If you are living and working in Saudi Arabia, your Iqama (إقامة) — the official residence permit — is the most important document you carry. Without a valid Iqama, you cannot legally reside in Saudi Arabia, cannot open or access a bank account, cannot visit any government office, and cannot board a domestic flight. ইকামা মেয়াদ শেষ হলে প্রতিদিন ২০০ SAR পর্যন্ত জরিমানা হতে পারে, এবং ধরা পড়লে সরাসরি দেশে ফেরত পাঠানোর ব্যবস্থা হয়। This guide explains exactly how to renew your Iqama in 2026, primarily through the Absher platform.
Who Is Responsible for Iqama Renewal — You or Your Employer?
This is the single most important thing to understand about Iqama renewal: under Saudi labour law, your employer is legally responsible for renewing your Iqama and for paying all associated fees. You are not required to pay for your own Iqama renewal out of your salary. If your employer refuses to renew your Iqama, fails to pay the renewal fees, or deducts the renewal cost from your wages, they are violating Saudi labour law.
In practice, many employers — particularly small businesses, household sponsors, and unscrupulous contractors — try to make workers pay for their own Iqama. Do not accept this. Document any request for you to pay Iqama costs, and if your employer refuses to fulfill their legal obligation, you can report them to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) through their hotline (19911) or through the Musaned platform if you are a domestic worker. نيجوكتا আপনাকে দিয়ে Iqama renewal এর খরচ দেওয়ালে HRSD-তে ১৯৯১১ নম্বরে অভিযোগ করুন।
What Is Absher and How to Use It
Absher (أبشر) is the Saudi government’s official digital services platform, available as both a website (absher.sa) and a mobile app for iOS and Android. It covers hundreds of government services including Iqama renewal, visa issuance for family members, traffic fine payment, and more. For most foreigners in Saudi Arabia, the Absher platform is the primary way to interact with Saudi government services without visiting offices in person.
To access Absher, you need your Iqama number and the mobile number registered with your Iqama. When you first register, an OTP is sent to your registered mobile number. সৌদি SIM কার্ড দিয়ে Absher-এ রেজিস্ট্রেশন করতে হবে — তাই সৌদিতে পৌঁছানোর পরই একটা local SIM নিন। If your mobile number has changed since your Iqama was issued, you may need your employer to update it through their Absher business account (Absher Al-Amal) before you can log in.
Step-by-Step Iqama Renewal Through Absher
Your employer typically handles the actual renewal process through their business Absher account (as the sponsor), not through your personal Absher account. However, you can monitor the status of your Iqama renewal and receive notifications through your personal Absher account. Here is how the process typically works from your perspective:
About 3 months before your Iqama expires, remind your employer or their HR department that renewal is approaching. Many employers have hundreds of workers and may not track individual expiry dates. Bring a printed copy of your Iqama showing the expiry date. If your employer uses Absher Al-Amal, they can check all workers’ Iqama expiry dates through the system.
Your employer logs into Absher Al-Amal, selects your Iqama for renewal, chooses the renewal duration (1 or 2 years), and pays the government fee (SAR 650 for 1 year, SAR 1,300 for 2 years). Payment is made through Mada debit card, credit card, or online banking. Once payment is confirmed, the Iqama is automatically renewed in the system — there is no physical card replacement unless you specifically request one.
You can verify your renewed Iqama status by logging into your personal Absher account and checking under “My Services” → “Residency” → “Iqama Details.” Your phone may also receive an SMS confirmation. If you need to travel and an immigration officer requires proof of renewed Iqama, you can show the Absher app screen or print the Iqama details page. Absher এ Iqama renewal হয়ে গেলে print বা screenshot রাখুন — বিমানবন্দরে বা checkpoint এ কাজে আসতে পারে।
What Happens If Your Iqama Expires?
If your Iqama expires and is not renewed, you enter illegal status in Saudi Arabia even if it is your employer’s fault for not renewing it. Saudi authorities do not make distinctions between workers whose Iqamas expired due to employer negligence and those who overstayed intentionally — the legal consequences are the same.
The overstay fine is up to SAR 200 per day, though the exact amount depends on how long you have been irregular. You will not be able to leave Saudi Arabia without paying all outstanding fines and fees — the system checks at the airport, and you will be detained if there are outstanding violations. Immigration authorities can also ban you from re-entering Saudi Arabia for a period ranging from 1 to 10 years depending on the severity of the violation. ইকামার মেয়াদ শেষ হয়ে গেলেও বিমানবন্দরে আটকে দেওয়া হবে এবং জরিমানা দেওয়া ছাড়া দেশে ফেরার উপায় থাকবে না।
If you are in this situation, do not panic but act quickly. Contact your employer and HRSD (19911) immediately. There is an “exit without return” option that allows expired-status workers to depart Saudi Arabia under a specific amnesty-like program — Saudi Arabia periodically announces these programs. The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh (+966-11-488-7652) can also assist in coordinating with Saudi authorities for workers in distress.
Absher Domestic Worker Services for Those on Private Household Visas
Bangladeshi domestic workers (গৃহকর্মী) — cooks, housemaids, drivers, baby sitters working for private Saudi families — are under a different legal framework than workers in companies. The Musaned platform (musaned.com.sa) is specifically designed for domestic workers and their household employers. Through Musaned, domestic workers can report non-payment of wages, absence from the employer, and other disputes.
Under Saudi law, domestic workers are entitled to a day off each week, 30 days of annual leave, accommodation and food provided by the employer, and a return ticket to Bangladesh at the end of the contract. If your employer violates these rights, register on Musaned, document your complaint, and the system will direct it to the appropriate ministry for resolution. Many Bangladeshi domestic workers do not know they have these legal rights — spread this information to others in your community. গৃহকর্মীদের অধিকার আছে — Musaned-এ অভিযোগ করুন, চুপ থাকবেন না।