Check Iqama

Check Iqama Status Online – Immigrants are an important part of any country’s population. Every year there are almost millions of individuals who migrate from one place to another, some looking for food and shelter while others to make a living for themselves. In most countries, the government has devised a plan to cater to the needs of the immigrants and keep a balance between the locals and the immigrants.

Saudi Arabia Immigrant System

Like many, Saudi Arabia has also come up with an immigration system that allows them to monitor everything and make sure that the process runs smoothly. In most parts around the world, a person needs a visa or a permit to work or reside in a foreign land. Like that, the work permit that the foreigners get in Saudi Arabia is called Iqama.

If you are in KSA, then you probably know a bit about it already. But we understand that the whole process can be quite tricky and confusing which can leave one devasted when it comes to seeking employment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

So, on this website, we are going to be discussing all the aspects of Iqama. You will get the answer to them each and every question that arises in your mind. For instance,

What is Iqama?

The term Iqama is used for the work permit provided to expat’s in Saudi Arabia which allows them to legally live and work in the Kingdom. In simple terms, Iqama is your identity card in KSA and without it, you wouldn’t have an identity and would be considered as an illegal immigrant which is why it is important that you always keep your Iqama card with you while you are staying in Saudi Arabia.

People often fail to understand the importance of Iqama. Just like you need your national identity card in your own country, Iqama is your identity card in KSA.

But since KSA is quite strict about its immigrant policies, rules and regulations thus you won’t be able to access anything or do any major transaction without acquiring the Iqama from your company, sponsor, kafeel.

Why Iqama is Mandatory?

Saudi Arabia is a huge kingdom with a population of around roughly 32 million out of which around 12 million are immigrants. According to the analysis done, more than 80% of the employed individuals in the kingdom are foreigners which is why the government tends to come up with better and enhanced policies in order to cater to the needs of the economy and the immigrants.

It might seem as if foreigners are the only ones working in the country but that is not how it works. For an immigrant to get a job in the kingdom, he or she needs to be sponsored by a local employee which keeps the balance between the workforce. Most of the major businesses running in the kingdom are run by locals which makes them economically strong and stable.

How to Get Iqama & What Documents Are Required?

Before one goes through any kind of application process, it is important to know what documents you will be needing so that you can have them all in place beforehand so that you don’t have to go through any hassle during the process which will lead to delays. So here is the list of documents that you will be needing in order to apply for Iqama.

These are the basic requirements for the application process to go through. Once you have submitted the application form with the documents, the person-in-charge of your application will get in touch with you and if needed, will ask you for the additional documents that he might need in order to get your application in process.

How to Check Iqama Status Online Using Absher Account?

The thing about Iqama is that it is only applicable for one year. If you wish to continue working in the country after that on a long term basis, then you will need to get it renewed every year. The process is quite simple, but the problem is that the new policy that was launched recently called the Jawazat doesn’t print your Iqama status and expiry date on the Iqama card anymore which makes it hard for the immigrants to keep track of it all.

But not to worry anymore because you can now check it only on the portal specifically created by the Ministry of Interior KSA for the immigrants to track their status and expiry dates. The portal is called Absher and in order to check your expiry date, you will need the following two things;

You will be provided with both on successful approval of your Iqama application. Let us go and look at the steps that you will need to follow in order to access your Absher account and check your Iqama status and expiry date.

The Absher portal can be accessed in two different ways. You can either download the application on your smartphone or you can simply access the portal via the official website. We will be looking at the website process as everyone wouldn’t want to download the app.

If the bar showing the status is in green, then it means that your Iqama is still valid and active but in case it is in red then you need to start worrying as it has expired, and you need to get it renewed as soon as possible in order to face a lower fine. A date will also be displayed in the bar which is equally your expiry date so keep that in mind for future purposes.

How to Get Work Visa from Saudi Embassy – Step by Step Guide for Employer & Sponser

The thing that differentiates Iqama from the regular work permit is that in KSA, the employer who sponsored the foreign employee must handle everything on his own. In simple terms, the entire process of getting the Iqama falls on the employer and not the employee himself. Here is how the process goes and what roles you and your employer need to play.

And that is it. If you fulfill all the requirements, your application should be processed and approved within two weeks and you will receive it by then as well.

How partnering with a local employer can help with the process?

KSA is very strict in terms of immigration policies and they often take months to get the process done which makes it quite time-consuming and daunting at times as well especially if you are handling everything on your own. Individuals often get employment offers before they apply for iqama but there are those as well who wish to start their own business entity in the country.

In such a case, having a local partner with you can help a lot. Instead of months, you can have your business running within days without much of a hassle as the locals would be involved and the KSA government cater to the needs of their locals.

So, in order to start your very own legal business entity in the kingdom, partner with a local business owner and ask him to run it for you in the beginning and hire local employees. In the legal books, you will be the legal owner of the entity, but it would be run by a local.

So, while to get your iqama process complete, you can already have a running business in a process to be a step ahead and take charge of everything. Plus, the local partner will have more insight into the business industry in the country and will help you with the whole iqama process as well and hopefully, it would go smoothly.

Important things to keep in mind when it comes to Iqama

Like the other visa and permit regulations, there are some important aspects that you need to keep in mind when it comes to Iqama as the Saudi government is very strict when it comes to rules and regulations. On breaking, you are fined heavily in respect of how much you earn and stuff. So here is the list of things that you know about Iqama if you are applying for one or already have one.

Conclusion

Iqama is a very important document for foreigners living in KSA. Individuals looking for employment in the Kingdome need to go through a huge process in order to get their iqama but before that one needs to find any sort of employment as well.

You need to keep in mind that finding an employer to sponsor you doesn’t ensure your iqama as the authorities have a fixed number for such block visas and only allow a few out of many.

So, don’t get your hopes up just yet because the process needs to be fully approved for you to get your iqama. Both you and your employer need to play the part fully in order to get a successful iqama.