Lost Your Iqama? SAR 1,000 Fine and How to Report It on Absher and Muqeem (2026)

Last updated: 5 November 2026

Lost your iqama? Do not wait. Losing your resident ID card in Saudi Arabia can cost you a SAR 1,000 fine, and a replacement card adds a SAR 500 fee when one year or less is left on it. Report the loss straight away: your employer can do it online through the Muqeem portal, and you then request the replacement through Absher (My Services, Services, Passports, Tawasul) and pay through SADAD.

Many expats in Saudi Arabia only find out how strict this is when they are stopped at a checkpoint, try to open a bank account or need to travel, and the card is gone. This guide explains what the lost iqama fine is, who reports the loss, the exact Muqeem steps Jawazat has published, how to get a replacement and the documents to prepare.

Lost iqama fine and replacement fee in 2026

The fine is for the loss itself, so it applies even if you report quickly. If more than a year is left on the lost card, check the exact amount shown when you pay, because Jawazat has not published a separate figure for longer periods. For the normal yearly residency costs, see our iqama fees guide.

Who reports a lost iqama: you or your employer?

• Company workers: your employer reports the loss for you through the Muqeem portal. Tell your HR or government relations officer the same day.
• Family members (dependants): the head of the family handles the report and the replacement request, because family members are registered under the family head.
• Domestic workers: the employer (household sponsor) handles it, the same way as for a family member.
• If there is no Jawazat office nearby: Jawazat says the loss can be reported to the police instead.

In Saudi Arabia, this works differently from many home countries: you cannot simply walk in alone and order a new card. Your employer or family head has to be part of the process, so the fastest thing you can do is tell them.

How to report a lost iqama on Muqeem (employers)

Jawazat repeated these steps for establishments on 4 November 2026. They let a company report the loss online without visiting a Jawazat office:

1. Log in to the Muqeem portal with the establishment account.
2. Choose Search for a resident.
3. Enter the resident’s iqama number.
4. Open the resident’s file (View profile).
5. Choose Jawazat services.
6. Choose Report loss of resident ID and complete the details the portal asks for.

The report records the loss officially and opens the way to the replacement card. Muqeem is the same employer portal used for the Muqeem print (Muqeem paper) and for checking residency details.

How to get a replacement iqama through Absher

After the loss is reported, the replacement is requested through Absher Individuals:

1. Log in to Absher with your digital identity (the account holder, for example you or your family head).
2. Open My Services, then Services.
3. Choose Passports.
4. Choose Tawasul and send the replacement request with the required documents.
5. Pay the fine and the replacement fee through SADAD when they appear.

Keep your Absher login working before anything goes wrong. If your phone number is not linked to your iqama, the verification code will not reach you; see how to link a mobile number with your iqama.

Documents Jawazat asks for

• A letter from your employer or family head, addressed to the Jawazat department manager, stating the reason for the loss and where it happened.
• Your valid passport.
• A copy of the lost iqama, if you have one.
• The loss form and the iqama issuance form, with data that matches your passport. The employer signs and stamps the issuance form.
• Two recent colour photos, 4×6.
• Your fingerprint registration.

If you need to visit an office, see our list of Jawazat offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam with timings and appointments.

If your iqama was stolen

Report a theft to the police as well. Keep the police report number, because your employer or family head can attach it to the loss report and the replacement request. Jawazat has not announced a separate fine amount for stolen cards, so plan for the same costs as a lost one.

Lost iqama and passport together

If your passport went missing with the iqama, you also need a new passport from your embassy. Once you have it, update the new passport number in Absher; our guide to the Absher expatriate passport update shows the steps and the SAR 69 fee.

Real expat tips to avoid the fine

• Keep a photo and a photocopy of the front and back of your iqama at home and on your phone. It makes the loss form and the employer letter much faster.
• Use the digital resident ID in the Absher app to prove your identity day to day, but remember it does not cancel the duty to report a lost card.
• Do not carry the card loose in a pocket or phone case. Most losses happen in taxis, malls and at airports.
• Check your expiry date while you are in Absher. If the card was close to expiry, a renewal may be due anyway; see the iqama expiry check and today’s Hijri date.
• Never pay an agent on social media who offers a “new iqama without the fine”. Replacements only come through Jawazat, Muqeem and Absher.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fine for a lost iqama in Saudi Arabia?

Jawazat says the fine for losing a resident ID (iqama) is SAR 1,000. A one-year replacement card costs SAR 500 when one year or less is left on the lost iqama. Both are paid through SADAD.

How do I report a lost iqama on Absher?

The loss is usually reported by your employer on the Muqeem portal (Jawazat services, then Report loss of resident ID). The replacement is then requested in Absher Individuals under My Services, Services, Passports, Tawasul. Family members and domestic workers go through the head of the family or the sponsor.

Can I report my lost iqama myself?

You can report it to Jawazat, or to the police where there is no Jawazat office, but the replacement needs a letter and a signed form from your employer or family head. Tell them on the same day.

Do I need a police report for a lost iqama?

For a theft, yes, report it to the police. For an ordinary loss, Jawazat accepts the report directly, or the police where there is no Jawazat office nearby.

What documents do I need for a replacement iqama?

An employer or family head letter explaining the loss, your valid passport, a copy of the lost iqama if available, the loss and issuance forms, two 4×6 colour photos and your fingerprint registration.

Sources: Saudi Jawazat (General Directorate of Passports) official X account reply on the lost iqama fine; Jawazat Muqeem steps (Jawazat Facebook post, 4 November 2026), also reported by Al Weeam (23 June 2026), including the SAR 500 replacement fee, SADAD payment and the Absher Tawasul route; Jawazat requirements reported by Ajel (20 May 2023); Gulf News on the replacement fee. Screenshot of the public Muqeem portal home page taken on 4 November 2026.