Are you a nurse looking to leave your home country to practice your nursing profession elsewhere but do not certainly know where it is elsewhere?
Or are you a nurse who is already certain about taking your career as a nurse beyond the shores of your home country to Saudi Arabia but does not know how to go about it? That’s why we are here, to tell you how you can immigrate to Saudi Arabia as a nurse.
Immigrating to Saudi Arabia as a nurse takes time. This is due to some processes, such as nurse licensing and work permit/visa applications. Saudi Arabia is one of the most popular locations for Kiwi nurses traveling to the Middle East for work every month. Working as a nurse in Saudi Arabia might take up to 6 months to plan and execute. In making plans to immigrate to Saudi Arabia as a nurse, here are four (4) major steps to guide you:
1. Apply for Employment as a Nurse
You need an updated CV and a completed application form to apply for a nurse placement in Saudi Arabia. You must complete an interview via an online platform like WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, etc. If you are successful, you will receive an official job offer letter, after which you can proceed with the necessary paperwork. One of the benefits of working as a nurse in Saudi Arabia is that you can secure employment before you proceed with your nursing registration, work permit, and visa application.
2. Apply for Your Nursing Registration
To practice as a Nurse in Saudi Arabia, you must be registered by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialities (SCHS). This registration board for Saudi Arabia follows four (4) main steps for nurse registration. They include;
- Verifying your qualifications with Dataflow: Dataflow is a company hired by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialities (SCHS) to verify your qualifications. They will need scanned copies of the following documents;
- Bachelor Degree
- Academic Transcript
- Current Nurse License
- Statement of Service
- Passport Copy
This process of verification by Dataflow takes approximately six (6) weeks.
(b) Proceed to Mumaris Plus: Once Dataflow has verified your documents, you will proceed to Mumaris Plus, an online portal for nurse registration, where you will upload all the required information. Saudi Commission for Health Specialities (SCHS) will then assess and determine if you meet their criteria to be a registered Nurse in their country. If you meet the criteria, you will receive an eligibility number. This eligibility number is required to proceed to the next level in your registration process.
(c) Take an examination: Most registration boards will require you to take an exam. The exams have different names depending on the country in which they are taken. For Saudi Arabia, the exam is called the Prometric Exam. The Prometric Exam is multiple choice and based on the different nursing specialties. You have three (3) hours to complete it. You only need 45% to pass and only 3 attempts to complete it.
Once you have passed the Prometric Exam, the results are automatically sent to the Saudi Commission for Health Specialities (SCHS). After approximately two (2) weeks, they will issue you your “Professional Classification.” With this, you can travel to Saudi Arabia, where you complete the final stage through the hospital since they are your work sponsor.
(3) Work Permit and Visa Application
The process of obtaining a work permit and visa takes approximately eight (8) to twelve (12) weeks and is done in conjunction with your nursing registration. In applying for your work permit and visa, you must carry out a police and medical check and get your nursing degree authentication.
Note: The processing timeframe varies; this is just a draft to guide you.
Once you are ready with your Nurse registration, work permit, and visa, you can travel to Saudi Arabia. Every country has its peculiarities and uniqueness; Saudi Arabia is no exception. So, for an immigrant like you who intends to work there, you must arm yourself with relevant knowledge of the things expected of you to have a hitch-free stay upon arrival.
Here are a few things you are expected to do upon arrival to Saudi Arabia to work as a nurse:
1.) Saudi Arabia is a very conservative country, so make sure your shoulders and knees are well covered before stepping on the soil of Saudi Arabia.
2.) Get a SIM card for yourself once you arrive at the airport in Saudi Arabia.
Related Articles:
3.) Get your photo taken; it will be used on your IQAMA (Saudi license).
4.) Take your fingerprints to register for anything in Saudi Arabia.
5.) Download the Tawakkalna App to store your information on your phone.
6.) Go to an Absher station for registration. This can be done after you receive your IQAMA(your official Saudi identification for living and working in Saudi Arabia).
While these things might seem overwhelming, it is advisable to take them one step at a time. With patience, you will surely get through the entire process.
Conclusion
Immigrating from a different country to Saudi Arabia as a nurse can be daunting. So, it is advisable to be properly equipped with the relevant knowledge you will need throughout your journey. Get relevant resource materials that provide general information about the Middle East, their culture, work, and life, particularly as it is in Saudi Arabia since that is the country you are migrating to. This will give you ideas on what is prevalent in Saudi Arabia before you arrive and what to expect when you arrive.
