Skip to content
The Gulf Expat

How much does it cost to renew an iqama in Saudi Arabia?

Your employer pays your own iqama and work permit fees. For a company worker, your employer pays the iqama and work permit fees and their renewal, and fines caused by the employer's delay. For a domestic worker, the domestic employer pays the iqama and work permit fees and their renewal, and fines the employer causes. The work permit fee is SAR 100 for a 12-month permit, for each foreign worker. Check the iqama fee on Absher before anyone pays.

Checked 8 November 2026

If this is you

You want to know what an iqama, a work permit or a family member's iqama costs.

If you miss it

Renewing a family member's iqama from outside the Kingdom costs more. The law says renewing a family member's or domestic worker's iqama from outside the Kingdom costs double the fee for someone inside. It gives no base amount.

Official page: Absher. The work permit fee is set by HRSD at hrsd.gov.sa. Check any other fee on Absher before anyone pays.

What to do now

  1. Open Absher and read the fee on the screen for your own case before anyone pays.
  2. Ask your employer for the receipt.
  3. For a family member abroad, read the fee on the Absher screen. The law says renewing a family member's or domestic worker's iqama from outside the Kingdom costs double the fee for someone inside.
  4. Keep every receipt with the date it was paid.

This also affects

Who pays

  • Company worker: under the Labour Law, your employer pays the iqama and work permit fees and their renewal, and fines caused by the employer's delay.
  • Domestic worker: under the domestic workers regulation, the domestic employer pays the iqama and work permit fees and their renewal, and fines the employer causes.

The work permit fee (HRSD)

  • Fee: SAR 100 for a 12-month permit, for each foreign worker.
  • By length of permit: SAR 25 for 3 months, SAR 50 for 6, SAR 75 for 9 and SAR 100 for 12 months.

Ask HRSD whether any other charge applies to your employer for each foreign worker. Read the amount on the payment screen before anyone pays.

The iqama fee

Check the iqama fee on Absher before anyone pays.

Your family's iqamas

Check the dependants' fee on Absher before anyone pays.

Absher says family members' iqamas can be renewed from outside the Kingdom: Family Members Services, Services, Renew Iqama. The law says renewing a family member's or domestic worker's iqama from outside the Kingdom costs double the fee for someone inside.

If you renew late

Check any fine with your employer or on Absher before anyone pays. My iqama has expired has the steps.