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Your Iqama (residence permit) is the single most important document you hold as an expat in Saudi Arabia. It must be renewed annually, and letting it expire carries serious consequences including fines, inability to travel, and potential deportation. This guide walks you through the entire renewal process, whether your employer handles it via Muqeem or you need to assist through Absher.
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Understanding who is responsible for your Iqama renewal is the first step. In Saudi Arabia, the renewal process depends on your employment category and your relationship with your sponsor (kafeel).
If you work for a private company, your employer is fully responsible for renewing your Iqama. They do this through the Muqeem platform(the Ministry of Interior's online system for managing expat affairs). Your company's government relations officer (known as a mandoob or PRO) typically handles this. You should not need to visit any government office yourself.
If you are a domestic worker (driver, housekeeper, nanny, cook, gardener), your individual sponsor handles the renewal through Absher. The process is simpler and can be done entirely online by your sponsor from their Absher account.
Government employees have their Iqama managed through their employing ministry or agency. The process is similar to the private sector but goes through government-specific channels. Your HR department handles everything.
Important: Under Saudi labor law, the employer bears all costs related to Iqama issuance and renewal. If your employer asks you to pay, this is a labor law violation. However, some employment contracts (particularly for higher-paid professionals) include clauses where the employee agrees to cover dependent fees. Read your contract carefully.
The Iqama is typically valid for one year (Hijri year, which is approximately 354 days). Some employers renew for two years at a time, paying double the fee upfront. Knowing when to start the renewal process is critical.
The Muqeem system allows renewal up to 90 days before the Iqama expiry date. Best practice is to start at least 7 to 14 days before expiry to allow time for resolving any issues (insurance gaps, outstanding violations, payment processing). Many well-organized companies begin the process 30 days in advance.
There is no official grace period in Saudi Arabian residency law. The moment your Iqama expires, you are in violation. However, the system works as follows in practice:
Do not rely on a grace period. While some online sources mention a 3-day grace period, this is not codified in law and should not be counted on. Fines are system-generated and automatic. Start reminding your employer well in advance if you notice your expiry date approaching.
You can check your Iqama expiry date through several methods:
Remember that the expiry date is in Hijri (Islamic) calendar. A Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year, so your renewal date shifts earlier each year relative to the Western calendar. Use a Hijri-Gregorian converter to track the equivalent date.
The Iqama renewal is now largely a digital process, so you do not need to submit physical documents at a government office. However, several prerequisites must be in place before the system allows renewal:
For more details on the Iqama itself and what information it contains, see our Saudi residence permit guide.
Muqeem is the primary platform for Iqama renewal. It is used by employers and their authorized representatives. As an employee, you do not access Muqeem directly, but understanding the process helps you follow up with your employer.
Log in to Muqeem
The employer or mandoob logs into muqeem.sa using their authorized credentials. Multi-factor authentication is required.
Navigate to Iqama Services
Select "Iqama Services" from the main menu, then choose "Renew Iqama" from the dropdown options.
Select the Employee
Search for the employee by Iqama number, border number, or name. The system displays current status and expiry date.
System Verification
Muqeem automatically checks: valid medical insurance, no outstanding violations, passport validity, active work permit, and employer CR status. If any check fails, the system blocks renewal and displays the specific issue.
Choose Renewal Duration
Select 1 year or 2 years. The fee is calculated accordingly (650 SAR per year for the main Iqama holder).
SADAD Payment
A SADAD bill is generated. The employer pays through their bank's SADAD system (online banking or at the bank). Payment must be made within 14 days or the request expires.
Confirmation & New Expiry Date
Once payment is confirmed (usually within hours), the Iqama is renewed and the new expiry date is updated across all government systems. No physical card is issued. The updated details appear in Absher and Tawakkalna.
The entire online process takes less than 10 minutes if all prerequisites are met. Processing after payment is typically same-day, often within 1-4 hours.
Absher is used primarily by individual sponsors (kafeel) to renew the Iqama of domestic workers. This includes household employees such as drivers, housekeepers, nannies, cooks, and gardeners. If you are a domestic worker, your sponsor follows these steps. For company employees, Muqeem is used instead.
Log in to Absher
The sponsor logs into absher.sa or the Absher mobile app using their national ID and password. OTP verification is required.
