How to check Saudi Arabia Iqama

Iqama is a Saudi Arabian resident permit or identity card that allows you to live in the nation.

Because your Iqama is as crucial as your passport and visa documents, you should double-check everything about it because the Saudi government has imposed extremely heavy penalties and even on persons whose Iqama accounts have expired.

Question is:

How to Check the Iqama Status?

The Saudi government has implemented technology and made it easier to keep track of your Iqama status online.

This post will guide you through the step-by-step process of checking the Iqama status.

In this step-by-step guide, you will learn:

● What is Iqama?

● How to check Iqama status online?

● How to renew your Iqama online?

What is Iqama?

Iqama is like a work permit for Saudi Arabia. Through the Iqama permission, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) allows foreign nationals to reside and work in Saudi Arabia and its borders.

The Ministry of Interior issues this national residency and employment license.

To obtain the Iqama, a person must have a sponsor in the Kingdom, usually an employer, who files the request on the employee's behalf within 90 days of the latter's presence.

The authorization of an Iqama from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Labour and Social Development typically takes 1-3 weeks.

How to Check Iqama Status Online?

You cannot reside or work in Saudi Arabia without an Iqama, your form of identification. However, we will describe the purposes of Iqama in Saudi Arabia and then show you how to verify your iqama status quickly.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior allows UK expats to check their Iqama online. People may now readily access it from their computers or mobile devices.

1) Find your Iqama Number

The Iqama id will have a 10-digit numerical sequence. It might be near the bottom of the top page, in the centre, or beneath your photo. It is your Iqama number, which you may use to look up your Iqama status on the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior's webpage.

2) Checking the Status

Following these simple steps will allow you to verify your Iqama application status:

1. Go to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior's site.

2. Since you can't read Arabic, switch the language to UK English.

3. From the menu tabs, go to the "Passports" area.

4. In the dropdown menu, select "Query Iqama Expiry Service."

5. Select Individualized Integrated eServices.

6. Set your login details, then log in using your username, password, and Iqama number.

7. You may be required to provide a four-digit verification code that you will receive through text message to your registered phone number.

8. Select "Query Iqama Expiry Service" from the dropdown menu.

9. Click "View" after entering your Iqama number and the randomly generated code.

10. It will display the validity status of your Iqama.

3) Verifying the Validity of Your Iqama

You'll be able to tell if your Iqama status is current or expired by looking at the colour on the dates. Your Iqama is no longer applicable if it is red. An expired Iqama is a severe issue that can result in substantial penalties. Your Iqama must be renewed by your company a few days before it expires. It is possible to get prosecuted if you are detected working without a valid Iqama.

How to Renew Your Iqama Online?

Although the employer completes the process of renewing an Iqama, you may be required to fulfil some requirements, such as paying fees, undergoing a medical examination, and paying fees for your dependents, if applicable.

Large corporations mainly pay the fees for their employees. It can cost up to SAR 650 (EUR 137), plus a price of SAR 8,400 (EUR 1920) to SAR 9,600 (EUR 2195) for the work permit (Maktab e Amal), which one must pay in addition to the Iqama fee. The average sum paid for health insurance is SAR 500 (EUR 114). In all, medium to big enterprises spend an average of SAR 10,000 (EUR 2286) on expat employees every year.

Based on your place of origin, you may be required to have a medical examination at one of the authorized hospitals.

After that, you can ask your company's HR staff to start the renewing procedure online, which ends up taking around a day. You could go to the Ministry of Interior's website and look under the "Passports" section for Iqama Renewal.

FAQs

1. Is there an age limit for Iqama renewal?

Only employees under the age of 60 are eligible for an Iqama renewal. Employees aged 60 and up are eligible for end-of-service benefits.

2. What if your Iqama is expired?

An Iqama must get renewed every year, although your firm can renew it up to three months before it expires. If you intend to keep your job, contact your employer as soon as the contract expires. If you don't, let us know 90 days before the expiration date.