Iqama Number in Saudi Arabia

The Iqama (إقامة) is Saudi Arabia's residence permit for foreign nationals. It's a green card-sized document issued by Jawazat (the General Directorate of Passports) that serves as your primary identification while living in the Kingdom. Think of it as Saudi Arabia's equivalent of a Social Security card and residence permit combined into one.

Your Iqama number is a 10-digit number that starts with the digit 2 (numbers starting with 1 are Saudi national IDs). This number follows you through every interaction with government services, banking, healthcare, employment, and daily life. You'll be asked for it constantly - when opening a bank account, signing a lease, visiting a hospital, registering a SIM card, or dealing with any government office.

The Iqama is issued after you arrive in Saudi Arabia on a work visa and your employer completes the residence permit process through the Muqeem portal. You don't apply for it yourself - your employer's PRO (Public Relations Officer) handles the paperwork. However, understanding how it works, how to check its status, and what to do when it needs renewal is essential knowledge for every expat.

The Iqama is a laminated card roughly the size of a credit card. All text is printed in both Arabic and English. Here's what each field contains:

There is almost nothing you can do in Saudi Arabia without your Iqama number. Here's where you'll need it:

You don't apply for an Iqama yourself. Your employer (sponsor) is responsible for the entire process. Here's how it works in practice:

After you arrive in Saudi Arabia on your work visa, your employer's PRO submits your residence permit application through the Muqeem portal. They'll need your passport, visa copy, a medical examination report (blood test for infectious diseases, completed at an approved Saudi medical center), and passport-size photos. Some employers handle the medical exam before you arrive; others arrange it in your first few days.

The medical exam is straightforward but non-negotiable. You'll be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis at an approved medical facility. Results typically come back within 2-3 days. If you pass (the vast majority do), your employer proceeds with the Iqama application.

Once submitted, Jawazat processes the application and issues the Iqama. The whole process from arrival to receiving your Iqama card typically takes 2-4 weeks, though it can vary. During this waiting period, your passport stamp and a copy of the application serve as your temporary identification. Your employer should give you a letter confirming that your Iqama is being processed if you need to open a bank account or handle urgent matters during this period.

When the Iqama is ready, your employer collects it from Jawazat and hands it to you. Check the details carefully - your name (transliterated to Arabic), nationality, profession, and sponsor information should all be correct. Errors are easier to fix early than later.

Documents Required

Your employer handles everything, but these are the documents they'll need from you:

• Original passport (valid for at least 6 months)
• Copy of your entry visa
• Passport-size photos (white background, recent)
• Medical examination report from an approved facility
• Employment contract (already signed before arrival)
• Educational certificates (attested by the Saudi embassy in your home country)

Your employer covers the Iqama issuance and renewal costs - these should never come out of your pocket. However, it's useful to know the fees so you understand what's involved and can spot if an employer tries to pass costs to you illegally.

Note: Under Saudi labor law, employers are prohibited from charging employees for Iqama issuance or renewal. If your employer deducts these fees from your salary, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources.

You can check your Iqama status, expiry date, and associated information through several channels. The most convenient is the Absher app (available on iOS and Android), where you can see your Iqama details under "My Services" > "Passport Services." You'll find your Iqama number, expiry date (in both Hijri and Gregorian calendars), profession, and sponsor details.

The Muqeem portal is the employer-side system. Your company's PRO uses it to manage your Iqama, process renewals, and issue exit/re-entry visas. You can ask your PRO to check specific details if needed, but Absher gives you most of the information directly.

You can also verify an Iqama number through the MOI (Ministry of Interior) website by entering the Iqama number and the image verification code. This is useful if you need to verify someone else's Iqama status, which landlords and service providers sometimes do.

Iqama Renewal

Your Iqama must be renewed before it expires, typically on an annual basis (one Hijri year). Your employer is legally responsible for renewal and bears the cost. The renewal fee is 650 SAR per year for most workers. Your employer processes the renewal through Muqeem, and you don't need to visit Jawazat yourself in most cases.

Start reminding your employer at least 2-3 weeks before expiry. While there's technically a grace period, an expired Iqama triggers fines immediately. Set a reminder in your calendar for the Hijri expiry date - since a Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year, the renewal date drifts earlier each year.

Profession on Your Iqama

The profession listed on your Iqama matters more than you might think. It affects which government services you can access, whether you can get a driving license, and even your eligibility for certain loans and services. If your actual job doesn't match what's on your Iqama, your employer can request a profession change through Muqeem. This is common when employees are promoted or change roles. Make sure the listed profession accurately reflects your work.

