Saudi Iqama Check, Renewal and Expiry: Guide for Workers

Last updated: September 2026

Your iqama is your legal residence permit in Saudi Arabia, and you can check its expiry date for free on Absher or the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website. For private-sector workers, the employer must renew the iqama and pay all renewal fees and any late fines. If your iqama expires, you can face fines, problems at work and, after repeated delays, deportation.

Quick summary:

• Check your iqama expiry on Absher or the MOI public e-services page using your iqama number.
• Saudi Labour Law (Article 40) says the employer pays iqama and work permit fees, and the fines for late renewal.
• Jawazat fines for late renewal: SAR 500 the first time, SAR 1,000 the second time, and deportation the third time.
• Employers use the Muqeem portal (companies) or Musaned (domestic workers) to renew.
• If your iqama or work permit expires, you may be able to move to a new employer without your current employer’s consent.

What Is an Iqama?

An iqama (also called Muqeem ID or Resident Identity Card) is the ID card for foreigners who live in Saudi Arabia. It shows your name, iqama number, job title, sponsor and expiry date. You need a valid iqama to open a bank account, get a SIM card, rent a house, travel out and back, and pass police checks.

Today many residents use the digital iqama in the Absher app. Saudi authorities have said a digital copy is accepted, so you do not always need to carry the printed card.

Your iqama is linked to two other records:

• Work permit – issued through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) systems, such as Qiwa for company workers.
• Employment contract – recorded on Qiwa for private companies, or on Musaned for domestic workers.

How to Check Iqama Validity Online

Method 1: Absher (with login)

1. Open the Absher Individuals app or go to absher.sa.
2. Log in with your iqama number and password, then enter the OTP code sent to your registered mobile.
3. Your digital iqama card on the home screen shows the expiry date. You can also look under the passport or resident services section for full details.
4. Note the date in both Hijri and Gregorian calendars.

Method 2: MOI e-services (without login)

1. Go to the Ministry of Interior website, moi.gov.sa.
2. Open the e-services section and find the public inquiry for resident ID (iqama) expiry.
3. Enter your iqama number and the security code shown on screen.
4. The expiry date appears on the screen.

Menu names on these websites change from time to time. If you cannot find the option, ask your company’s HR or government relations officer to check on Muqeem.

Who Renews the Iqama and Who Pays?

You cannot renew your own work iqama. Your employer (sponsor) renews it online. Companies usually use the Muqeem portal or Absher Business. Households with domestic workers use Musaned together with Absher.

Article 40 of the Saudi Labour Law is very clear. The employer must pay:

• Recruitment fees
• Fees to issue and renew the iqama and work permit
• Fines caused by late renewal
• Fees for change of profession and exit re-entry visas
• The return ticket home at the end of the contract

This means the government levy and iqama fees are the employer’s cost. An employer should not cut these amounts from your salary. If this happens, keep payslips and bank records and report it to HRSD.

Penalties for Late Iqama Renewal

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) says residents should renew at least three days before expiry. It has announced step-by-step penalties for failing to renew on time:

Offence	Penalty	Who pays (private sector)
First late renewal	SAR 500 fine	Employer (Labour Law Article 40)
Second late renewal	SAR 1,000 fine	Employer
Third late renewal	Deportation of the resident	Worker is affected directly

Even when the employer pays the fine, an expired iqama hurts the worker. You may face trouble at police checkpoints, your bank account may be restricted, and you cannot travel on exit re-entry.

What to Do If Your Employer Won’t Renew Your Iqama

Some employers delay renewal to save money or to put pressure on workers. Do not stay silent. Follow these steps:

1. Check the dates. Confirm your iqama and work permit expiry on Absher and Qiwa. Take screenshots.
2. Ask in writing. Send a polite message or email to HR asking for renewal. Keep a copy.
3. Keep your records. Save your contract, salary slips and bank statements.
4. File a complaint. Use the Labour Cases (friendly settlement) service on the HRSD electronic services portal, or call the HRSD helpline 19911. The service is free and available in Arabic, English and Urdu. Complaints must be filed within 12 months.
5. Look at transfer. Under the Labour Reform Initiative, a worker can transfer to a new employer without the current employer’s consent in some cases. These include when the work permit or iqama has expired, when wages are unpaid for three months in a row, or when there is no documented contract within three months of arrival.
6. Contact your embassy. The Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan or Philippines embassy labour desk can guide you and sometimes help with the employer.

If the dispute is not settled in 21 working days, HRSD refers it to the labour court.

Huroob (Absent from Work) Risk

“Huroob” is the common name for an absconding or “absent from work” report. It is very serious. It can block your transfer, lead to a travel ban on return and, in many cases, detention and deportation.

In July 2025, HRSD changed how this works on Qiwa:

• When an employer ends the link with a worker, the worker is first marked as “disconnected from work.”
• The worker then has 60 days to transfer to a new employer, sign a new contract with the same company, or leave the Kingdom on final exit.
• An employer can only file this type of report if the worker has no active contract and the iqama still has at least 60 days of validity.
• If nothing happens in 60 days, the system automatically changes the status to “absent from work.”

Tip: Check your status on Qiwa and Absher often, especially during a dispute. If you see a change, act quickly within the 60 days.

Domestic Workers and Musaned

House drivers, maids, cooks and other domestic workers are managed on Musaned, not Qiwa. Your household employer renews your iqama through Musaned and Absher, and the domestic worker rules also place these costs on the employer.

In February 2026, HRSD added a work-interruption service on Musaned. If a domestic worker is reported absent:

• A worker with less than two years of service must complete final exit within 60 days.
• A worker with more than two years can either leave on final exit or transfer to a new employer within 60 days.

Domestic workers cannot use the normal friendly settlement service. Instead, they should go to the committee for domestic worker disputes at their local labour office, or call 19911.

Grow Your Career in the Gulf

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FAQ

Can I check my iqama expiry without Absher login?

Yes. The MOI e-services website has a public inquiry where you only enter your iqama number and a security code.

Do I have to pay my iqama renewal fees?

No, not if you work in the private sector. Labour Law Article 40 says the employer pays iqama and work permit fees and late fines.

What is the fine for an expired iqama?

Jawazat’s fines are SAR 500 for the first delay and SAR 1,000 for the second. A third delay can lead to deportation.

Can I change jobs if my iqama has expired?

Often yes. An expired iqama or work permit is one of the cases where a worker may transfer without the current employer’s consent, through Qiwa.

What is Muqeem?

Muqeem is a government portal used by companies to manage foreign workers’ iqamas and visas, such as renewals and exit re-entry visas.

How do I avoid a huroob report?

Keep your contract active on Qiwa, do not leave work without following the rules, and check your status often. If you are marked disconnected from work, transfer or exit within 60 days.

Sources

• HRSD – Fees and costs borne by the employer (Article 40)
• Saudi Gazette – Fines and deportation for failure to renew resident IDs
• Saudi Gazette – Conditions to transfer without employer’s consent
• HRSD – Friendly Settlement for Labor Disputes
• Gulf News – 60 days before absent-from-work status (July 2025)
• Arab News – New Musaned service for absent domestic workers (Feb 2026)

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so always confirm with Jawazat, HRSD or your embassy.