Iqama Lost? What to Do in Saudi Arabia (2026 Guide)

If your Iqama is lost, tell your sponsor immediately. Workers get it reported through the employer’s Muqeem account, not through their own login. Family members are reported by the head of the family through Absher. You will pay a residence fee plus a loss penalty, unless the card was stolen and you filed a police report right away. Since August 2026, the report itself can be filed fully online, with no office visit needed for that first step.

Note: the fees and fines mentioned on this page are widely reported figures, not taken from an official fee schedule. They can change, so confirm the current amount on Absher, Qiwa or Muqeem before you pay.

Lost vs. Stolen: Why This Difference Matters

Most guides online treat “lost” and “stolen” as the same thing. They are not, and mixing them up can cost you money.

Lost means you misplaced it, or it fell out of your pocket, wallet, or bag. No police report is required for this.
Stolen means someone took it from you, for example a pickpocket or a break-in. For this, a police report (in Arabic, a balagh) is expected, and filing it quickly can help you avoid or reduce the loss penalty.

If you are not sure which one applies to your case, treat it as “lost” unless you have clear evidence of theft. Filing a false theft report to dodge a fee is not worth the risk.

Do This First, Before Anything Else

Search properly. Check your bags, car, the last place you used it (bank, hospital, a government office), and ask anywhere you visited that day.
Don’t wait. The longer you go without a valid Iqama, the more transactions get blocked, opening a bank account, hospital visits, SIM cards, and some Absher services all ask for it.
Tell your sponsor right away.
- If you are an employee, tell your employer or your company’s GRO (Government Relations Officer).
- If you are a dependent, spouse, child, or parent under family sponsorship, tell the head of the family.

How Employees Report a Lost Iqama (New 2026 Digital Process)

As of August 2026, Jawazat (the General Directorate of Passports) moved this entire reporting step online through the Muqeem portal. Previously this meant visits to more than one government office. That part is now gone.

Here is how it works, and who actually does each step:

You inform your employer or GRO that your Iqama is lost, and give them your Iqama number.
Your employer logs into their Muqeem account (Muqeem is the employer-facing portal, not something individual workers log into for this).
Inside your employee file, they open the applicant dashboard, enter your Iqama number, and select “Jawazat Services.”
They choose the specific service named “Report loss of expat Iqama” and submit it electronically.
Jawazat processes the required steps on their end within what they describe as the prescribed timeframe. Both you and your employer can track the status inside the Muqeem portal rather than calling or visiting an office to ask.

A useful point almost no other article mentions: once this report is filed, it cannot be withdrawn. If your old Iqama turns up in a jacket pocket a week later, it is no longer valid. You still need to go ahead and collect the replacement.

Jawazat has not published an exact number of processing days for this new digital flow, and requirements can differ slightly by case, for example whether you still need to visit a Jawazat office to collect the physical replacement card. Confirm the final pickup step with your employer or the Muqeem portal notification, rather than assuming it is fully paperless end to end. If you want the full walkthrough of that stage, see our guide on Iqama Print in Saudi Arabia.

How to Report a Lost Iqama for a Family Member (Dependents)

Dependents, wives, children, or parents on family sponsorship, are handled through Absher, not Muqeem, since Absher covers individuals and families while Muqeem covers employment matters.

Here is the general path the head of the family follows:

Log in to Absher as the head of the family.
Go to Services, then My Services, then look for Tawasul (the general request and communication service).
Start a New Request.
For Sector, choose Resident Service inside the Kingdom.
For Service, choose Report Lost or Damaged Resident ID.
In the request description, briefly explain how the Iqama was lost (a short, honest sentence is enough).
Attach copies of: the dependent’s old Iqama (if you have a copy), the dependent’s passport, and the head of family’s own Iqama and passport.
Submit and wait for a response through Absher.

