Expired Iqama Fine & Frozen Bank Account (2026)

Short answer: Jawazat asks you to renew your Iqama at least 3 days before it expires. If you don’t, the fine is SAR 500 the first time, SAR 1,000 the second time, and a third time can lead to deportation. Your bank must also freeze your accounts 90 days after the Iqama expires. Renew the Iqama, then update the new expiry date with your bank to unfreeze it.

Last checked: November 2026.

Late Iqama renewal fines

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) set out the penalty in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA):

Offence	Penalty
First time not renewing on time	SAR 500 fine
Second time	SAR 1,000 fine
Third time	Deportation

Jawazat asks residents to renew at least three days before the Iqama expires. The fine is paid with the renewal fees.

There is a second cost people forget: when an Iqama is renewed late, the new period is counted from the old expiry date, not from the day you pay. We explain this in our Iqama renewal rules for 2026.

Who pays the fine?

Your own (worker) Iqama: Article 40 of the Labour Law says the employer bears the Iqama and work permit fees, their renewal, and the fines caused by the employer (HRSD). If your company delayed the renewal, it should pay the fine, not you.
Wife and children (dependents): you, as head of the family, renew their Iqamas in Absher and pay their fees and any late fine. See Iqama fees in Saudi Arabia for the dependent fee.

Find out your expiry date now: how to check Iqama expiry date.

What happens to your bank account

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) rulebook sets what banks must do when a customer’s ID expires. The rule for non-Saudis was updated by a SAMA circular dated 25 September 2025 (SAMA Rulebook 3.1.2):

Time after Iqama expiry	What the bank does
At least 30 days before the freeze	The bank must tell you the freeze date
90 days	All accounts and transactions are frozen
180 days	The balance is moved to a special combined account the bank keeps for such cases
5 years with no activity	The balance moves to the bank’s unclaimed accounts

Your bank may restrict some services or keep sending reminders before the 90 days, so don’t wait for the last day.

What still works when the account is frozen

SAMA lists exceptions to the freeze (SAMA Rulebook 3.3):

Money can still come in: your salary, deposits, and local or international transfers into the account.
Payments you already owe continue: loan instalments, credit card payments, direct debits and standing instructions such as utility bills that were set up before the Iqama expired.

What you cannot do is take money out or send money (for example, transfers to India) until you update your Iqama with the bank.

How to unfreeze your account: step by step

Renew the Iqama. For your own Iqama, ask HR to pay the fees and renew it in Muqeem. For a family member, pay the fees through your bank’s SADAD government payments and renew in Absher.
Check the new expiry date in Absher (or the Absher app) so you know the renewal is done.
Try your bank app first. Log in and look for an option to update personal information or ID details. The name and place of this option differ from bank to bank and change often, so we do not list menu paths. If you can’t find it, use the bank’s in-app chat or call centre.
Visit a branch if the app refuses. Take your renewed Iqama (or digital Iqama) and passport. A branch can update your ID data and lift the freeze.
Check after updating. Make a small transfer or ATM withdrawal to confirm the account works again.

If you cannot log in to the app because the account is frozen, go to a branch.

Leaving Saudi Arabia for good

SAMA says all accounts of expatriates must be closed on final exit. You also have the right to close a frozen account by filling the bank’s closing form (SAMA Rulebook 3.2). Clear loans and credit cards and withdraw or transfer your balance before you leave.

If an expatriate comes back with a new Iqama (same or new passport) while the old account is still within the freezing period (before 180 days), SAMA’s rule says the old frozen account is closed, a new account is opened and the money is moved to it.

Common problems and fixes

Problem	What to do
Iqama renewed but bank still frozen	Update the ID in the bank app or at a branch; the bank needs the new expiry date
Salary arrived but can’t withdraw	Normal: incoming money is allowed, withdrawals are not. Update your Iqama
Employer has not renewed your Iqama	Ask HR in writing; the employer bears the fees and the fines it causes (Article 40)
Can’t renew because health insurance expired	Fix insurance first: check health insurance by Iqama
Dependent’s Iqama expired long ago	Absher’s guide lists a condition that the Iqama should not be expired for more than 6 months for online renewal of a family member. If it is older, contact Jawazat (call 992)
Bank app option not found	Use in-app chat or the call centre, or visit a branch

FAQs

Is there a grace period after the Iqama expires?

Jawazat asks residents to renew at least three days before expiry, and the penalty applies for not renewing on time. Plan to renew early, not after the expiry date.

Is the fine charged per day or per month?

Jawazat describes it per offence: SAR 500 the first time and SAR 1,000 the second time. It is not described as a daily fine.

Will my salary still be paid into a frozen account?

Yes. SAMA allows salaries and incoming transfers into a frozen account. You just can’t withdraw or transfer out until you update your Iqama.

When exactly does the bank freeze my account?

Under SAMA’s current rule, 90 days after the Iqama expires, and the bank must warn you at least 30 days before the freeze date.

What happens to my money after 180 days?

SAMA’s rule says the balance is moved to a combined account the bank keeps for such cases. The money is still yours: contact your bank with your renewed Iqama to get it back.

Do I need to visit the bank after renewing my Iqama?

Not always. First check whether your bank app has an option to update your ID details. If it does not, or it refuses, visit a branch with the renewed Iqama.

Sources: Saudi Press Agency, Jawazat statement on Iqama non-renewal penalties (spa.gov.sa/2035610); HRSD, Labour Law Article 40 (hrsd.gov.sa); SAMA Rulebook sections 3.1.2, 3.2 and 3.3 on freezing bank accounts (rulebook.sama.gov.sa); Absher family member Iqama renewal service guide (absher.sa).

Expired Iqama: Fines, Frozen Bank Account and How to Fix It