Muqeem Portal Explained for Expats and Employers

If you employ expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia, the Muqeem portal is one of the tools you'll rely on most. It lets registered establishments view residents' data and complete passport-related transactions electronically — from issuing and renewing Iqamas to arranging exit and re-entry visas — without visiting a government office. This Saudi Living guide breaks down what Muqeem is, who uses it, what it costs, and how a typical transaction works, so both employers and expatriates know exactly where each service lives.

What Muqeem Is (and Isn't)

Muqeem is an employer-facing portal accessed at muqeem.sa. It is designed for establishments and their authorized representatives to manage the residency and travel affairs of their expatriate employees. It is not the primary self-service portal for individual workers.

Expatriates who simply want to check their own residency status or travel-visa details generally use Absher Individuals. In short: employers act through Muqeem; individuals view their information through Absher.

Core Services Available on Muqeem

• Resident-data checks and employee status reports
• Iqama issuance and renewal
• Exit/re-entry visas (single and multiple)
• Final-exit visas
• Passport-related updates

Because these transactions are electronic, they can be completed remotely once your establishment is registered and your users are authorized.

Subscription and Fees

A Muqeem report or status check has no separate transaction fee for a registered establishment. Instead, the establishment pays a commercial Muqeem subscription that varies by resident count and the user package chosen.

• Reported subscription examples range from around SAR 1,100 for establishments with 0–9 residents up to about SAR 11 per resident for those with more than 800 residents.

These are indicative figures — confirm the exact package that applies to your establishment during registration on the official portal.

Government Charges for Common Transactions

Separate from the subscription, individual transactions carry government charges. Reported figures include:

• Iqama issuance/renewal: around SAR 650 excluding work-permit, expatriate levy, insurance, and other applicable charges.
• Dependent levy: around SAR 400 per month per eligible dependent (about SAR 4,800 per year).
• Single exit/re-entry visa (from inside Saudi Arabia): SAR 200 for the first two months, plus SAR 100 for each additional month.
• Multiple exit/re-entry visa (from inside Saudi Arabia): SAR 500 for the first three months, plus SAR 200 for each additional month.
• Extensions requested while the worker is abroad: around SAR 200

Final-exit issuance is generally described as having no core government visa fee, but all outstanding residency, traffic, employment, and other obligations must be settled first. Always review the charges displayed at the moment of the transaction, as amounts and rules can change.

Requirements Before Issuing a Visa

Before processing most visa or residency services, the employer must generally ensure:

• A valid Iqama and a valid passport for the employee
• All applicable government charges are paid
• Valid medical insurance where required
• No blocking violations
• No unresolved official restrictions on the establishment or the worker

How a Typical Transaction Works

1. Log in to Muqeem using the establishment's authorized digital credentials or Nafath.
2. Select the relevant employee.
3. Choose the required passport or residency service.
4. Review the displayed government charges.
5. Pay through an approved banking channel.
6. Submit the transaction.
7. Download or print the electronic result.

Depending on the service, the process may also connect with Absher, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Finance payment system. Employee identity verification and establishment access may require Nafath.

Practical Tips

• Keep employee passports and Iqamas valid well ahead of expiry to avoid blocked transactions.
• Settle levies and violations early — unpaid obligations commonly halt exit and renewal services.
• Confirm your subscription tier matches your current headcount to avoid interruptions.
• Always rely on the figures shown on the official portal at the time of payment rather than older quotes.

Used correctly, Muqeem turns what were once in-person visits into quick electronic steps — provided your establishment stays compliant and your employees' documents remain in order.

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