Who pays to renew my iqama in Saudi Arabia, and when?
Your employer pays to renew your iqama, whether you work for a company or a household. Do not pay it yourself. 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. When: a domestic worker's iqama can be renewed once it has under 14 months left. For a company worker, ask your employer's HR when they plan to renew.
Checked 8 November 2026
If this is you
You live in Saudi Arabia on an iqama that will expire soon, and you want to know who renews it and where.
If you miss it
A late renewal can carry a fine. The Labour Law says your employer pays the iqama and work permit fees and their renewal, and fines caused by the employer's delay. See my iqama has expired.
Official page: Absher. Ask your employer's HR which Absher service it uses to renew your iqama.
What to do now
- Read the end date on your iqama. Check your iqama status lists the routes.
- Ask your employer's HR when they will renew it, and who does it.
- If you are a domestic worker, ask your household employer to renew it from their own Absher account.
- Your employer must pay this fee. If you are asked to pay it, do not pay it; see where to complain.
- Keep the payment receipt and note the new end date.
This also affects
Which worker are you?
A company worker is renewed by the company. A domestic worker is renewed by the household employer. The routes and the rules differ, so find yours below.
Company workers
- Who pays: under the Labour Law, your employer pays the iqama and work permit fees and their renewal, and fines caused by the employer's delay.
- Where: the business owner renews the worker's iqama online on Absher Business, under My Business Services, then Iqama Renewal.
- Muqeem: Muqeem is for companies only; an individual cannot use it. Ask your employer which of the two it uses.
- Work permit: the work permit is one of the conditions for issuing or renewing the iqama.
Absher's company guide says that before the employer renews: the worker is in Saudi Arabia, fees and any delay fine are paid, traffic fines are paid, fingerprints and photo are done, the medical is passed, medical insurance is in place, the passport is valid and the worker is not registered as absent from work.
Ask your employer's HR when they plan to renew yours.
Domestic workers
- Who pays: under the domestic workers regulation, the domestic employer pays the iqama and work permit fees and their renewal, and fines the employer causes.
- Where and when: the employer renews a domestic worker's iqama from their own Absher account (Workers, Services, Issue Resident ID), once it has under 14 months left.
- New arrivals: a new domestic worker's iqama must be issued within 90 days of entering the Kingdom.
Absher's help page says Absher renews a domestic worker's iqama for 12 months, not 24. The term choices shown when your employer renews, in Absher or Musaned, are the ones that apply.
Your family's iqamas
Your family's iqamas are renewed separately: an iqama for a family member can be renewed on Absher even while they are outside the Kingdom. Iqama and dependants' fees covers what that costs.