Who pays. Under Article 40 of the Saudi Labor Law, the employer pays the fees for the iqama (residence permit) and the work permit, for renewing them, and the fines for renewing late. The same article puts the employer in charge of the fees for a change of profession, exit and re-entry, and your ticket home when the job ends. If your employer asks you to pay any of these, that is against the law.
Late renewal. Renewing an iqama after it expires brings a fine, and repeat cases are treated more seriously. We could not confirm the current amounts on an official page, so we do not print them here: check Absher or ask Jawazat for the figure that applies to you.
| Situation | Penalty | Who pays by law |
|---|---|---|
| Iqama renewed late, first time | Check Absher | The employer (Labor Law, Article 40) |
| Iqama renewed late, second time | Check Absher | |
| Iqama renewed late, third time | Check Absher | |
| Iqama and work permit renewal fees | Check Absher | The employer (Labor Law, Article 40) |
Hijri dates. Iqama dates are usually in the Hijri (Umm al-Qura) calendar. This page converts them on your device with the Umm al-Qura calendar built into your phone's browser. If your browser lacks it, an arithmetic calendar is used and the page warns you that the date can be a day out. For anything time-critical, confirm the date on Absher.
Changing jobs in Saudi Arabia? Work out your end-of-service award, check who pays for visa and work-permit costs, and update your CV with the free CV builder.
As of 21 October 2026. Sources: Saudi Labor Law, Article 40 (official text on the Bureau of Experts site); iqama renewal service: Absher and my.gov.sa — Renewal of Iqama. Fees and fines change; where rules vary, check your contract and the official source. This is a guide, not legal advice.