Iqama KSA: Everything You Need to Know About Saudi Arabia’s Entry Permit for Expat Residents

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Updated September 2023

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

Iqama ID status and expiry date check

You can check the status and expiry date of your Iqama ID online, both with an Absher account or even without an Absher account.

Iqama status and expiry date check without an Absher account

To determine whether your Iqama ID 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
• 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 with an Absher account

If you have an Absher account and would like to check your Iqama ID status and validity 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.

For more information regarding the Iqama status check procedure, visit our article on Iqama Check 2023: How to Easily Check Your Iqama Status Online.

Iqama red-green

The red-green status on the Iqama ID 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 expat 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 green status can more easily move to other companies compared to those with a red status.

Iqama red-green status check

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. 

© mol.gov.sa

The process to check the Iqama red-green status is fairly simple. Simply follow the given procedure:

• 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 number