Your iqama (residence permit) must stay valid at all times. Here's how renewal works and how to avoid fines.
Who renews it
Your employer renews the iqama after paying the required government levies and fees. As the employee, your job is to make sure it happens before the expiry date.
Late-renewal fines
- First late renewal: SAR 500
- Second: SAR 1,000
- A third violation can lead to deportation.
Renewing a few days early costs nothing extra and removes all risk.
Expiry is tracked in Hijri
Official iqama validity follows the Umm al-Qura (Hijri) calendar, which is about 11 days shorter each year than the Gregorian calendar. So expiry always arrives a little sooner than a Gregorian date would suggest.
How to check officially
1. Log in to Absher (absher.sa) with your ID and password, or the Absher app. 2. Open My Services -> Documents to see your iqama and its expiry date in Hijri. 3. You can also view it in the Tawakkalna app, or your employer can check via Muqeem (muqeem.sa).
Track the countdown
Use the free Iqama Expiry Tracker to see exactly how many days are left — from either a Hijri or Gregorian date.