Saudi Work Permit Check 2026: How to Verify Your Work Permit Online

You can also use the public labor inquiry on the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) site. Enter your Iqama number and follow the prompts, and the result shows your work permit number, employment status and your company’s legal status. If you are still outside Saudi Arabia, check your visa on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) portal, because a work permit is normally issued after you have an Iqama.

Key takeaways

• Qiwa is the platform run by MHRSD. Workers use it to view and approve contracts, and to track work permits and employment status.
• MHRSD’s public inquiry works without an Absher account, according to one guide.
• Absher is best for personal Iqama details, and Muqeem is best for employer and HR records.
• A valid Iqama does not guarantee a clear work permit. A resident may see a valid date in Absher while HR still finds a work permit issue in the company record.
• Visa checks are separate. Use MOFA, and treat any “checker” that asks for money as a red flag.

Work permit, Iqama, visa, contract: what is the difference?

People mix these up, and it causes wrong searches and wrong fixes.

The MHRSD describes the work license as a condition for issuing or renewing regular residency in the Kingdom. A work permit is tied to the employer, not to the worker.

Method 1: Check your work permit on Qiwa

Qiwa is the central digital labor platform of MHRSD. It is where employment contracts are authenticated, work permits are issued or renewed and employee transfers are processed.

1. Register on Qiwa or log in to your Individual Account. Accounts are usually pre-activated if you are already in the MHRSD database with an active Iqama, and you need a mobile number registered on your ID in Absher.
2. Open the menu and go to My Information, then scroll to Employment Statuses. An older guide describes this path, and menus can change, so follow the current screen.
3. Look for your work permit number and status. An older guide says the presence of the number shows the permit has been issued.

Method 2: Use the MHRSD public labor inquiry

One guide says you can check your basic employment status without an Absher account, using the MHRSD portal.

1. Open the official MHRSD individual labor inquiry on hrsd.gov.sa.
2. Enter your Iqama, passport or border number, plus any other detail the form asks for, such as nationality or date of birth. The fields differ between guides, so enter what the screen requests.
3. Complete the security code and submit.
4. Read the result: it shows your Iqama color status, work permit number, employment status and your company’s legal status.

Method 3: Check your Iqama on Absher

Absher works best for residents’ personal checks. Log in, open the residence (Iqama) inquiry, and read the expiry date and status. Employers and HR teams use Muqeem for residency records across their staff.

Important: An Iqama expiry check shows only the date. An Iqama status check reviews the wider resident record. Check both, because a linked record such as the work permit, insurance or sponsor data can still block renewal, travel or an employer action.

Method 4: If you are still abroad, verify your visa

You cannot check a work permit for an Iqama you do not have yet. Instead, verify the visa.

1. Go to the MOFA visa portal, visa.mofa.gov.sa.
2. Enter your visa number, passport number and the verification code, as requested.
3. Compare every detail with your document. If the details do not match or no record is found, the visa may be fake.
4. If your e-visa has a QR code, scanning it should take you to the MOFA portal, which shows the visa details.

What your result means

What changed in 2025–2026

• Skill-based classification. MHRSD revised the system so work permits are issued or renewed on criteria such as education, experience, skills, wage and age. Workers are split into high-skill, skilled and basic categories. It took effect from 1 July 2025 for new entrants and 18 June 2025 for existing expatriates.
• Premium Residency. From June 2026, Premium Residency holders must get a dedicated work permit through Qiwa. Previously they could work without one.
• Fees. Employers pay through Qiwa. One guide describes an annual administrative charge of SAR 100 plus a monthly compensation fee of SAR 700 or 800 per non-Saudi worker, depending on the Saudi to non-Saudi ratio. It also notes that Qiwa’s own help pages describe the fee in two ways. Use Qiwa’s official work permit calculator to confirm the amount for a specific company.

Employers: how to check and renew

Employers use Qiwa’s Issue and Renew Work License service. Select the establishment, choose the service, search for the expatriates and send the request. You get a review ticket with a payment number. The payment number is valid for 14 days, after which it is cancelled and you must re-request the service. The contract must be documented in Qiwa and the worker must be active.

Before renewal, do this:

1. Confirm the expiry on Absher or Muqeem.
2. Make sure medical insurance is active and GOSI is current.
3. Pay the Iqama fee and levy through SADAD.
4. Renew the permit on Qiwa and confirm the new expiry posts across portals.

Unpaid SADAD bills can freeze downstream services on Qiwa and Absher. Also note that the ministry says a work permit cannot be canceled after it has been issued or renewed, so check the details before submitting.

Scam and safety warnings

• Do not use random “work permit check” websites. They may collect personal information or show outdated results.
• Never share your password or one-time code with an employer representative, agent or colleague.
• Do not make full payment to an agent before you have verified the visa on the official portal.
• Beware of unrealistic visa promises.
• Keep copies of your contract and documents outside your company phone and email, because access can be removed after resignation, transfer or termination.

FAQs about Saudi Work Permit Check

How do I check my Saudi work permit online?
Log in to Qiwa with your Iqama, or use the MHRSD labor inquiry. Look for your work permit number and employment status.

Can I check without Absher?
One guide says the MHRSD public inquiry works without an Absher account. Muqeem or your HR team can also confirm records.

Can I check a work permit before I arrive in Saudi Arabia?
Not the Iqama-linked record. Verify your visa on the MOFA portal instead.

My Iqama is valid but I cannot renew. Why?
A linked record, often the work permit, insurance or sponsor data, may be blocking it. Ask HR to check Qiwa and Muqeem.

Who pays for the work permit?
The employer obtains and pays for it through Qiwa.

Can domestic workers use the same check?
An older guide says domestic workers cannot use this service. Domestic worker cases follow separate routes.

Is this website official?
No. We are an independent information site. Use only government portals.