How to Renew Your Iqama and Check Iqama Expiry in Saudi Arabia (Complete 2026 Guide)
Learn how to renew an Iqama in Saudi Arabia in 2026, from issuing or renewing the Work Permit through Qiwa and paying the required fees to completing Iqama Renewal through Absher Business and checking Iqama validity.
How to Renew Your Iqama and Check Iqama Expiry in Saudi Arabia (Complete 2026 Guide)
If you are a resident of Saudi Arabia, it is important to renew your Iqama on time and avoid allowing it to expire. An expired Iqama may result in penalties, disruption of certain government services, or other issues related to your legal residency status.
In this complete guide, we explain the main Iqama Renewal requirements and the process followed by employers or establishments, starting with the Work Permit through Qiwa, paying the required fees, completing the renewal through Absher Business, and checking your Iqama validity.
Requirements for Iqama Renewal
Before renewing an employee's Iqama, the applicable requirements must be completed.
These may generally include:
The employee's passport must be valid.
Medical Insurance must be active when required.
The employee's Work Permit must be issued or renewed.
Required traffic fines must be paid.
The required Iqama Renewal fees must be paid.
The employee must not be registered as absent from work.
Any other government requirements applicable to the employee's case must be completed.
How to Renew an Iqama in Saudi Arabia
For expatriate employees working for a company or establishment, Iqama Renewal is generally completed by the employer or an authorized representative of the establishment.
The employee should make sure that their passport, Medical Insurance, personal information, and other required documents are valid and up to date.
Step 1: Log in to Qiwa
The employer or authorized representative logs in to the Qiwa Platform to check the employee's information and Work Permit status.
Before completing the Iqama Renewal process, the requirements related to the employee's Work Permit should be checked.
Step 2: Issue or Renew the Work Permit
The employee's Work Permit is then issued or renewed through the relevant service.
After completing the Work Permit issuance or renewal request, the required payment information or SADAD Number can be obtained to complete the payment.
Step 3: Pay the Work Permit Fees
After obtaining the required payment number, the amounts related to the Work Permit are paid through the available Saudi banking and SADAD payment channels.
Once payment is completed and the Work Permit status is updated in the government systems, the employer can proceed with the remaining Iqama Renewal steps.
The applicable Work Permit requirements must be completed before the employee's Iqama Renewal can be finalized.
Step 4: Pay the Jawazat Iqama Renewal Fee
After completing the required Work Permit procedures, the applicable Jawazat fee for Iqama Renewal must be paid.
The payment can generally be made through Saudi banks using Government Payments or SADAD services.
Menu names and payment options may differ slightly between banks. Select the government payment service related to Iqama Renewal and enter the required information correctly.
Step 5: Renew the Iqama Through Absher Business
After the required fees and other conditions have been completed, the employer or authorized representative logs in to Absher Business.
The appropriate business services are then opened and the Iqama Renewal service is selected.
The process generally includes the following steps:
Open the appropriate Business Services.
Select Iqama Renewal.
Select the employee whose Iqama needs to be renewed.
Review the employee's information.
Check the renewal period and other required information.
Review the conditions and information.
Confirm the Iqama Renewal.
If all requirements are satisfied, the renewal request can be processed electronically and the employee's new Iqama validity will be updated in the government systems.
How to Check Iqama Expiry and Validity
If you want to know when your Iqama expires or check its current validity, you can use the available Absher services to check your Resident ID information.
The general process is:
- 1Log in to Absher Individuals.
- 2Go to Electronic Services or the Inquiries section.
- 3Open the inquiries related to Jawazat.
- 4Select the service related to Resident ID or Iqama validity.
- 5Enter the required information.
- 6Check the Iqama status and validity information displayed by the system.
The names of menus and services in Absher may change with platform updates. If the options appear differently, look for an inquiry service related to Resident ID or Iqama validity.
- If the Work Permit, Medical Insurance, passport, required fees, and all other conditions are complete, the electronic renewal process may be completed quickly.
However, processing time is not necessarily the same in every case.
Delays may occur if a payment has not yet been updated in the system, a requirement is incomplete, or there is an issue with the employee's or establishment's records.
Common Reasons Why an Iqama Cannot Be Renewed
A problem with passport validity.
Medical Insurance is not active when required.
The Work Permit has not been issued or renewed.
Required Work Permit payments have not been completed.
The required Jawazat Iqama Renewal fee has not been paid.
Required traffic fines remain unpaid.
There is a legal or government restriction on the employee's record.
The service is unavailable because of the establishment's status.
Required information has not yet been updated in government systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- For an employee working under a company or establishment, Iqama Renewal is generally completed through the employer or an authorized establishment account.
Employees should therefore follow up with their employer or HR Department regarding their renewal status.
- A valid Work Permit is an important requirement for renewing an employee's Iqama.
The required Work Permit issuance or renewal procedures should therefore be completed before finalizing the Iqama Renewal.
- After completing the Work Permit issuance or renewal procedures, the required payment details or SADAD Number can be obtained.
The applicable amounts can then be paid through the available Saudi banking payment channels.
- The required Jawazat fee for Iqama Renewal can be paid through government payment services available through Saudi banks or SADAD.
The exact steps may vary depending on the bank being used.
- After the Work Permit, required payments, and other renewal conditions have been completed, the employer or authorized representative can complete the employee's Iqama Renewal electronically through Absher Business.
This can be used to confirm that the Iqama status and new validity period have been updated.
- First, check the validity of the passport, Medical Insurance, Work Permit, required payments, and the employee's government records.
If you work for a company, contact your employer or HR Department to determine which requirement or step is preventing the renewal from being completed.
Conclusion
The Iqama Renewal process for an expatriate employee in Saudi Arabia generally begins with completing the procedures for issuing or renewing the Work Permit.
The required amounts related to the Work Permit are then paid, followed by the applicable Jawazat Iqama Renewal fee through a bank or SADAD payment channel.
Once the required fees and conditions have been completed, the employer or authorized representative can complete the Iqama Renewal through Absher Business.
After the renewal is completed, the resident can check their updated Iqama validity and expiry information through Absher.
This guide is for information only. Always verify details with official Saudi government portals.