service conditions further state that:

the establishment’s licenses must be valid;
the establishment must have an active status;
the establishment must meet the applicable Nitaqat requirement;
the occupation cannot be restricted to Saudi nationals;
the worker must not be awaiting a transfer;
no other occupation-change request can be in progress; and
no final-exit visa can have been issued to the employee.

The live Qiwa system makes the final eligibility check.

Can a Profession Be Changed to Any Job?

No.

The occupation must:

be available through the official system;
comply with the establishment’s activity;
meet Saudi occupational-classification requirements;
not be restricted to Saudi nationals;
satisfy professional-accreditation requirements; and
be approved through the connected government systems.

A company cannot legally solve a mismatch simply by selecting any convenient occupation.

Some occupations are subject to Saudization or professional licensing. For example, HRSD continues to update the professions covered by localization decisions, including administrative-support occupations.

Who Pays the Profession-Change Fee?

For a normal occupation change, Qiwa itself does not charge a platform fee, but government transaction fees may be required after the worker accepts the request.

Article 40 of the Saudi Labor Law states that the employer bears the fees associated with changing the profession of a covered non-Saudi employee.

Read the PinoyTalks Article 40 Guide for a broader explanation of the employment expenses generally borne by the employer.

Occupation correction under the Saudi occupational-classification process is currently described by Qiwa as free, although it is generally limited to one qualifying correction per employee.

What Should the Worker Check Before Accepting?

Do not approve a profession-change request merely because HR or a manager tells you to accept it immediately.

Review:

The exact new occupation

Make sure the occupation is not completely unrelated to your real duties.

Your actual responsibilities

Ask whether your duties will also change.

Your Qiwa contract

The job title in the contract may need to be updated so that the contractual and occupational records are consistent.

Qiwa states that employers should update the contract when the position changes, the employee is promoted or an incorrect role was originally entered.

Salary and allowances

A change in occupation does not automatically prove that a salary increase was agreed.

Any salary or benefit change should be clearly documented.

Professional certification

Confirm whether the new occupation requires registration, accreditation or a professional certificate.

Saudization restrictions

Make sure the occupation is available to non-Saudi employees.

Effect on the employment arrangement

Ask whether the request is:

correcting an error;
documenting a promotion;
connected with a transfer;
connected with work-permit classification; or
changing the worker’s real duties.

If the request is inaccurate, use the Qiwa option to request an amendment or reject it rather than accepting false information.

What If the Qiwa Contract Is Wrong but the Iqama Is Correct?

When the registered occupation is correct but the Qiwa contract has the wrong job title:

Take a screenshot or download the contract.
Compare it with the work permit, job offer and actual duties.
Ask the employer to correct the contractual job title.
Do not approve a new or modified contract containing information you know is incorrect.
Use Request modification or Reject while the contract is still pending.

Qiwa allows an employee to request a modification to a pending contract by opening Employment Contracts, selecting the pending contract and submitting the reason for the requested change.

For additional guidance, read the PinoyTalks Qiwa Contract Guide.

What If the Iqama or Work-Permit Profession Is Wrong but Qiwa Is Correct?

When your Qiwa contract accurately describes your job but the work-permit or resident profession is unrelated:

Save a copy of the Qiwa contract.
Check the profession shown in your current resident and employment records.
Ask HR why the information has not been updated.
Request an occupation change or correction through Qiwa.
Review the request before accepting.
Verify the updated record after completion.

Do not assume that accepting a correct Qiwa contract automatically changes every connected government record.

Occupation Management is a separate service that the employer must initiate.

What If Your Actual Work Is Different From Both Records?

This is the clearest situation requiring attention.

Prepare evidence showing:

the Qiwa job title;
Iqama or work-permit profession;
actual assigned duties;
work schedules;
written instructions;
company messages;
job offer;
payslips; and
any professional certificates.

Send HR a factual written request.

Sample request

My Qiwa contract lists my position as [Qiwa title], while my registered profession is [registered occupation]. My regular assigned duties involve [brief description]. Please review whether my occupation and employment contract need to be changed or corrected through Qiwa so that the records accurately reflect my work.

Avoid accusing the employer of a crime before the facts and records are reviewed.

What If the Employer Refuses to Correct the Profession?

Start with an internal written request.

