The resident ID (iqama) within 90 days, the medical test, mandatory health cover, the Ejar rental contract, the bank account and the driving licence: what to do first and what we could not confirm.
In brief
As of 6 November 2026, the first month in Saudi Arabia runs on one central document, the resident ID (iqama). Reports of statements by the Passports Directorate put the deadline at 90 days from entry, with a SAR 500 fine for delay and a medical test as a condition; health insurance must be active, and a residential lease should be registered on the Ejar platform. We read search summaries, not official pages, and most sources are commercial guides, so every figure below is indicative. Alcohol, dress, SIM and school rules were not researched in this pass.
Before the clock starts: which status are you in?
In Saudi Arabia almost everything runs through the iqama, the resident ID. For most newcomers it is arranged through a sponsor, usually the employer, who uses the Muqeem or Absher Business systems. The individual follows the status in the Absher app. This checklist is for people who have arrived, or are about to arrive, with a visa that leads to an iqama, and who are now building a normal life: a home, a bank account, insurance and a licence.
If you came for a visit only, none of the items below that need an iqama will be possible, and the sensible plan is to treat the stay as temporary. If your route is investment-linked, read our guide on Premium Residency and property for expats first. If you are still choosing a flat or a district, see what you can buy in Saudi Arabia for SAR 500,000 to 2,500,000 and the best areas to buy. The general version of this checklist for any country is first 30 days after moving abroad.
An honest limit: we did not find anything specific to holders of Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh or Ukrainian passports about eVisa eligibility or about how the authorities treat these nationalities. Check your own situation on the official visa portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel.
Days 1 to 3: entry, address and the paper trail
Keep your entry record, the passport photo page and several copies of the visa. The 90-day iqama window below is counted from the date of entry.
Decide where you will live before anything else, because the address feeds into the lease, the bank and the insurance. In Saudi Arabia a residential lease is normally registered on the Ejar platform run by the Real Estate General Authority. Expat guides say that registration is mandatory for residential leases and that a contract that is not registered has no standing in court. The landlord or the broker usually starts the registration, and you approve the contract yourself through your Absher account. For that you need a Saudi mobile number linked to your iqama. So the first purchase on day one is a local SIM; we did not research the rules for SIM registration, and the common practice is that operators ask for ID.
Two quick wins:
- Take photos of the visa, entry stamp and passport and keep them on your phone.
- Ask your employer or sponsor for the date on which the iqama application was submitted and for a copy of the Absher request number.
Week 1: iqama, medical test and insurance
The iqama. According to statements by the Passports Directorate reported by Gulf News and the Saudi outlet Ajel, a SAR 500 fine applies if the resident ID is not issued within 90 days of entry. The same reports say that a medical test is among the requirements for issuing the ID through the Absher or Muqeem portal, after the related fees are paid. Sources differ on who bears the fine: some frame it as the employer's liability, others as the expatriate's. These statements date from 2022 and 2025, so confirm the current rule with your sponsor.
For employees the sponsor processes the application and renewal. The employee follows the status in Absher. If you are self-arranged, for example through a family or investor route, ask the office that handles your case for the exact documents.
The medical test. Expect a blood test and a chest X-ray; the exact list is set by the authorities and is not something we could verify. Book it as soon as you arrive, because it sits on the critical path to the iqama.
Health insurance. A valid policy is mandatory. A 2026 guide says that iqama renewal is blocked without active cover, and employers are expected to buy approved insurance before the visa or iqama is issued; a KPMG alert describes a rule tightening that requires proof of cover before a work visa is issued. The regulator, formerly the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI), is now called the Council of Health Insurance (CHI). You can check the status of your policy by iqama number on its website. For choosing cover and what residence usually requires, see health insurance after moving abroad.
