Iqama Status Check Guide
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) permits foreign nationals to live and work in Saudi Arabia and on its shores through the Iqama permit. This is a national residency/employment permit, issued by the Ministry of Interior. To get the Iqama, a person needs a sponsor in the Kingdom, usually the employer, who files the application on behalf of the employee, within 90 days of the latter’s arrival in the KSA.
An Iqama is important as a proof of residence/employment; mandatory in opening bank accounts, getting a house on rent, registering for utilities and so on. It usually takes around 1-3 weeks for getting an Iqama approval from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Labour and Social Development.
How to Check Iqama Status Online?
1. Finding Your Iqama Number
There will be a 10-digit numeric combination on the Iqama card. It may be at the bottom centre of the front page or below your picture. This is your Iqama number, which will help you search for your Iqama status online on the website of the Ministry of Interior, Saudi Arabia.
2. Checking Your Iqama Status
You can check your Iqama status online by following a few simple steps:
1. Go to the official website of the KSA Ministry of Interior
2. Change the language to English, if you cannot read Arabic
3. Go to the “Passports” section, from the menu tabs
4. Click on “Query Iqama Expiry Service” in the dropdown list
5. Choose Integrated eServices for Individuals
6. Create your login credentials and then enter your username, password and the numeric Iqama number to login.
7. You could be asked to submit a 4-digit verification code, which you will receive on your registered mobile number.
8. Click on “Query Iqama Expiry Service”
9. Enter your Iqama number and the random generated code, click on “View”
10. Your Iqama validity status will be shown.
3. Checking Your Iqama Validity
You will be able to see whether your Iqama status is valid or expired, through the colour on the dates mentioned. Red means that your Iqama is no longer valid. An expired Iqama is a grave concern and attracts hefty fines. The employer must put up your Iqama for renewal a few days before it has expired. Being caught working without a valid Iqama can lead to prosecution.
4. Different Methods to Get a Iqama
There are various routes to get an Iqama in Saudi Arabia. The first one is through your employer. Some people also apply for Iqama through a study visa or student visa. An Iqama holder can act as a sponsor for their family members to procure Iqama. These are “Iqama for Dependents,” and cannot be used to work in Saudi Arabia.
How to Check Iqama Status Outside KSA?
Through the Iqama number, visa number or the passport number, it is possible for checking the status anywhere outside KSA. After logging into the Ministry of Interior website, you can follow the usual steps and then click on “Query Iqama Expiry Service” in the “Passports” section. After that, you will be redirected to the Absher portal, where you will need to click on “Integrated e-Services for Individuals.”
However, if you are an Iqama holder and you have exited Saudi Arabia with plans to re-enter again, your employer will have to obtain an exit/re-entry permit from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior.
Transferable Iqama FAQs
1. Can Iqamas be transferred?
Yes, Iqamas that are “transferable” can be transferred by the present employer to another employer, if you change your job. This provides a competitive advantage, as most employers would prefer candidates with transferable sponsorship, rather than having to apply for a new Saudi Arabia work visa each time. The transferable status depends on the employer. The employer can also send you back to your own country, after termination of employment, if they want.
2. How to Transfer Iqama Sponsorship in KSA Online?
The employer will first need to create a request for transfer of sponsorship through the company’s account. This request needs to be sent to the Ministry of Labour (MLSD). It should be done within your notice period and your employer will submit a copy of your valid Iqama with the application.
Your new employer needs to accept this request for transfer of sponsorship, filed in the MLSD system. If they accept it, your Iqama will be transferred to a new sponsor. It is worth knowing that an employee can request for transfer of sponsorship, without the permission of the employer/kafeel, under certain conditions, such as:
If the sponsor belongs to the “Red” nitaqat category
If the sponsor company does not provide an Iqama within 3 months of the employee’s arrival in the KSA
If the employee has not been paid salary over 3 months under the Wage Protection System
The Iqama has expired for more than a month
If the employee reports a commercial cover-up in their organisation
If the employer has been absent from the court case filed by the employee
If the court grants approval to the employee for the transfer of sponsorship.
In case, you have not been paid your salary for a long time or you have had to go to court to settle matters, you can transfer your Iqama sponsorship from the Ministry of Labour website, by creating your own account.
3. How to Check the Iqama Transfer Status?
Sponsorship transfer takes place in two phases: first in the Labour Office, through the Ministry of Labour, and then through the Jawazat, under the Ministry of Interior.
The first step is to check the Iqama transfer status on the Ministry of Labour website, through the Labour Office Service inquiry. Click on the “Transfer the Expatriate Worker Service” in the dropdown list of service type. Enter Iqama number and verification code to check the status.
When your new employer accepts the request, this has to reflectthe name of your employer in the Absher account. After that, you will have to pay the fee for your transfer of sponsorship.
Iqama Colour/Nitaqat Information
The Nitaqat system, established in 2011 by the Ministry of Labour, refers to the rate of Saudization in an establishment or a company. For expats working in the KSA, the Nitaqat colour is extremely important, as it represents the health of the company that employs them. It can be a decisive factor in getting a job with a company in the KSA, being able to renew your Iqama status at the soonest, amount of fees you pay or being able to transfer your Iqama.
The Nitaqat colour of a company can be checked on the Ministry of Labour website, using the border number, Iqama number or passport number. After entering any of these three, you can see the Iqama colour status, the company’s legal status and other details, such as your full name, work permit number and employment status.
Here’s what the colours actually mean.
Posts
