Iqama Validity Check in Saudi Arabia

Iqama Validity Check in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Iqama is a residence permit that allows foreigners to work and live in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Interior issues this permit as proof of legal residency. Depending on the type of employment and the Iqama holder’s situation, the Iqama is typically valid for one to five years. Expatriates’ employment status directly affects their Iqama validity.

Iqama is required for foreign workers in various industries, whether professional, domestic, or other. Health care, banking, renting property, and even getting a driver’s license require this document. In Saudi Arabia, maintaining a valid Iqama is more than compliance with legal requirements.

Iqama validity can be checked online in a convenient and efficient manner. There are multiple platforms available in Saudi Arabia where expatriates can check the validity of their Iqama. Here are some of the most common methods:

1. Absher App

• Step 1: Download the Absher app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

• Step 2: Enter your username or ID number and your password, then click the Log In button.

• Step 3: You will receive a code by SMS on your mobile device. Enter it here.

• Step 4: Iqama expiration dates can be checked on the Absher app.

• Step 6: Click on the photo or number shown above. On the “MY IQAMA” page, click the third option from the top. The following information will appear:

• First: IQAMA number
• Second: ID version
• Third: Issue date
• Last: validity date

Message format: Enter 12*Sponsor ID*Iqama number and send it to one of the following numbers:

• 1. STC (Sawa): 888994.
• 2. Mobile: 624444.
• 3. Zain: 709444.

2. Iqama Validity Check Through Ministry of Labor website

The official website of the Ministry of Labor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lets you know when your Iqama expires. These steps are to be followed: 

• Step 1: Visit the official Mol KSA website.

• Step 2: Choose your preferred language: Arabic, English, or Urdu.

• Step 3: Choose “E-services portal”.

• Step 4: Enter your ID, IQAMA, and BORDER NUMBER.

• Step 5: You can provide your birthdate in either Gregorian or Hijri calendar format.

• Step 6: Type in the captcha code and click “Next ”.

• Step 7: The account number linked to your Absher account will receive a verification code. Please enter it here.
• Step 8: You will be able to see the IQAMA validity.

The Jawazat (Passport Office) nearest you can assist you in verifying your Iqama status if you prefer an offline method or do not have access to the internet. When requested, you will be asked to provide your Iqama number and passport (original, not a copy). Even without internet access, you can confirm the validity of your Iqama.

• Jawazat office: Find the Jawazat office nearest to you.
• Visit the Office: Give your IQAMA number and other personal information.
• Check Status: You can check your Iqama status at the counter.

Purpose of Saudi Iqama

Foreign workers and their dependents can live and work legally in Saudi Arabia with the help of Iqama.

The types of Iqamas

Iqamas are issued by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior in three different forms.

• 1: Home Iqama: Household servants like maids, nannies, and drivers are mostly issued this type of Iqama.
• 2: Iqaama of labor: In most cases, labor-type Iqamas are issued to workers in the labor class.
• 3: Iqama for professional purposes: Iqama of this type is issued to professionals who hold degrees from reputable universities or other government-recognized institutions.

About Iqama Validity Check

• Time period: Usually lasts between one and two years. 
• Validity: Renew annually to maintain validity. 
• Responsibility of employers: Typically, employers are responsible for initiating employee renewals. 
• Iqama expiry consequences: Failure to renew an Iqama before it expires can result in fines and legal problems. 

The cost to issue or renew an Iqama in Saudi Arabia is typically around 650 Saudi Riyals (SAR) per year. 

• Fee for 1 months of validity: SAR 650.
• Fee for 3 months of validity: SAR 163.
• Fee for 6 months of validity: SAR 325.
• Fee for 9 months of validity: SAR 488.

Maktab Amal Fee (Expat Levy)

The Saudi Arabian work permit fee is SR 800 per month, and it is valid for a minimum of three months.

• Expat Levy for 3 months: SR 2,400.
• Expat Levy for 6 months: SR 4,800.
• Expat Levy for 9 months: SR 7,200.
• Expat Levy for 1 year: SR 9,600.

Expat Dependent Fee (Dependent Levy)

There is a monthly dependent fee per dependent that must be paid when sponsoring a family member. The dependent fee for expat residents in Saudi Arabia is SR 400 per month per dependent.

• 3-month dependent fee: SR 1,200
• 6-month dependent fee: SR 2,400
• 9-month dependent fee: SR 3,600
• 1-month dependent fee: SR 4,800

Iqama numbers are ten-digit numbers that identifies a Saudi Arabian residency permit. Saudi Arabians who work or are dependent on others need this document. 

Saudi Arabia issues Iqama residency permits to foreign nationals living and working there. Anyone planning to live in the country with their families, including expatriates, needs this document.

“Iqama” is a residency permit available to foreign nationals working and living legally in Saudi Arabia, including investors who want to live there with their families. You can apply for an Iqama if you need a work permit to live in Saudi Arabia. 

• Valid passport: Your original passport must have at least six months of validity left. 
• Employment contract: Saudi company signed employment contract. 
• Medical certificate: An official medical report proving an individual’s health. 
• Health insurance: Coverage for medical care in Saudi Arabia. 
• Work permit: Saudi government-issued work permits. 
• Application form: Completed application for Iqama.

The process of applying for an iqama in Saudi Arabia involves getting a job in the country, undergoing a medical exam, receiving a visa reference number, and entering Saudi Arabia with the necessary visas. It is your employer who applies for your Iqama on your behalf, supplying all the required documents like a work permit and biometric information, as you cannot request an Iqama on your own. 

• Your employer will need to sponsor your Iqama if you find a job in Saudi Arabia. 
• Your employer will apply for a work permit as soon as you are offered a job. 
• Work visas for Saudi Arabia can be obtained by using the visa reference number provided by your employer. 
• Medical check-ups will be required upon arrival at an authorized facility. 
• According to the requirements, you will need to provide biometric information. 
• You will be provided with all necessary documents for your Iqama application by your employer.

The Saudi IQAMA (residency permit) provides benefits such as legal residency, employment authorization, healthcare, banking, and government services. Family sponsorship is possible, travel within the GCC is possible (for some professions), and transactions are easy in Saudi Arabia.

Benefits	Details
Official residency	Expatriates in Saudi Arabia are permitted to reside lawfully in the country through the Iqama.
Work authorization	Work authorization grants legal employment status in the Kingdom.
Providing access to services	Iqama holders have access to banking, healthcare, and education.

• If you would like more information about MOI, please call 0114011111.
• Please contact the Minister’s Office’s Reception and e-Communications Centers
  , Click here
• Absher e-services technical support can be contacted at 920020405.
• Message format: Enter 12*Sponsor ID*Iqama number and send to one of these numbers:

• 1. STC (Sawa): 888994.
• 2. Mobile: 624444.
• 3. Zain: 709444.

As proof of legal residency in Saudi Arabia, the Iqama is a crucial document for expats. A renewal is required every year, and employers are usually responsible for the process. If you fail to renew your visa on time, you will be fined or deported. Ensure compliance with the laws by checking validity via Absher or Jawazat.