Iqama renewal fees for an expatriate employee in Saudi Arabia add up to much more than the SAR 650 iqama fee most people quote: the employer also pays a work permit fee and a monthly expat levy through Qiwa, and has to keep the employee’s medical insurance valid for the whole renewal period. This guide is for HR teams, business owners and employees. It covers who pays, the real 2026 cost for 3 to 12 months, how to check expiry dates, the steps on Qiwa and Muqeem or Absher Business, late fines and the problems that most often block a renewal, based on what the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), Qiwa and the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) publish as of October 2026. If you are renewing your family members’ iqamas rather than an employee’s, see our guide to iqama renewal for dependents on Absher.
Iqama renewal fees in brief
- The employer pays. Article 40 of the Labor Law puts iqama and work permit fees, their renewal and the fines for late renewal on the employer.
- A full year costs SAR 10,350 per worker (SAR 9,150 where expats do not outnumber Saudis), before insurance: SAR 100 work permit fee, SAR 9,600 or SAR 8,400 levy and SAR 650 iqama fee.
- You can renew for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. The monthly rate is the same, and 12 months is the maximum.
- The order is fixed: work permit on Qiwa first, then insurance and the iqama fee, then the renewal in Muqeem or Absher Business.
- Late iqama renewal costs SAR 500 the first time and SAR 1,000 the second, and a third offence leads to deportation. Unpaid levy months are still billed.
- Establishments with an industrial licence no longer pay the levy, and small establishments can have up to four expats exempted until early 2027.
Who pays iqama renewal fees: the employer or the employee?
Under Article 40 of the Labor Law, as Qiwa sets it out in its labour education pages, the employer bears the fees for issuing and renewing the iqama and the work permit and the fines caused by their delay. The same article also puts profession change fees, exit and re-entry visa fees and the worker’s ticket home at the end of the contract on the employer. In practice the levy, the SAR 100 work permit fee, the SAR 650 iqama fee and any late fine are company costs, not the worker’s.
Medical insurance is on the employer too. Article 3 of the Cooperative Health Insurance Law says whoever sponsors a resident must insure them, and that an iqama cannot be issued or renewed until a policy covering the whole iqama period is in place.
Article 40 does not mention the dependent levy (SAR 400 per dependent per month) or the family’s own iqama fees. Unless the employment contract says otherwise, those fall on the employee as head of the family and are paid in Absher, not Qiwa. A worker who is asked to pay the employer’s share can raise it with HRSD through a labour complaint, which starts with an attempt at amicable settlement.
Iqama renewal fees in 2026: the cost breakdown
Renewing one employee’s iqama involves four separate charges. Only the iqama fee, and any late fine, goes to Jawazat. The work permit fee and the levy are paid to HRSD through Qiwa, and the insurance is bought from an insurer. Amounts below are per worker, as of October 2026.
| Charge | Amount | Paid to and where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit fee | SAR 100 a year (SAR 25 per quarter) | HRSD, through Qiwa (SADAD or another payment method) | Also charged for workers exempt from the levy |
| Expat levy, for each expat beyond the number of Saudi employees | SAR 800 a month (SAR 9,600 a year) | HRSD, collected with the work permit in Qiwa | Billed first |
| Expat levy, for each expat up to the number of Saudi employees | SAR 700 a month (SAR 8,400 a year) | HRSD, collected with the work permit in Qiwa | Only applies if you employ Saudis |
| Iqama fee | SAR 650 a year | Jawazat, paid through SADAD, renewal in Muqeem or Absher Business | Charged pro rata for shorter periods |
| Medical insurance | Set by the insurer | Insurance company | Must cover the whole new iqama period |
| Late iqama renewal fine | SAR 500 (first), SAR 1,000 (second), deportation (third) | Jawazat | Borne by the employer under Article 40 |
The levy rate depends on your whole workforce, not on the employee. Qiwa charges SAR 700 a month for each expat up to the number of Saudi employees in the establishment and SAR 800 for each expat beyond that number. A company with 3 Saudis and 5 expats pays SAR 700 for three expats and SAR 800 for the other two, and a company with no Saudis pays SAR 800 for everyone. HRSD’s instalment rules collect the higher-rate units first, so the first permits you renew are normally billed at SAR 800.