Go to e-Services
Navigate to "e-Services" then "Passport Services" (Jawazat) then "Iqama Renewal."
Select the Worker
The system shows all workers under the sponsor's sponsorship. Select the one whose Iqama needs renewal.
Verify Prerequisites
The system checks insurance validity, outstanding violations, and passport expiry. Any blockers are displayed with instructions to resolve them.
Choose Duration and Confirm
Select 1 or 2 years, review the fee summary, and confirm. A SADAD bill number is generated.
Pay via SADAD
The sponsor pays the SADAD bill through their bank's online banking, mobile app, or ATM. Payment using the Absher linked bank account is also available for some banks.
Renewal Complete
After payment confirmation, the new Iqama expiry date is updated immediately. The worker can verify through Absher Individuals or Tawakkalna.
If you do not yet have an Absher account, see our Absher registration guide for step-by-step instructions on creating one.
Iqama renewal fees are set by the Saudi government and are non-negotiable. Below is the complete breakdown of costs for 2026:
| Category | Fee (per year) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main Iqama holder (worker) | 650 SAR | Per Hijri year. Employer's responsibility. |
| Dependent (spouse) | 500 SAR | Per dependent per year. |
| Dependent (child) | 500 SAR | Per child per year. No age exemption. |
| Dependent levy (expatriate levy) | 400 SAR/month | 4,800 SAR/year per dependent. Paid monthly via SADAD. |
| Late renewal penalty (first offense) | 500 SAR | Charged to employer for expired Iqama. |
| Late renewal penalty (second offense) | 1,000 SAR | Charged to employer. Third offense triggers deportation. |
A worker with a spouse and two children would pay annually:
Dependent levy clarification: The dependent levy (400 SAR/month per dependent) is separate from the Iqama renewal fee. It is an ongoing monthly charge for each dependent on your sponsorship. This levy is paid by the worker (not the employer) in most cases, and it is billed monthly through SADAD. Failure to pay blocks Iqama renewal and exit/re-entry visa issuance.
An expired Iqama creates immediate problems that affect almost every aspect of your daily life in Saudi Arabia. Here is what happens and what you should do:
Step 1: Contact your employer immediately. In writing (email or WhatsApp with screenshots) so you have a record. Request urgent renewal.
Step 2: Identify the blocker. Ask your employer what is preventing renewal: insurance gap? Unpaid fines? Expired CR? Work with them to resolve it.
Step 3: If your employer is unresponsive or refusing, file a complaint with HRSD at musaned.com.sa or call 19911. You can also visit the nearest labor office.
Step 4: Keep a copy of your expired Iqama (digital in Tawakkalna), passport, and employment contract with you at all times in case of any inspection.
Employer refusing to renew: If your employer deliberately refuses to renew your Iqama as a way to pressure you or force you to leave, this is a labor law violation. Document everything and file a complaint immediately. You may be eligible for a transfer of sponsorship to a new employer under the labor mobility reforms.
Iqama renewal is usually straightforward, but the system can block renewal for various reasons. Here are the most common issues and how to resolve them:
Cause: Your medical insurance has expired or the CCHI system has not updated your new policy.
Solution:Contact your employer's HR to verify insurance status on the CCHI portal (chi.gov.sa). If insurance was recently renewed, it can take 24-48 hours for the system to sync. Your employer may need to contact the insurance company to confirm the policy is active in the CCHI database.
Cause: Unpaid traffic fines, Saher violations, or penalties from other government agencies linked to your Iqama number.
Solution:Check for fines through Absher under "Traffic Violations" or through the MOI portal. Pay all outstanding amounts via SADAD. Allow 24-48 hours after payment for the system to clear the block. If you believe a fine is incorrect, you can dispute it through Absher before paying.
Cause: Your passport expires before the end of the new Iqama period.
Solution: Renew your passport at your country's embassy or consulate in Saudi Arabia first. Once you have the new passport, your employer must update it in Muqeem by submitting a "passport transfer" request. After the new passport is linked, Iqama renewal can proceed. For details on your Iqama number and how it works, see our Iqama number guide.
Cause:Your employer has not met the required Saudi employee percentage and is in the "red zone" of Nitaqat compliance.
