Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has outlined the requirements for renewing the Resident Identity, commonly known as the Iqama, through the official Absher platform, enabling eligible beneficiaries to complete the process electronically without visiting passport offices.

According to the requirements published by Absher, applicants must pay the applicable residency renewal fees and settle any outstanding traffic violations registered against the beneficiary. The resident’s passport must also remain valid when the renewal request is submitted.

Additional conditions include ensuring that the beneficiary is not registered as absent from work and that the required fingerprints and photographs are available in the passport authorities’ systems. Family members must also hold separate passports rather than being included in another beneficiary’s passport.

The published service conditions further specify that the residency permit must not have expired more than six months earlier. Applicants must also satisfy any additional requirements applicable to their category and complete the necessary payments before submitting the renewal.

Absher provides separate renewal pathways for domestic workers and eligible family members. Users can access the appropriate service, select the relevant beneficiary, enter the requested information, and confirm the declaration to complete the available procedure.

Saudi residency regulations emphasise the importance of renewing permits within the prescribed periods. Delays may result in financial penalties or other consequences depending on the circumstances and applicable regulations, making it important to monitor expiry dates regularly.

Source: Saudi General Directorate of Passports – Absher Platform.