There is no government price for insurance. The premium depends on the insurer, the policy class and the employee’s profile, and Jawazat checks the policy electronically when the iqama is renewed. A 12-month iqama cannot sit on a policy that ends in four months, so line up the insurance renewal with the iqama renewal.
Exemptions that change the levy
- Industrial establishments: on 17 December 2025 the Council of Ministers cancelled the levy for expat workers in establishments licensed under an industrial licence.
- Small establishments: where the total workforce is nine or fewer including the owner, and the owner works full time in the business and is registered with GOSI, two expats are exempt. If at least one other full-time Saudi employee is also registered with GOSI, up to four expats are exempt. The Council of Ministers extended this for three years in 2024, and Qiwa has said the exemption does not cover any period after 14 Sha’ban 1448 H (around 21 January 2027). A permit renewed past that date is charged the levy for the part that falls after it.
- What exempt workers still cost: HRSD’s rules keep the SAR 100 work permit fee for exempt categories, and the iqama fee and insurance still apply.
Because exemptions and the 700/800 split are worked out per establishment, the only reliable number is the one Qiwa shows on the fee details screen before you submit the request.
Outdated figures you will still see online
- SAR 2,400 a year: the old fee charged before the current levy was introduced in 2018.
- SAR 300 to SAR 600 a month: levy rates from the 2018 to 2019 phase-in. The SAR 700 and SAR 800 rates have applied since 2020.
- SAR 9,100 a year: a misprint in HRSD’s English instalment guide. The Arabic original shows SAR 9,600, which is 12 months at SAR 800.
- “The small business exemption has ended”: pages written before the 2024 extension. It runs to early 2027.
- “The state pays the levy for factories until 2025”: superseded by the December 2025 cancellation.
Iqama renewal fees for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months
Council of Ministers Resolution No. 325 of 1442 H (2021) allowed work permits and the iqamas linked to them to be renewed every three months, with the fees split according to the period. Qiwa offers work permits for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, although some occupations only allow a fixed period. Jawazat confirms that 12 months is the longest iqama renewal: two-year renewals are not available. The table shows the government cost per worker for each period, before insurance.
| Period | Work permit fee | Levy at SAR 800 | Levy at SAR 700 | Iqama fee | Total at SAR 800 | Total at SAR 700 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | SAR 25 | SAR 2,400 | SAR 2,100 | SAR 162.50 | SAR 2,587.50 | SAR 2,287.50 |
| 6 months | SAR 50 | SAR 4,800 | SAR 4,200 | SAR 325 | SAR 5,175 | SAR 4,575 |
| 9 months | SAR 75 | SAR 7,200 | SAR 6,300 | SAR 487.50 | SAR 7,762.50 | SAR 6,862.50 |
| 12 months | SAR 100 | SAR 9,600 | SAR 8,400 | SAR 650 | SAR 10,350 | SAR 9,150 |
The work permit and levy amounts come from HRSD’s instalment table. The iqama fee for shorter periods is our pro rata calculation from the SAR 650 annual fee, so confirm the exact figure when you pay.
- Shorter is not cheaper. You pay the same monthly rate whatever the period. A quarterly renewal helps cash flow but means four payment rounds a year and four chances to miss a date.
- When the window opens: HRSD lets you renew a work permit once 180 days or fewer remain, and its August 2026 Qiwa guide requires the iqama to be within 180 days of expiry.
- Insurance must keep up. Whatever period you choose, the policy has to run at least as long as the new iqama.
- Domestic workers: originally excluded, they became eligible for quarterly iqamas by a Council of Ministers decision on 16 June 2026. They are renewed through Absher, not Qiwa.
How to check iqama expiry (and the work permit date)
- Employee: your Absher Individuals account or app shows your iqama details, including the expiry date. Jawazat names Absher and Muqeem as the places to check iqama validity.
- Employer: Muqeem and Absher Business show the iqama expiry for every resident on the establishment’s file.
- Work permit: the Qiwa business account shows each employee’s current permit expiry in the work permits service. HRSD’s expatriate employee inquiry page also checks a worker’s employment status by border, iqama or passport number without logging in.
The iqama and the work permit often expire on different dates, especially after a transfer or a short renewal. Keep both dates for every employee in one sheet and start the renewal about two months before the earlier one.
