The Pakistan government has made soft skills certification mandatory for individuals seeking employment in European and Gulf countries, effective from January 2026.
According to the announcement by the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment, the individuals seeking jobs overseas in Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, must have to get the soft skills certificate.
The directive covers both jobseekers going abroad through licensed overseas employment promoters and those applying independently.
All such individuals must obtain the prescribed soft skills certificate before registering with the Protectorate of Immigration.
Step-by-Step process to obtain mandatory soft skills certification
To obtain the mandatory soft skills certification, applicants must register on the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment portal.
Step 1: Visit the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment portal at https://softskills.oec.gov.pk/
Step 2: Create an account by entering your CNIC and contact details.
Step 3: Verify your account using the four-digit code sent to your registered mobile number.
Step 4: Upload a recent photograph.
Step 5: Enter your personal information, including permanent address (as per domicile), mailing address, contact number, email address, and emergency contact details.
Step 6: Provide your education details and upload educational certificates and marksheets in JPEG, JPG, or PNG format.
Step 7: Add your occupation details and relevant work experience.
Step 8: Complete the registration process. A soft skills training course will then appear on your dashboard.
Step 9: Click on Start Learning and select one of the three career paths:
- Employment through OEC (government-approved overseas employment programme)
- Employment through OEP (private employment promoters and agencies)
- Direct emigration (applying directly to international employers)
Step 10: Choose your preferred language for training (English or Urdu) and complete the soft skills course.
Step 11: After successfully completing the training, you will become eligible for the OEC soft skills certificate.
Step 12: Download your certificate directly from the portal once the download option becomes available.
