How to Apply for Your First Iqama in Saudi Arabia 2026

Your first Iqama in Saudi Arabia is issued only after you enter the Kingdom on a valid work visa, and it must normally be completed within about 90 days of arrival. The key point most newcomers miss: you do not apply for your own first Iqama — your employer (sponsor) does. An individual employee cannot issue their first residence permit alone. This guide on how to apply for your first Iqama in Saudi Arabia walks you through exactly what happens, what you personally need to do, and what it costs in 2026.

What your first Iqama actually is (and who applies for it)

The Iqama (residence permit) is the ID card that legally lets you live, work, open a bank account, rent a flat and access services in Saudi Arabia. It ties you to your sponsoring employer. Because it is a sponsorship-based document, the establishment you work for must be properly registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and must hold the right authorisations before your card can be produced.

So while you complete the medical and biometric steps in person, the actual issuance — the payment, the system entry, the printed record — is done by your employer's government-services team.

Before you arrive: what your employer must set up

Most of the heavy lifting happens before you ever board a flight to Riyadh or Jeddah.

Block visa and named work authorisation via Qiwa

Your employer must first secure a block visa quota and a named work visa authorisation through Qiwa, under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. This is where your specific job title and nationality are approved against the company's Saudisation (Nitaqat) standing.

Visa stamping at the Saudi embassy

Once the authorisation is issued, you complete visa stamping at the Saudi embassy or consulate in your home country. You enter the Kingdom on this work visa — and the 90-day clock to finalise your Iqama begins the day you land at King Khalid International Airport, King Abdulaziz International Airport, or wherever you touch down.

After you land: your part of the process

This is where you become active. Two in-person steps are on you — in most cases arranged by your employer's PRO.

The medical fitness test

Every new worker must pass a medical fitness test at a government-approved medical centre. This typically includes blood tests and screening. Budget SAR 200–500, and expect results to feed automatically into the residency system once you are cleared.

Biometrics at Jawazat

You then complete biometric registration — fingerprints and a photo — at a Jawazat (General Directorate of Passports) office. The indicative biometrics/processing charge here is typically around SAR 100 to 200. Once your biometrics are captured, your file is ready for issuance.

How the employer issues your first Iqama (Absher Business / Muqeem)

Before issuance, your employer must have registered you with GOSI (social insurance) and enrolled mandatory health insurance that meets CCHI standards. With those in place, the actual card is created through Absher Business or Muqeem using establishment credentials. The typical flow inside Absher Business looks like this:

• Log in with two-factor authentication using establishment credentials.
• Open the path My Services → Sponsorship Services → Iqama Services → Issue Iqama.
• Search for the worker by border number or visa details.
• Review the payable amount — the system generates a SADAD government payment reference for the Iqama fee and related charges.
• Pay via online banking under government payments to the Ministry of Interior.
• Confirm and finalise in Absher after the payment posts. An electronic Iqama record is created and can be printed from the Iqama query/print services.

From that moment, you have a valid electronic Iqama record — the physical card follows.

What it all costs in 2026

There are two very different bills here: the government Iqama fee (relatively small) and the work permit levy (much larger, and paid by the employer). Knowing which is which helps you read your contract properly.

The government Iqama fee

The standard government Iqama issuance/residence permit fee in 2026 is SAR 650 per year for company employees. Prorated options exist if you are issued for part of a year:

• 3 months — around SAR 163
• 6 months — around SAR 325
• 9 months — around SAR 488
• 12 months — SAR 650 (the full annual fee)

There was no change announced to this base fee structure in mid-2026 — the existing rates remain in place.

The work permit / expat levy

Separately, the employer usually pays a work permit / expat levy on top of the Iqama fee. This commonly totals typically around SAR 9,600 to 9,700 per year — often paid monthly. This is an employer obligation, not a personal Iqama cost, but many contracts reference it, so it is worth understanding.

Other typical charges

• Medical fitness test — budget SAR 200–500
• Jawazat biometrics/processing — typically around SAR 100 to 200
• Mandatory health insurance — varies by plan and family size (arranged by the employer)

How long the whole process takes

If your employer's paperwork is in order, the in-country steps — medical, biometrics, GOSI registration and issuance — usually move within a couple of weeks. What eats time is missing establishment registrations, an unpaid work permit levy, or a stalled medical result. Always aim to finish well inside the 90-day window; going past it can trigger fines against the establishment and headaches for you.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming you apply yourself. You cannot issue your own first Iqama — chase your employer's government-services team.
• Ignoring the 90-day clock. It starts on your arrival date, not when you settle in.
• Doing the medical late. Book it early; a delayed result delays everything.
• Not checking your health insurance. CCHI-compliant cover must be active before issuance.
• Confusing the SAR 650 Iqama fee with the levy. They are separate line items.

FAQs

Can I apply for my first Iqama myself?

No. Your first Iqama is issued by your sponsoring employer through Absher Business or Muqeem. You complete the medical fitness test and biometrics in person, but the payment and issuance are done by the establishment.

How much does the first Iqama cost in 2026?

The government Iqama fee is SAR 650 per year (with prorated options of around SAR 163, SAR 325 and SAR 488 for 3, 6 and 9 months). On top of that, employers typically pay a work permit/expat levy of around SAR 9,600 to 9,700

How long do I have to complete my Iqama after arriving?

Normally about 90 days from your arrival in Saudi Arabia. Aim to finish the medical, biometrics and issuance well before that deadline to avoid fines against your employer.

What is the medical fitness test and where do I do it?

It is a required health screening at a government-approved medical centre, usually costing SAR 200–500. Results feed into the residency system once you are cleared.

Where do I give my fingerprints?

Biometric registration is done at a Jawazat (General Directorate of Passports) office, with an indicative processing fee of typically around SAR 100 to 200.

What do I need before the Iqama can be issued?

Your employer must have you registered with GOSI, hold active CCHI-compliant health insurance for you, and have completed your medical and biometrics. Then issuance proceeds via Absher Business/Muqeem with a SADAD payment.

Still lining up the job that gets your sponsorship started? Browse the latest jobs in Saudi Arabia on Saudi Living, and once your Iqama is sorted, find your next home in our Saudi Arabia properties listings.

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