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Reviewed January 2024

Iqama is a residence permit issued to all ex-pat residents in Saudi Arabia by the Ministry of Interior. All ex-pat residents arriving in Saudi Arabia on work and dependent visas must be in possession of a valid Iqama since its importance cannot be overstated.

A valid Iqama functions as official identification and enables its holders to open up a bank account and apply for a driver’s license, mobile SIM card, and many others. Therefore, it’s imperative for ex-pat residents to always be aware of the validity period of their Iqama.

If you’re an ex-pat resident residing in Saudi Arabia, here’s how you can perform an Iqama check to determine the status and expiry date period of your residence permit online, your red-green status, and your registered SIM card.

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Iqama status check online KSA

Iqama status and expiry date check without Absher

To determine whether your Iqama status is still valid or has expired, the easiest way is to head to the Ministry of Labour (MoL) portal and perform your Iqama check. This will allow anyone to check the status and validity of their Iqama even without an Absher account.

Follow these simple steps to check your Iqama status and validity period:

visit the MoL portal
select preferred language
enter your Iqama number
provide your date of birth. This can be done in both Hijri or Gregorian format
input the captcha number and click ‘next’

The next page will detail all your personal information, including the expiration date of your Iqama.

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Iqama status and expiry date check through the Absher portal

If you have an Absher account and would like to check your Iqama status through the Absher portal, here are the steps to do so:

go to the Absher portal
select your preferred language
login to your Absher account
input the OTP sent to your mobile
select the ‘Query Iqama Expiry Service,’ and the expiration date of your Iqama will be displayed

Iqama red-green status

The red-green status of the Iqama is connected to a Saudi program called the Nitaqat program. The program basically categorizes the ability of companies or employers to easily process the visa requirements of foreign workers and employees.

This process includes three colors. Here, each color holds its own significance.

The red color means that the employer has not fulfilled the requirements of the Nitaqat Program.
Platinum/High Green color means that the employer has fulfilled the requirements of the Nitaqat Program.
Low Green color means that the employer is in a transitional phase. This also indicates that the employer is working towards being compliant with the Nitaqat Program

For example, if an ex-pat resident has a green status on the Iqama, it means their employer or company has a wide range of options available to them pertaining to visa processing for foreign workers.

Among others, a green Iqama status allows a company to renew its employee’s Iqama on their behalf. Additionally, the foreign expat’s sponsorship may also be transferred to another company, which means that those with a green status can more easily move to other companies compared to those with a red status.

If you’d like to check your Iqama’s red-green status, you can easily do so by going to the Ministry of Labour’s Iqama portal.

Iqama check by border number

You can also check your Iqama status using your border number. You would first need to visit the Ministry of Labour’s Iqama portal.

The process is fairly simple, simply do the following:

input either your Iqama number, passport number, or border number
input the captcha number
click the search button

Upon successful submission, the following page will detail the following:

your name
work permit number
employment status
Iqama colour status
your company’s legal status

Iqama check SIM

Obtaining a SIM card in Saudi Arabia is connected to your Iqama. An Iqama holder is limited to having a maximum of two SIM cards at any one time.

Iqama check SIM through the CITC

If you’d like to check how many SIM cards are connected to your Iqama, you can follow the steps below:

visit the Mutasil portal
select inquiry service
select ‘individual’
enter your Iqama number and date of birth as per the Hijri calendar
select ‘Yes, I have a mobile phone’ if you have a phone
enter your mobile number
click the ‘search’ button
enter the OTP number sent to your mobile
click ‘submit’

You will then be redirected to a page listing your registered SIM card numbers.

If you don’t have access to a mobile number, click on “No, I don’t have a mobile phone.” The system will then go through its records and present the names of all cellular companies that have available plans.

Iqama check SIM through SMS

Another way of performing an Iqama SIM card check is by sending an SMS to your mobile operator. Please find the details below:

Etihad Jawraa and Lebara users, type in ‘ID’ and send an SMS to 1755
Mobily users, simply send a blank SMS to 616166
Sawa and STC users, type in 9988 and send an SMS to 900
Virgin Mobile users, send a blank SMS to 309985
Zain users, send a blank SMS to 700123

Your mobile operator will promptly respond with the confirmation of the registered SIM card number(s) associated with your Iqama.

If you find an unknown SIM registered under your Iqama, you can contact the customer care helpline of your cellular company. Please find the number of the customer care below:

Zain: 959 or 0590000959 if you call from other networks
Mobily: 1100 or 0560101100 if you call from other networks
STC: 900 or 114 555 555
Virgin mobile:1789
Lebara: 1755 or 0576001755