Jawazat Clarifies: No Quarterly Iqama Renewal for Domestic Workers

In a recent inquiry on X (formerly Twitter), a user asked whether the Iqama (residency permit) of domestic workers in Saudi Arabia could be renewed for a duration of three months. This question arose following the introduction of the quarterly Iqama renewal system by Saudi authorities, which allows most expatriates to renew their Iqama for periods as short as three months.

Saudi Arabia introduced the option for quarterly renewals in November 2021 as part of labor market reforms, allowing employers to renew work permits and residency permits for three, six, nine, or twelve months. This was designed to provide flexibility to businesses and expatriates, particularly in managing renewal costs and government fees.

However, in response to the user’s query, Jawazat Customer Service on X confirmed that the quarterly Iqama renewal service does not apply to domestic workers, who remain subject to the traditional one-year or two-year renewal periods. This clarification reinforced earlier announcements that domestic workers are governed by a different set of rules, and the quarterly option is only applicable to workers in the private sector.

Absher has recently published key questions and answers related to Iqama renewal for domestic workers and family members, which you can read in this article: Absher Iqama Renewal for Domestic Workers and Family Members.