Last updated: 27 October 2026
The New Muslim card is a digital card from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance for people who embrace Islam in Saudi Arabia. After the ministry approves the request, the card appears in the Tawakkalna app with a QR code that confirms it was officially issued. The service started on 26 July 2026.
This guide explains who issues the New Muslim card, what is known about the request, how to find and show the card in Tawakkalna, and what to do if it does not appear. It also points new Muslims in the Kingdom to the practical next steps, from prayer times to a first Ramadan.
New Muslim card at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance |
| Launched | 26 July 2026, by Minister Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh |
| Where it shows | Tawakkalna app, once the request is approved |
| Verification | QR code that confirms the card was issued by the ministry |
| Technical partner | Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) |
| Public application link | Not published as of October 2026 |
| Fee | None announced |
Follow Saudi Life Guide for Iqama, visa and job updates
New rules, fees and news as soon as we publish them. Join 83,500+ followers on Facebook.
What the New Muslim card replaces
Before the launch, a person who embraced Islam in Saudi Arabia went through a paper process at the ministry’s offices and received a printed certificate. The ministry says the new service automates every stage of the request, from submission to approval, and puts the result in Tawakkalna instead of on paper. The ministry also says the digital records will improve the quality of its data and statistics.
In daily life this means the proof travels with your phone. Anyone who needs to check it can scan the QR code rather than call an office to confirm a stamp.
How to get the New Muslim card
The ministry has not published a public self-service page or a list of documents for the New Muslim card. Based on what it has announced, the request follows this order:
- Declare Islam with a ministry-supervised centre. Our suggestion: contact the Islamic centre or Dawah and guidance office in your city and ask them to file the New Muslim card request for you.
- The request is recorded electronically. Keep your iqama or national ID with you, since the card is tied to your identity record.
- The ministry reviews and approves it.
- The card appears in Tawakkalna. No separate download is needed.
Your iqama number and the mobile number registered in Absher are what Tawakkalna uses to sign you in, so make sure both are up to date. If you have never set up Absher, follow our Absher registration guide first. Many government apps now also confirm logins through Nafath, explained in our Nafath app guide.
Be careful with offers to “speed up” the card. The ministry has announced no fee, and no private website can issue it.
How to find and show the card in Tawakkalna
- Update Tawakkalna from the App Store or Google Play.
- Sign in with your iqama or national ID number and the code sent to your registered mobile number.
- Open the section that lists your cards and documents and look for the New Muslim card.
- Tap the card to open it and show the QR code to the person who needs to check it.
Scanning the QR code is how an office confirms that the card is genuine and issued by the ministry. Keep mobile data or Wi-Fi on when you show it, so the check can go through.
If the card does not appear
- Check the request was approved. The card only shows after the ministry approves it.
- Update and sign in again. Install the latest Tawakkalna version, sign out and sign back in.
- Check your identity details. If your iqama has expired, renew it first; you can confirm the date with our iqama expiry date check.
- Ask the centre that filed the request. They can follow it up with the ministry.
Next steps for new Muslims in Saudi Arabia
Life in the Kingdom makes the first months easier than in many countries, because mosques, prayer breaks and Islamic classes are part of everyday routine. A few pages that help:
- Prayer times: check the five daily prayers for your city on our prayer times page.
- Your first Ramadan: working hours, fasting at work and Taraweeh are covered in our first Ramadan in Saudi Arabia guide.
- Zakat: once you have savings above the nisab for a full lunar year, our zakat calculator works out the amount.
- Umrah and Hajj: residents book Umrah through Nusuk; see the best times to perform Umrah and how Hajj packages for domestic pilgrims work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Muslim card in Saudi Arabia?
It is a digital card issued by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance to people who embrace Islam in the Kingdom. Once the ministry approves the request, the card appears in the Tawakkalna app. It carries a QR code that lets authorised bodies confirm it was issued by the ministry. The service was launched on 26 July 2026.
Is there an online link to apply for the New Muslim card?
As of October 2026 the ministry has not published a public application link or a step list. It says the whole request, from submission to approval, now runs electronically. Our suggestion is to start with the Islamic centre or Dawah office where you plan to declare Islam and ask them to file the request. Do not pay any website that claims to sell the card.
Can I get a physical New Muslim card or a paper certificate?
The new service is digital, and the card lives in Tawakkalna. The ministry has not said whether printed certificates are still issued alongside it. If an embassy, a court or an office in your home country needs paper, ask the centre that handled your request whether they can give you a printed certificate as well.
Is the New Muslim card only for residents with an iqama?
The ministry describes the service for people who embrace Islam in Saudi Arabia, and the card is delivered through Tawakkalna, which works with an iqama or national ID. Visitors can also use Tawakkalna with passport details, but the ministry has not said whether visitors receive the card, so ask the centre handling your request.
What should I do if the card does not show in Tawakkalna?
First make sure the ministry has approved your request, because the card only appears after approval. Then update Tawakkalna from the App Store or Google Play, sign out and sign in again. If it is still missing after a few days, go back to the centre that filed your request and ask them to check its status with the ministry.
Sources: Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance announcement of 26 July 2026, as reported by Al-Madina, Ajel English, the Saudi Press Agency via Khaleej Times and Saudi Gazette. Read in October 2026.
