Saudi Arabia employs many nurses from India in government and private hospitals. Before you can practise, you need a licence from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). The route has four parts: classification and registration with SCFHS, a check of your certificates, the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination (SNLE), and a work contract with a visa.
This guide follows the steps in order. Each fact below was taken from the official page named next to it and checked on 31 Oct 2026. Rules change, so open the official link before you pay or book anything.
Quick summary
| Stage | Who runs it | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|
| Classification and registration | SCFHS, through the Mumaris+ system | Classification comes first. Registration must be done before you start work and needs lawful residence in Saudi Arabia (SCFHS Mumaris FAQ) |
| Certificate check | DataFlow, for SCFHS | Certificates from outside the Kingdom are checked by contacting the issuing body (SCFHS practitioner page) |
| Licence exam | SCFHS, delivered by Prometric | 200 questions, pass score 500 on a scale of 200 to 800 (SNLE applicant guide) |
| Emigration clearance | Government of India | Register on eMigrate, submit documents and pay a fee (MEA FAQ) |
| Work contract and visa | Employer, with Saudi authorities | The employer bears recruitment, residence and work permit fees (HRSD) |
Step 1: Classification with SCFHS
SCFHS says classification is "the first legal step before registering as a healthcare practitioner". You can apply from outside Saudi Arabia. If your qualification is not on SCFHS's recognised list, a qualification study comes before classification (SCFHS Mumaris FAQ).
For a foreign-qualified applicant, the FAQ lists these documents:
- A copy of the qualification, the internship certificate and the academic record.
- Ministry of Education equivalence for certificates issued outside the Kingdom.
- A copy of your licence or professional registration from the medical or nursing board in India. If you have none, a certificate of experience is accepted instead.
- Qualification, experience and registration certificates, authenticated as the FAQ describes.
- Your passport.
Your ID must be valid when you submit it for registration. Keep scans of everything, and keep your originals with you.
Step 2: Check your certificates with DataFlow
SCFHS uses DataFlow to verify certificates. The SCFHS practitioner page says that certificates from outside the Kingdom are checked by contacting the issuing body through DataFlow (SCFHS practitioner page). DataFlow describes itself as SCFHS's verification partner. Its page does not list fees and does not say which documents to upload, so use the online portal and its customer reference kit for the current steps (DataFlow).
Verification can take time, so start early.
Step 3: Pass the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination (SNLE)
The SNLE is the licence exam for nurses. The applicant guide we checked (a 2024 file) gives these rules:
- Eligibility: a recognised primary degree (BSN or equivalent) from an accredited health science programme. The guide also accepts applicants who have started the internship year, and students one year from graduation. The guide does not say whether foreign-qualified nurses can sit, so ask SCFHS before you book.
- Format: 200 multiple-choice questions, with up to 10% unscored pilot items. Four options per question. Two parts of 100 questions, with 120 minutes for each part and a 30-minute break between them.
- Pass score: 500 on a scale of 200 to 800.
- Attempts: you may sit up to four times a year, counting from your first attempt until you pass. You cannot sit twice in the same testing window. If you do, the second attempt counts but gives an invalid result.
- Booking: after your e-application is processed, you get a scheduling permit by email that shows your eligibility period. Booking can open no more than three months ahead. You can test at any SCFHS-approved Prometric centre, in India or elsewhere.
- Results: posted online 2 to 6 weeks after the testing window closes.
The guide does not show the exam fee. Check the current fee on the SCFHS site before you pay. Also check that the guide you read is the latest version, because the SCFHS file names show several dates.
On test day, bring your permit and ID. Your name must match your ID exactly. Arriving more than 30 minutes late counts as an attempt.
Our free practice is a good place to start your preparation before you book a seat.
Step 4: Emigration clearance
Indian nurses who need emigration clearance register on eMigrate, submit the required documents and pay a fee. The Ministry of External Affairs FAQ says this, but it does not give the fee. Find out whether you need clearance, and what it costs, before you accept a contract (MEA FAQ).
The MEA FAQ also says that nursing recruitment for overseas jobs starts with three state agencies: NORKA Roots (Kerala), ODEPC Ltd (Kerala) and Overseas Manpower Corporation Ltd (Tamil Nadu). The FAQ was last updated on 6 February 2023.
Step 5: The job contract and the visa
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) sets out who pays what for a foreign worker. The employer bears:
- The recruitment fees for the non-Saudi worker.
- Residence fees.
- Work permit issuance and renewal.
- Exit and return fees, and the return ticket home when the job ends.
- Profession change fees.
The worker bears return costs only in some cases, such as an unfitness for work or a return without a legitimate reason (HRSD knowledge centre). The HRSD page does not list visa issuance, so ask your employer to confirm in writing who pays the visa.
SCFHS says you must submit an application for professional registration before you start work in the Kingdom (SCFHS Mumaris FAQ).
Typical timeline
These are planning ranges. Only the figures marked "official" come from a government or regulator page.
| Stage | What is known | Planning range |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | Official: applications can be made from abroad. No processing time on the pages we checked | Several weeks to months, depending on certificate checks |
| Certificate verification | No official timeline on the pages we checked | Varies; start early |
| SNLE | Official: booking opens up to 3 months ahead; results 2 to 6 weeks after the window | Plan 3 to 6 months from first document to pass |
| Emigration clearance | Official: register on eMigrate; no timeline on the MEA FAQ | Ask your agency and the eMigrate portal |
| Visa and arrival | Official: registration needs lawful residence in Saudi Arabia | Depends on the employer and the permit |
Scam warning
Scammers often target nurses who want to work in Saudi Arabia. Protect yourself:
- Never pay a job fee. The HRSD page says the employer bears the recruitment fees for a non-Saudi worker. A recruiter who asks you to pay them should be questioned.
- Ask for a registered agency. The MEA FAQ says overseas nursing recruitment starts with three state agencies in India. Check any agent you are offered against that list and against the official sites.
- Check the SCFHS route yourself. Classification, DataFlow checks and the SNLE are all done through SCFHS and Prometric. An agent who promises to "guarantee" a licence is a warning sign.
- Keep your originals. Share copies only through official portals, with your employer, or with the authority that asks for them. Do not hand over your passport or degree certificates to a stranger.
Not sure about an agent or an offer? Run the details through our free fake-agent checker.
Practise free
NurseFlyAbroad is free for nurses, always. Use the free practice to prepare for your exam questions, and read the Saudi Arabia destination page for the rules we check.
FAQ
How many attempts for the SCFHS exam? The SNLE applicant guide allows up to four sittings a year, counting from your first attempt until you pass. You cannot sit twice in the same testing window.
Do I need experience for Saudi Arabia? The SNLE eligibility in the guide we checked does not mention experience. For classification, SCFHS asks for a copy of your registration from your medical board. If you have no registration, it accepts a certificate of experience instead.
Who pays for my Saudi visa? The HRSD page says the employer bears residence fees and work permit fees, and it does not list visa issuance. Ask your employer to confirm in writing who pays the visa before you sign.
Sources (checked 31 Oct 2026)
- SCFHS: Practitioner page, Mumaris FAQ, Professional Certificate Recognition service, SNLE applicant guide (2024 file)
- DataFlow: SCFHS organisation page
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD): Who bears the costs (Article 40)
- Ministry of External Affairs, India: Recruitment FAQ (last updated 6 February 2023)