Overview
Iqama renewal looks like a routine step, yet it causes more avoidable fines than almost any other transaction — and the cause is always the same: delay. The penalty starts the day after the card expires, doubles on repetition, and in accumulated cases can lead to deportation.
Three things must be in place before renewal: valid health insurance, full payment of iqama and dependant fees, and an establishment file free of service suspensions. If any one is missing, the system will refuse the request regardless of how much time remains.
Rapture monitors the expiry dates across your establishment and starts the renewal well before the deadline, so you never reach the penalty stage. We process renewals through Absher Business and provide payment receipts and renewal confirmation.
Government fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Iqama, 12 months | SAR 650 |
| Iqama, 9 months | SAR 488 |
| Iqama, 6 months | SAR 325 |
| Iqama, 3 months | SAR 163 |
| Iqama, domestic worker (1 year) | SAR 600 |
| Absher transaction fee | SAR 51.75 |
| Work permit levy per worker (monthly) | SAR 700–800 |
| Dependant fee per dependant (monthly) | SAR 400 |
| Late fine after the 3-day grace period, first offence | SAR 500 |
| Late fine, second offence | SAR 1,000 |
Current at October 2026 and subject to change by the authorities. The levy is SAR 700 where expatriates do not outnumber Saudis in the establishment and SAR 800 where they do. Health insurance is billed separately. Official source
Who is this service for?
- Establishments with large expatriate headcounts needing organised expiry tracking
- Sponsors renewing permits for domestic workers or family members
- Anyone whose iqama has already expired and needs the position regularised
- Companies wanting a single provider to manage the whole iqama portfolio
Required documents
- Iqama number or border number of the resident
- Valid health insurance policy covering the renewal period
- Passport valid beyond the requested renewal period
- Proof of payment of labor office and dependant fees
- Establishment details and unified number (for companies)
How the process works
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Review expiry date and file status
We check the time remaining on the card and confirm the establishment file is free of service suspensions or Nitaqat breaches that would block renewal.
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Renew health insurance
We verify the health insurance policy is valid and covers the full renewal period, renewing it where necessary before filing.
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Settle outstanding fees
We calculate and pay the iqama, dependant and labor office fees for the requested period, and provide you with the receipts.
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Execute and confirm renewal
We process the renewal through Absher Business and send you confirmation along with the new expiry date as soon as it is registered.
Expected turnaround
Typically within 24 hours once insurance and payments are complete and the file is free of suspensions.
Frequently asked questions
How much does iqama renewal cost?
The residence permit fee is SAR 650 for twelve months, SAR 488 for nine, SAR 325 for six and SAR 163 for three (SAR 600 a year for domestic workers), plus about SAR 51.75 per Absher transaction. The employer also pays the monthly work permit levy — SAR 700 or SAR 800 per worker depending on the Saudi-to-expatriate ratio in the establishment — and SAR 400 a month for each dependant. Health insurance is billed separately by the provider. Figures current at October 2026; we confirm the exact total against your file before paying.
How many days after expiry before the fine starts?
Three. Renewal inside that three-day grace period carries no penalty. After it, the fine is SAR 500 for a first delay, SAR 1,000 on repetition, and a third occurrence can escalate to deportation proceedings. The penalty falls on the employer, not the employee.
When should an iqama be renewed?
Renewal is possible up to three months before the card expires. We recommend renewing at least two weeks ahead to absorb any sudden gap in insurance or fee balance.
Can I renew my own iqama?
No. The renewal is filed by the sponsor through Absher Business or Muqeem, and the fees are the employer's legal responsibility. You can check your own expiry date and fee status in the Absher individual app, but the transaction itself has to come from the employer's file.
Can an iqama be renewed without health insurance?
No. A valid policy covering the entire renewal period is mandatory and the system rejects the request automatically without it. Cover must extend past the new expiry date — which is why a three-month renewal is sometimes the only option when a policy is close to lapsing.
Can an iqama be renewed for less than a year?
Yes. Three, six and nine-month renewals cost SAR 163, SAR 325 and SAR 488 respectively, subject to passport validity and insurance cover extending past the new expiry date.
What if the iqama expired some time ago?
The position can still be regularised, but the process requires settling the outstanding fine first, then renewing. The longer the lapse, the more complex it becomes — contact us immediately for an assessment.