Muqeem Portal Explained for Expats & Employers

If you employ expatriate staff in Saudi Arabia — or you're a resident wondering how your iqama gets renewed — the مقيم portal is where much of it happens. مقيم is the official government channel that establishments use to manage residency services for their expatriate employees, from issuing and renewing iqamas to handling exit/re-entry visas and checking visa validity. In this Saudi Living guide, we explain what مقيم does, who uses it, the fees involved, and the exact steps employers follow to keep employee residency compliant.

What is the Muqeem portal?

مقيم is a business-facing platform designed for registered establishments rather than individuals. Through it, an employer's authorized users can manage the residency records of their expatriate workforce and complete key transactions online. It works alongside أبشر (Absher Business) as an official government employment and residency channel.

The good news for companies: the مقيم portal itself is free for registered establishments. What you pay are the underlying government fees and levies for each transaction, which are settled through the government payment system before the transaction is finalized.

What can employers do on Muqeem?

• Issue and renew iqamas (residency permits) for expatriate employees
• Issue single or multiple exit/re-entry visas
• Check visa validity and residency records
• Review and manage employee residency data

Individuals can also use the visa-validity service. To check a visa's validity, you'll need the iqama number and passport number of the person concerned.

Fees and levies you should know

These are the main government charges connected to residency transactions. Always confirm the latest amounts through the official government payment system before paying, as categories and conditions can vary.

• Iqama issuance/renewal fee: SAR 650
• Exit/re-entry visa: SAR 200 for a single visa and SAR 500 for a multiple visa, with additional-month charges applying in some cases.
• Dependent levy: SAR 400
• Work permit levy: commonly SAR 800 some categories pay SAR 700
• Absher processing service fee: SAR 51.75 for iqama issuance/renewal and SAR 103.50 for exit/re-entry extension transactions.

By 2026, the Absher service fee on iqama issuance and renewal remains SAR 51.75, and for exit/re-entry extension it is SAR 103.50.

How employers renew an iqama step by step

The renewal process is straightforward once the prerequisites are in place. The employer-paid steps are:

• Confirm valid health insurance for the employee. This is required before renewal can proceed.
• Ensure all fees and levies are paid — including the iqama fee, work permit levy, and any dependent levy — through the government payment system.
• Submit the transaction through مقيم or Absher Business to complete the renewal.

Once completed, the iqama is typically renewed for 12 months when renewed for a full year.

Exit/re-entry visas and validity rules

Exit/re-entry visas are issued for the period you select within the allowed window. An important rule to remember: an exit/re-entry visa cannot exceed the iqama validity. If an employee's iqama is close to expiry, renew it first so the travel visa can be issued for the intended duration. Choose a single visa for one trip or a multiple visa if the employee will travel more than once during the validity period.

Practical tips for smooth compliance

• Track iqama expiry dates in advance so renewals happen before they lapse.
• Keep health insurance active for every expatriate employee to avoid renewal delays.
• Budget monthly for levies (work permit and dependent) rather than treating them as one-off costs.
• Use the visa-validity service before booking travel to avoid surprises at the airport.
• Confirm exact current fees on the official government portals before each transaction.

Used well, مقيم turns residency administration into a predictable, mostly online routine. Employers who stay ahead of expiry dates, keep insurance valid, and settle levies on time avoid the most common — and most stressful — compliance headaches.

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