How employers renew an employee’s iqama, step by step
The order matters. Jawazat will not renew the iqama without a valid work permit and valid insurance, so the work permit always comes first.
Step 1: Renew the work permit on Qiwa
- Log in to the Qiwa business account as the owner or an authorised delegate and select the establishment.
- Go to Services, then Work permits, then Issue or renew work permit.
- Select the employees and click Next step.
- Choose the period for each permit: 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, where the occupation allows it.
- Open Fee details. It shows the current expiry date, extra fees and any late-year fees. Check it before you go further.
- Accept the terms, click Submit request and choose a payment method. A SADAD number must be paid within 14 days.
- After payment, HRSD says the permit status updates in about an hour and passport systems within 24 hours.
Step 2: Insurance and the iqama fee
- Renew or extend the employee’s medical insurance so that it covers the new iqama end date.
- Pay the iqama fee for the same period through SADAD in your bank’s government payments, under the General Directorate of Passports, using the iqama number. Menu names differ from bank to bank.
Step 3: Renew the iqama in Muqeem or Absher Business
- Muqeem: log in with the one-time code sent to the mobile number registered in Absher, open the employee’s record, choose Renew Iqama, select the period you paid for and confirm.
- Absher Business: select the establishment, go to My Business Services, then the iqama (resident ID) renewal service, choose the employee and the period, and confirm.
- Check the new expiry date on the record. The employee can also see it in Absher.
Late iqama renewal: fines and what happens if the iqama expires
Jawazat asks residents to renew at least three days before the iqama expires. Not renewing is fined SAR 500 the first time and SAR 1,000 the second time, and a third offence leads to deportation. For company workers the employer pays these fines under Article 40.
The levy does not stop when a work permit lapses. Under HRSD’s rules, arrears must be paid before the next permit is issued, previous years are charged at the current rate, and arrears cannot be split into instalments. They appear as late-year fees in Qiwa’s fee details. Since 30 June 2026 Qiwa has also been deregistering residents whose work permit has been expired, or never issued, for more than three months, and the establishment still owes everything due for that period. Qiwa has said this does not apply while the iqama still has 180 days or more left. Separately, HRSD has extended until 31 December 2026 the window to correct workers whose permits expired more than 12 months ago or were never issued within six months of joining.
For the employee, an expired iqama freezes travel. An exit re-entry visa cannot run beyond the iqama, and a final exit visa needs at least 30 days of iqama validity, so both wait until the renewal is done.
Can an iqama be renewed while the employee is outside Saudi Arabia?
Jawazat announced in January 2025 that the iqamas of dependents and domestic workers who are outside the Kingdom can be renewed through Absher and Muqeem once the fees are paid. For company employees abroad, Jawazat’s replies to employers point to the same channels, Absher Business and Muqeem, but the usual conditions still apply: a valid work permit, insurance covering the period and a valid passport. The safest course is to renew before a long trip.
Common reasons an iqama renewal is blocked
- Red Nitaqat band. Qiwa will not issue or renew work permits for a Red-band establishment, and HRSD’s 2026 guide words the condition as not being Red for 8 consecutive weeks. Our guide to Nitaqat bands on Qiwa explains how to check your band and move up. Saudi staff only count when they are registered with GOSI and their contracts are documented on Qiwa, so see our guide to GOSI registration for employers if your count looks wrong.
- The establishment file. The establishment must be active, its sub-activity must allow work permits, and the person doing the renewal needs a valid Qiwa subscription.
- The employee’s status. An absence from work report, a valid final exit visa, or a pending transfer, contract termination or work permit request stops the renewal.
- The occupation. Titles that need a correction or a professional licence, and occupations reserved for Saudis, cannot get a new permit.
- An unused work permit. If a permit was renewed but the iqama was not, Qiwa will not accept another request until the iqama is renewed with it.
- Insurance. No valid policy, or one that ends before the new iqama date.
- Passport validity. The passport must be valid. If it is about to expire, get the new one and have its details updated with Jawazat first.
- Payments not yet reflected. Fees paid in the last few hours may not show yet, since passport systems update within 24 hours.
- Unpaid traffic fines. Absher’s renewal service lists them as a blocker, and they also stop exit visas, so clear them first.
