Muqeem Portal Explained for Expats & Employers

If you work in Saudi Arabia as an expat, most of the paperwork that keeps your residence status valid is actually handled by your employer through a platform called مقيم. Understanding what مقيم does — and what it doesn't — helps you know who to ask when your iqama needs renewing, when you need an exit–re-entry visa, or when you're preparing to leave the Kingdom for good. This سعودي ليفنج guide explains the portal clearly for both employees and the businesses that manage them.

What Muqeem Is and Who Uses It

مقيم is the employer-facing online portal used across Saudi Arabia to manage expat residence permits (iqama) and related Jawazat services. It is operated by companies through their government relations officers (often called GRO or PRO staff), not by individuals directly.

It works alongside two other platforms you'll hear about often:

• أبشر — the individual-facing platform where you as a resident handle many of your own personal services.
• قوى — the platform focused on labour-related matters and employment contracts.
• مقيم — the employer's tool specifically for residence and visa actions tied to your iqama.

In short: your company uses مقيم to keep your legal residence in order.

How Employers Access and Subscribe

Employers subscribe to مقيم on an annual basis. The fee is a package cost based on two things: the number of resident employees the company sponsors, and the number of users allowed to log in and work on the account. Larger workforces and more advanced package tiers cost more.

Approximate annual subscription brackets are:

• 0–9 residents: roughly SAR 1,100–1,485 depending on package (Basic/Advance/Professional).
• 10–49 residents: roughly SAR 2,300–3,220.
• 50–99 residents: roughly SAR 3,600–5,220.
• 100–199 residents: roughly SAR 5,600–7,000.
• 200–800 residents: roughly SAR 7,550–9,060.
• 801+ residents: around SAR 11–12.65 depending on tier.

Important: this subscription is only the platform access fee. It is completely separate from government charges such as iqama fees, work permits, the expat levy, and visa fees — those are paid on top and go to the relevant government authority. Always confirm current amounts on the official portal.

Key Services for Expats (Handled by Your Employer)

Most of the residence services that matter to you day to day are processed here:

• Issue a new iqama for a sponsored worker after the entry visa is activated.
• Renew the iqama before it expires to keep your status valid.
• Print or reprint the iqama, including the electronic print service.
• Update resident information — passport number, passport expiry, profession, employer details, and address where required.
• Issue exit–re-entry visas (single or multiple) for you and your dependents.
• Extend an exit–re-entry visa whether you are inside or outside the Kingdom, up to your iqama expiry date.
• Issue the final exit visa when you are permanently leaving Saudi Arabia.

What This Means for You as an Employee

Because these actions run through your employer, timing and communication matter. Keep the following in mind:

• Give your company plenty of notice before travel so an exit–re-entry visa can be issued in time.
• Make sure your passport details on file are current — an expired passport can block an iqama renewal.
• Confirm your iqama expiry date; some exit visas can only extend up to that date.
• You can usually view your iqama and visa status yourself through your personal أبشر account.

Practical Tips for Employers

• Choose a subscription package that matches both your headcount and how many staff need portal access.
• Track iqama expiry dates centrally to avoid late-renewal penalties.
• Keep employee passport data updated to prevent rejected transactions.
• Remember the subscription fee and the government service fees are billed separately — budget for both.

For any exact fees, package details, or step-by-step transaction flows, always confirm on the official مقيم portal or the relevant Saudi government platform, as amounts and rules can change.

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