Documents You Should Have Ready

Before you start either process, gather these so nothing holds you up:

Original passport, plus a photocopy
A copy of the old Iqama, if you happen to have one saved (a photo on your phone counts)
Two recent passport-style photos (4cm x 6cm)
Proof of fee payment once you have paid it
A police report, only if the Iqama was stolen, not simply lost

Fees for Replacing a Lost Iqama

Situation	Residence Permit Fee	Loss Penalty	Typical Total
Iqama simply lost, remaining validity is one year or less	SR 500 (covers one year)	SR 1,000	SR 1,500
Iqama stolen, police report filed promptly	SR 500 (renewal fee still applies)	Often waived, case by case	SR 500

Fees are typically paid through SADAD, the same national bill payment system used for most Saudi government fees, or through your bank’s app once the reference number is generated.

If It Was Stolen: The Police Report Step

If your Iqama was genuinely stolen, do this in addition to the steps above:

Go to the nearest police station, ideally with your sponsor or a colleague who can help if your Arabic is limited.
You will need to write a short statement, in Arabic, describing how the theft happened.
Ask for a copy of the police report (balagh). You will likely need to attach or reference this when the loss is reported through Muqeem or Absher.
Try to do this within 24 hours of discovering the theft. Acting quickly is generally what gives you the best chance of a fee waiver.

What Happens After You Submit the Report

The report locks in officially, and your old Iqama number is marked invalid in the system from that point.
Processing happens on Jawazat’s side; you do not need to keep resubmitting or calling repeatedly.
Check the Muqeem or Absher notification screen for updates rather than guessing.
When your replacement is ready, your employer (for workers) or the head of family (for dependents) will be notified about the next step, which may include a Jawazat office visit to collect the printed card.
Until you have the new card in hand, carry a copy of your passport and, if possible, a screenshot of the submitted lost-Iqama report as backup proof if you are stopped for an ID check.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting a few days “just in case it turns up.” Every day without a valid ID limits what you can do, from opening accounts to hospital visits.
Assuming a police report is required for every lost card. It is only expected for theft, not for a simple loss.
Trying to log into Muqeem yourself as an employee to file the report. This has to go through your employer’s account.
Ignoring the report after your old Iqama is found. Once filed, the report stands, and the old card is no longer valid even if it is back in your hands.
Using an expired or reported-lost Iqama for banking or government transactions. Systems will flag it, and it can create more delays than the loss itself.

Quick Checklist iqama lost what to do in Saudi Arabia

Searched thoroughly and confirmed it is actually lost or stolen
Told my employer/GRO (worker) or head of family (dependent)
Filed a police report, only if stolen
Employer submitted the “Report loss of expat Iqama” request on Muqeem, or head of family submitted it via Absher Tawasul
Gathered passport copy, two photos, and old Iqama copy if available
Paid the required fee through SADAD
Tracking the request status through the portal
Saved photos of my Iqama for the future

FAQs iqama lost what to do in Saudi Arabia

Can I report a lost Iqama myself without my employer?

No. For workers, the report is filed through the employer’s Muqeem account, since Muqeem is an employer-facing platform. You give your employer the details, and they submit it on your behalf.

Do I need a police report if I simply lost my Iqama?

No. A police report is only expected when the Iqama was stolen. A simple loss does not require one.

How much does it cost to replace a lost Iqama?

Commonly reported figures are a SR 500 residence fee plus a SR 1,000 loss penalty, so around SR 1,500 total, unless the card was stolen and reported to police promptly, in which case the penalty may be waived. Always confirm the exact amount shown on your own Absher, Muqeem, or SADAD screen.

What if I find my Iqama after reporting it as lost?

The report cannot be cancelled once submitted. Your old Iqama is treated as invalid from that point, even if you physically have it again. You still need to collect the new one.

Is the entire lost-Iqama process online now?

The reporting step is now fully digital through the Muqeem portal, as of August 2026. Some final steps, such as collecting the printed replacement card, may still require a Jawazat office visit depending on your case, so confirm with your employer or the portal notification.

What is the process for a lost dependent Iqama?

The head of the family reports it through Absher’s Tawasul service, choosing “Resident Service inside the Kingdom” as the sector and “Report Lost or Damaged Resident ID” as the service, then attaches the required documents.