If you're bringing your family to Saudi Arabia, every dependent - spouse and children - needs their own Iqama. Your employer sponsors these as part of your employment package, though some employers cover the fees while others pass the dependent Iqama costs to employees. Clarify this before signing your contract.

The dependent Iqama costs 500 SAR per person per year. Your spouse gets a dependent Iqama tied to your sponsorship, and each child gets their own card. Children's Iqamas are required for school enrollment, healthcare access, and travel. Children born in Saudi Arabia need to be registered and issued an Iqama within 90 days of birth.

To apply for dependent Iqamas, your employer's PRO submits the application through Muqeem. The requirements include:

• Your dependents' passports (valid for at least 6 months)
• Family visa (issued before they travel to Saudi Arabia)
• Marriage certificate (attested by the Saudi embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Birth certificates for children (similarly attested)
• Medical examination for each dependent
• Proof of adequate housing (some employers provide this)

There are minimum salary thresholds to sponsor dependents. The threshold varies by nationality and profession, but generally you'll need to earn enough to demonstrate you can support your family. Your employer's PRO will know the current requirements for your situation.

One of the things that surprises new expats: having a valid Iqama doesn't automatically mean you can leave Saudi Arabia and come back. To travel internationally and return, you need an exit/re-entry visa issued by your employer through the Muqeem portal.

There are two types:

• Single exit/re-entry - valid for one trip. Once you leave and return, it's used up. Costs 200 SAR and is valid for 2 months from the date of issue (you must depart within that window).
• Multiple exit/re-entry - allows unlimited trips during a set period (usually 3 or 6 months). Costs 500 SAR for 3 months or 1,000 SAR for 6 months. More convenient for frequent travelers.

Your employer issues the exit/re-entry visa through Muqeem. Some companies issue them freely; others require justification or advance notice. Under the recent labor reforms, employees can apply for exit/re-entry visas themselves through Absher if their employer has enabled this, though many haven't.

Premium Residency holders are exempt from this requirement and can travel freely without exit/re-entry visas - one of the major benefits of Premium Residency.

If your Iqama is lost, stolen, or damaged, here's what to do:

1. File a police report - go to the nearest police station and report the loss. You'll receive a report number that's required for the replacement application.
2. Inform your employer's PRO - they will apply for a replacement through Muqeem using the police report number.
3. Pay the replacement fee - replacing a lost Iqama costs 1,000 SAR. This is typically paid by the employee, not the employer.
4. Receive your new card - the replacement is usually issued within a few days. Your Iqama number stays the same - only the physical card is new.

During the replacement period, carry a copy of the police report and your passport. Your employer should also provide a letter confirming your Iqama is being replaced, which serves as temporary identification.

To avoid this situation: keep a photo of both sides of your Iqama on your phone, store a copy in cloud storage, and leave the physical card in a safe place at home when possible. Many places accept the Absher digital version or a photocopy for routine interactions.

When you leave Saudi Arabia permanently (final exit), your employer cancels your Iqama through Muqeem. Once cancelled, your bank accounts are closed, your SIM cards are deactivated, and your access to government services ends. This is why it's critical to settle all financial obligations before your final exit: transfer funds from your bank account, pay off any loans or credit cards, cancel subscriptions, and collect any end-of-service benefits owed to you.

If you're transferring to a new employer within Saudi Arabia, your Iqama sponsorship is transferred rather than cancelled. The new employer initiates the transfer through Muqeem or the Qiwa platform. Under recent labor reforms, you can transfer sponsors without your current employer's consent if your contract has expired, your wages haven't been paid, or you meet other eligibility conditions. Your Iqama number stays the same - only the sponsor details change.

Once you have your Iqama, you can start setting up your life in Saudi Arabia. Here's what to do, roughly in order:

1. Register on Absher - the government services platform you'll use for everything from checking your Iqama status to paying fines. You need to register your national address here too, which banks require.
2. Open a bank account - your employer needs your IBAN for salary transfer through the Wage Protection System. Most banks require your Iqama, passport, and a registered national address on Absher.
3. Get a SIM card - you'll need your Iqama to register a Saudi number with STC, Mobily, or Zain. A local number is essential for Absher verification, bank OTPs, and daily life.
4. Get a driving license - convert your home country license or apply for a Saudi one. Some nationalities can convert directly; others need to take a driving test.
5. Understand GOSI - your social insurance contributions and what they cover, including end-of-service benefits you'll receive when you leave.
6. Check your health insurance - your employer is legally required to provide medical insurance. Understand what's covered, which hospitals are in-network, and how to use it.