Solution:Companies in the red zone cannot renew Iqamas until they improve their Saudization ratio. This is your employer's responsibility to fix. If they cannot resolve it quickly, you may need to consider a transfer of sponsorship to another employer. This is one of the legitimate grounds for worker mobility under the 2021 labor reforms.
Cause: The system shows you are currently outside Saudi Arabia (even if you are inside the country).
Solution: This usually happens if your re-entry was not properly recorded at the border. Visit the nearest Jawazat office with your passport (showing entry stamps) to have the record corrected. Your employer may need to accompany you or send their mandoob.
Cause: Payment was made but the system has not updated yet, or the payment was made to the wrong bill number.
Solution: SADAD payments typically reflect within 1-4 hours but can take up to 24 hours during weekends and holidays. Verify the bill number matches exactly. If it has been more than 24 hours, contact the bank to confirm successful payment and get a reference number, then raise the issue through Muqeem support.
If you have family members (spouse, children) on your sponsorship in Saudi Arabia, their Iqamas must also be renewed annually. Dependent Iqama renewal follows a slightly different process and has additional costs.
Dependent Iqamas are renewed by the main Iqama holder (the sponsor) through Absher. Unlike your own Iqama which your employer handles, you are responsible for initiating your dependents' renewals yourself.
Log in to Absher Individuals with your Iqama credentials
Go to "e-Services" then "Dependents" then "Renew Dependent Iqama"
Select the dependent(s) you wish to renew. You can renew multiple dependents in one transaction.
The system calculates the total fee (500 SAR per dependent per year) and generates a SADAD bill.
Pay through SADAD and wait for confirmation. New expiry dates update within hours.
Since 2017, Saudi Arabia charges a monthly dependent levy for each non-Saudi dependent. As of 2026, this is 400 SAR per month per dependent (4,800 SAR per year). This is separate from the 500 SAR Iqama renewal fee and is billed monthly through SADAD. If the levy is not paid, Iqama renewal and exit/re-entry visas are blocked.
Tip: Renew all dependent Iqamas at the same time to keep expiry dates aligned. If expiry dates get out of sync, it becomes harder to track and you risk one expiring while others are still valid. Also ensure dependent Iqamas expire before or on the same date as your own Iqama, since your own must always be valid to manage theirs.
The Iqama renewal fee for 2026 is 650 SAR per year for the main worker. Each dependent (spouse, children) costs an additional 500 SAR per year. These fees are paid through the employer's SADAD account via the Muqeem platform. If your employer asks you to pay, note that under Saudi labor law, the employer is responsible for all Iqama-related fees. However, in practice, some employers deduct these from salary by mutual agreement stated in the contract.
No, individual workers cannot renew their own Iqama directly. The renewal must be initiated by the employer or their authorized representative (mandoob) through the Muqeem platform. However, domestic workers' sponsors can renew through Absher. If your employer is delaying or refusing to renew your Iqama, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) through the Musaned platform or by calling 19911.
There is no official grace period for Iqama expiry. Once your Iqama expires, you are technically in violation of residency regulations from day one. However, in practice, authorities typically allow a short window before penalties are applied. Fines start accumulating immediately after expiry: 500 SAR for the first time, 1,000 SAR for the second time, and deportation with a re-entry ban for the third violation. Do not rely on any informal grace period. Begin the renewal process at least 3 days before expiry.
No. You cannot exit Saudi Arabia through any border point (airport, land crossing, or seaport) with an expired Iqama. Airlines will not issue a boarding pass, and immigration will not stamp your exit. If your Iqama has expired, your employer must first renew it and pay any applicable fines before you can travel. The only exception is if you have a final exit visa, which allows departure regardless of Iqama status.
Online Iqama renewal through Muqeem is typically processed within 24 hours once all conditions are met (valid insurance, no outstanding violations, SADAD payment confirmed). In many cases, the system updates within a few hours. You can check the status by querying your Iqama number on Absher or Muqeem. The new expiry date appears digitally, and you do not need to visit any office to collect a physical card since Saudi Arabia moved to digital Iqama verification in 2020.
Your Iqama is the foundation of your legal residency. Explore these related guides to understand your rights, services, and obligations.
