Your first 90 days in Saudi Arabia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Your iqama is your legal existence in the country and it is administered by your employer through Absher — an expired iqama produces immediate and serious consequences including fines and travel bans. Check the expiry in the Absher app yourself each quarter rather than trusting HR to track it.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Complete the iqama (residence permit) process — medical examination, biometrics, and issuance through Absher and the Muqeem platform
Within 90 days of arrival on a work visa; the employer must convert the entry visa into an iqama within that window
From 2026 the physical Resident Identity card is issued on a five-year cycle while the underlying residency status is still renewed annually or biennially through Absher — the card and the status are now decoupled, and the Digital Residency Identity in the Absher app is the primary proof.
Get your Iqama number (residence permit number)
Saudi Arabia levies no personal income tax on salaries, so the iqama number is the operative identifier — banking, housing, healthcare, travel and every government service run on it.
Assigned when the iqama is issued; GOSI social insurance registration is handled by the employer, and businesses register separately with ZATCA.
Open a bank account
Al Rajhi, SNB and Riyad Bank open accounts on the iqama and employer letter. Salaries must be paid through the Wage Protection System into a local account. The riyal is pegged to the US dollar and remittances are unrestricted, though they are the most-scrutinised transactions in the system.
Enrol in healthcare
Employers are legally required to provide health insurance for employees and their dependants under the Cooperative Health Insurance scheme; the policy class determines which hospitals you may use, and the cheap classes are genuinely restrictive. Check the class, the network and the dependant cover in your contract, not just that insurance exists.
Sort your driver's license
Licences from a list of countries convert to a Saudi licence without a driving test, requiring a medical and eye test; others take the Saudi test. Women have been able to drive since 2018 and hold licences on the same terms. Driving is on the right.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Saudi Arabia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Saudi Arabia?
Complete the iqama (residence permit) process — medical examination, biometrics, and issuance through Absher and the Muqeem platform — Within 90 days of arrival on a work visa; the employer must convert the entry visa into an iqama within that window. From 2026 the physical Resident Identity card is issued on a five-year cycle while the underlying residency status is still renewed annually or biennially through Absher — the card and the status are now decoupled, and the Digital Residency Identity in the Absher app is the primary proof. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the Iqama number and do I need one?
Iqama number (residence permit number) is Saudi Arabia's personal tax/ID number. Saudi Arabia levies no personal income tax on salaries, so the iqama number is the operative identifier — banking, housing, healthcare, travel and every government service run on it. Assigned when the iqama is issued; GOSI social insurance registration is handled by the employer, and businesses register separately with ZATCA.
Can I drive in Saudi Arabia on a US license?
Licences from a list of countries convert to a Saudi licence without a driving test, requiring a medical and eye test; others take the Saudi test. Women have been able to drive since 2018 and hold licences on the same terms. Driving is on the right. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Saudi Arabia?
Employers are legally required to provide health insurance for employees and their dependants under the Cooperative Health Insurance scheme; the policy class determines which hospitals you may use, and the cheap classes are genuinely restrictive. Check the class, the network and the dependant cover in your contract, not just that insurance exists. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Saudi Arabia's system treats foreign residents.