Working in Saudi Arabia

Government service

Absher (iqama services): Check iqama validity and manage resident services

Check iqama validity and manage resident services

What is Absher (iqama services)?

Absher is the Ministry of Interior's e-services platform and app, launched in 2010. Residents use it to check iqama validity, view exit re-entry visas and travel records, and manage the iqamas and visas of family members they sponsor. Your employer renews your own iqama, but Absher is where you see whether it is valid.

Who uses it

Citizens and residents through Absher Individuals, and companies through Absher Business. Expat workers use it for their own records and for dependants they sponsor.

What you can do with Absher (iqama services)

  • Free public inquiry about iqama validity and expiry date by entering an ID or iqama number.
  • Check the status, type and validity of an exit re-entry visa, and check visa validity.
  • View your travel record and check that your health insurance is valid.
  • Issue and renew iqamas for family members you sponsor, and issue exit re-entry visas for them.
  • Since the 2021 Labor Reform Initiative, private-sector workers can request their own exit re-entry and final exit visas through Absher.

Step by step

  1. Register on Absher

    Create an account at absher.sa or in the Absher app with your iqama number.

  2. Activate the account

    Activate it at an Absher self-service machine or a bank branch in Saudi Arabia.

  3. Check iqama validity

    Use the general inquiry on iqama validity and enter your iqama number to see whether it is valid and when it expires. The service is free.

  4. Ask your employer to renew

    If the iqama is close to expiry, ask HR to renew it. The employer first renews your work permit on Qiwa (allowed when 180 days or less remain) and then renews the iqama with Jawazat through Muqeem or Absher Business.

  5. Confirm the new date

    Check the iqama inquiry again after renewal. HRSD notes passport systems can take up to 24 hours to show a payment.

Official Absher (iqama services) website

Sources:saudipedia.comhrsd.gov.sahrsd.gov.safragomen.comarabnews.com

Frequently asked questions

How do I check my iqama expiry date on Absher?

Use Absher's general inquiry on iqama validity and enter your iqama number. It shows whether the iqama is valid or expired and its expiry date. It is free.

Can I renew my own iqama on Absher?

Not if you work for a company. Your employer renews it after renewing your work permit on Qiwa, and the employer pays the fees. On Absher Individuals you can renew the iqamas of family members or domestic workers you sponsor.

How much is the iqama renewal fee for family members?

HRSD's 2024 guide to services for expatriates lists SAR 600 for a sponsored resident and SAR 500 for a resident family member aged 18 or over, plus any late fines and unpaid traffic fines.

How do I activate my Absher account?

After registering online, activate the account at an Absher self-service machine (there are about 400 across Saudi Arabia) or at a bank branch.

Can I issue an exit re-entry visa for my wife and children on Absher?

Yes. Choose Visa Services in Absher and select the family member. HRSD lists the fee as SAR 200. The person must be in Saudi Arabia with a valid iqama and passport and no unpaid traffic fines.

Last reviewed: 17 Oct 2026. General information based on the official sources cited - not legal advice. Check with the relevant authority before acting.

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