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Arriving & settling

Your first 90 days: getting your iqama

What has to happen after you land on a work visa.

General information, not advice. This page summarises publicly available rules in plain language. It is not legal advice or a recommendation to take any action. Procedures, fees and fines change without notice and can differ by case. The official portal below is the only authoritative source.

You need: Passport with work visa, signed contract, a phone number for SMS codes.

Steps

  1. Complete the medical test at an approved centre. Your employer usually books it.
  2. Your employer must buy health insurance for you before the iqama is issued. Iqama renewal also needs active insurance.
  3. Give fingerprints at the passport office (Jawazat) if your employer asks. Everyone aged 15 and over needs them on file.
  4. Your employer issues the iqama through Muqeem. You can then register on Absher and on Nafath with your iqama number.
  5. Download Tawakkalna and Absher. Your digital iqama in Absher is accepted in most places.

Important: Do not hand over your passport permanently. Keeping a worker's passport is not allowed.

Last checked: 2026-10-24. Confirm current rules on the official source: absher.sa

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