Weeks 2 to 4: lease, bank, licence
The lease. Once you have an address, ask the landlord or broker to register the contract on Ejar and approve it in Absher. Rent is paid through Ejar to the lessor's bank account, so a verified IBAN of the landlord is needed. A Ministry of Labor statement reported by Gulf News says that registration of the rental contract on Ejar is required for the issue and renewal of work permits for non-Saudis; if that applies to you, an unregistered lease can block the renewal of your papers. Treat an unregistered contract as a red flag, not as a way to save a fee.
The bank account. One source says all major banks require an iqama to open a personal account. That makes the bank a step for after the iqama, not before. We did not find a full document list, and nothing specific to Russian-language passports, so ask the bank directly which documents it needs and whether it applies extra checks on your nationality. The general questions banks ask are covered in our guide to resident accounts.
The driving licence. One guide updated on 31 May 2026 says that holders of licences from the Gulf states and many Western countries can exchange them without a test, and that everyone else must pass a driving test. The same guide says an international driving permit does not work for long-term residents once the iqama is issued. We did not find an official list and could not confirm whether the licences of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan or Ukraine are accepted for exchange. See driving licence abroad for the general approach, and check with the Traffic Department or Absher.
What changes with an iqama and what does not
- Visit only: you can enter and stay for the visa period, but a bank account, a registered lease and long-term services are not realistic.
- With the iqama: you can register a lease on Ejar, open a bank account, hold insurance in your name and plan the renewal each year. The fines for an expired iqama are reported differently: one guide lists SAR 500 for a first violation, SAR 1,000 for a second and SAR 1,000 plus deportation for a third, another lists SAR 500 plus SAR 100 for each day overdue. We cannot say which is current, so renew early. One source says the law requires renewal at least three days before expiry, another says fines begin three days after expiry; do not test the margin.
- Property owners: owning a flat does not by itself create residence. Foreign ownership rules changed in 2026, see what changes in the foreign ownership law.
- Tax residence is a separate question from the iqama; read tax residency when relocating.
Mistakes that cost a month
1. Counting the 90 days from the wrong date, or not asking the sponsor when the application was filed. 2. Signing a lease that is not registered on Ejar. 3. Arriving without cover and waiting for the policy until the renewal. 4. Trying to open the bank account before the iqama. 5. Relying on a forum to decide whether your home licence can be exchanged. 6. Forgetting that the Ejar approval needs a Saudi number linked to the iqama. 7. Not tracking the renewal date and counting on the grace days.
One-page checklist
- Day 1: keep entry record and passport copies; buy a local SIM; note the date of entry.
- Days 2 to 3: ask the sponsor for the filing date and the Absher request number; pick the flat.
- Week 1: book the medical test; confirm the health policy; track the iqama in Absher.
- Week 2: lease registered on Ejar and approved in Absher; landlord IBAN verified.
- Week 3: bank account after the iqama is issued; ask the bank for its document list.
- Week 4: driving licence check; set a renewal reminder well before expiry.
- Not verified here: SIM rules, school registration, alcohol and dress rules, eVisa eligibility by passport. Read the official guidance before you travel.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fines change; confirm with the sponsor, Absher and the official portals.
FAQ
Within what time must I get the iqama? Reports of statements by the Passports Directorate put it at 90 days from entry, with a SAR 500 fine for delay. Who pays the fine differs by source, so ask your sponsor and check Absher.
Do I need health insurance before the iqama? Yes in practice. Employers are expected to buy approved cover before the visa or iqama is issued, and a 2026 guide says renewal is blocked without active insurance. The regulator is now called CHI.
Is Ejar registration really mandatory? Expat guides say yes for residential leases and that unregistered contracts lack standing in court. A Ministry of Labor statement links it to work permits. Ask for the Ejar number before you pay a deposit.
Can I exchange my Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh or Ukrainian licence? We could not confirm it. One guide says only some nationalities can exchange without a test and the rest must take a driving test. Ask the Traffic Department.
Can I open a bank account on a visit? Not realistically: one source says banks require an iqama for a personal account. Ask the bank which documents it needs for your nationality.