Ask the employer to confirm:

which occupation is registered in the work permit;
which occupation appears in Qiwa;
whether the difference is only a standardized classification;
whether an occupation-change request will be submitted; and
what prevents the change if the system rejects it.

Keep copies of all responses.

If the employer continues assigning work that appears completely unrelated to the registered profession, the worker may contact:

Qiwa support through its official support channels;
HRSD through 19911; or
the applicable official labor-dispute channel if a genuine employment dispute develops.

The National Platform identifies HRSD’s 19911 contact number for profession-change service inquiries.

Workers may also post a privacy-safe question in the PinoyTalks Ask the Community.

Do not publish your full Iqama number, passport details, contract QR code, OTP or private company records.

Common Mistakes OFWs Should Avoid

Assuming every wording difference is illegal

Compare the actual duties and standardized occupation before reaching a conclusion.

Ignoring a completely unrelated profession

A material mismatch should be documented and reported to the employer.

Accepting without reading

The worker can accept, request an amendment or reject an occupation-change request.

Giving HR your personal password

The employer submits the request from the company’s Qiwa business account.

Paying an unofficial fixer

Use the official Qiwa, Absher and Muqeem process only.

Accepting a Saudi-only occupation

Qiwa does not permit a non-Saudi worker to change to an occupation restricted to Saudi nationals.

Confusing correction with change

Correction aligns qualifying old or broad professions with the standardized classification. Change is used for an actual move to another eligible occupation.

Assuming a Qiwa update changes everything immediately

Wait until the transaction is completed and verify the connected records.

Leaving work immediately

Discovering a mismatch does not automatically authorize the worker to abandon the workplace. Document the issue and use the proper employment and government procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Qiwa title and Iqama profession use different words. Is that illegal?

Not necessarily.

The titles may be closely related or one may be an internal job title while the other is a standardized occupation. Compare the actual duties and ask the employer to confirm the classification.

What if the occupations are completely different?

Request a formal review and ask the employer to change or correct the occupation through Qiwa.

Can I personally change my Iqama profession?

No. The employer or authorized establishment representative normally initiates the request.

Do I need to accept a profession change?

A normal occupation-change request is sent to the worker’s Qiwa account for review. The worker may accept it, request an amendment or reject it.

How long do I have to respond?

Qiwa’s current guide states that the worker should approve the occupation-change request within 10 days.

Does profession correction require payment?

Qiwa currently describes qualifying occupation correction as free and generally available only once per employee.

Who pays for a normal profession change?

Article 40 states that the employer bears the profession-change fee for covered non-Saudi workers.

Can my profession be changed while I have a final-exit visa?

Qiwa lists the absence of a final-exit visa as an eligibility requirement for occupation changes.

Can my occupation be changed while a transfer request is pending?

Qiwa lists the absence of a pending transfer request as an eligibility condition.

Can the employer change my profession without telling me?

A normal Qiwa occupation-change request requires the worker to review and respond through the individual account. Correction requests follow a different process and are reviewed by the National Information Center.

Does changing my profession automatically increase my salary?

No.

Any salary change should be separately agreed and documented in the employment contract.

What if my agency contract has another profession?

Compare the agency contract, Qiwa contract, registered profession and actual duties. Ask the employer to explain and correct any material inconsistency.

Official Saudi Sources

Final Reminder for Saudi OFWs

Kabayan, a small difference in wording does not always mean that your employer has violated the law.

But if your Qiwa contract, registered profession and actual work describe completely different occupations, do not ignore the situation.

Check all your records, ask for written clarification and request the proper occupation change or correction through Qiwa.

Remember:

actual duties should be aligned with the authorized occupation;
the employer initiates the official request;
workers should review requests before accepting;
regulated professions may require certification;
Saudi-only occupations cannot be assigned to expatriate workers;
profession-change fees are generally borne by the employer; and
the live Qiwa and government records determine whether the transaction is eligible.

Accurate records protect both the worker and the employer and reduce confusion during contract, work-permit and future employment transactions.

Disclaimer: PinoyTalks is an independent educational and community platform and is not affiliated with Qiwa, HRSD, Absher, Jawazat or any Saudi government authority. This article provides general information based on publicly available official sources. It does not constitute legal representation or guarantee that a particular occupation-change request will be approved. Eligibility depends on the employee’s records, establishment status, occupation, professional requirements and the conditions shown in the official Saudi systems.

Last Reviewed: August 4, 2026

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