Mistakes that cost HR teams money
- Letting a permit lapse in the belief that the levy stops. It does not, and the arrears come back as one bill.
- Paying the iqama fee for a different period from the one chosen in Qiwa, or choosing a period longer than the insurance policy.
- Starting in the last week, with no margin for a 24-hour payment delay or a blocker.
- Recovering employer costs from the worker’s salary, which Article 40 does not allow and which can lead to a labour complaint.
How Moaqeb can help with iqama renewals
Most renewal problems are visible before anything is paid. We go through them with you: the Nitaqat band, the work permit and iqama dates of each employee, the levy rate and any exemption shown on the Qiwa fee screen, insurance cover, passport validity and pending requests. Then we guide you step by step, remotely, through Qiwa and then Muqeem or Absher Business, help you set up a renewal calendar for your team, and follow up if a renewal does not show on the record. Logging in through Nafath, verification codes and payments always stay with you, and we never ask for passwords or one-time codes. See our employer and government e-services, or check how we price a renewal file before you start.
Official sources
We reviewed this guide in October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm the amount on the Qiwa fee details screen and in Muqeem or Absher Business before you pay:
- Qiwa: work permits for non-Saudis and the fees borne by the employer
- HRSD Knowledge Centre: what does the employer bear?
- Qiwa: work permit cost, validity periods and payment
- HRSD: Issue or Renew Work Permits user guide (August 2026, PDF)
- HRSD: rules for paying the levy by instalments (Arabic, PDF)
- HRSD: Issue and Renew Work License service
- General Directorate of Passports: fee schedule (Arabic)
- General Directorate of Passports: FAQ
- Saudi Press Agency: fines for not renewing the iqama (Arabic)
- Saudi Press Agency: levy cancelled for licensed industrial establishments (Arabic)
- HRSD: small establishments’ levy exemption extended for three years
- HRSD: work permit correction window extended to 31 December 2026 (Arabic)
- Saudi Press Agency: renewing iqamas for residents outside the Kingdom (Arabic)
- Saudi Press Agency: Council of Ministers session of 16 June 2026 (Arabic)
- Bureau of Experts: Cooperative Health Insurance Law (Arabic)
- Qiwa: what Nitaqat is and how it is calculated
- Muqeem portal
Frequently asked questions
How much are iqama renewal fees for one year in 2026?
For a company employee, the employer pays SAR 650 to Jawazat for the iqama, SAR 100 for the work permit and a levy of SAR 9,600, or SAR 8,400 for expats who do not outnumber the Saudi staff. That is SAR 10,350 or SAR 9,150 per worker, plus medical insurance, unless an exemption applies.
Who pays iqama renewal fees, the employer or the employee?
The employer. Article 40 of the Labor Law puts iqama and work permit fees, their renewal and the fines for late renewal on the employer. The employee normally pays only for his own dependents, unless the contract says otherwise.
Can an iqama be renewed for 3 or 6 months?
Yes. Work permits and the linked iqama can be renewed for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, with fees charged for the chosen period. The monthly rate is the same, and 12 months is the maximum.
What is the fine for late iqama renewal?
Jawazat fines SAR 500 the first time and SAR 1,000 the second time, and a third offence leads to deportation. For company workers the employer pays the fine.
How can I check my iqama expiry date?
Employees can see it in their Absher account. Employers see each employee’s iqama expiry in Muqeem or Absher Business, and the work permit expiry in Qiwa.
Can an iqama be renewed while the employee is outside Saudi Arabia?
Jawazat allows renewals for residents outside the Kingdom through Absher and Muqeem once the fees are paid. Its announcement names dependents and domestic workers. For employees, employers use Absher Business or Muqeem, and the work permit, insurance and passport must still be valid.
Does the levy stop if the work permit expires?
No. Unpaid months are collected as arrears before the next permit is issued, at the current rate and without instalments. Since 30 June 2026 Qiwa can also deregister a resident whose permit has been expired for more than three months, and the establishment still owes the amounts for that period.
Can a company in the Red Nitaqat band renew iqamas?
Not in practice. Qiwa does not issue or renew work permits for a Red-band establishment, and without a valid work permit the iqama cannot be renewed. Moving out of Red restores renewals.
