A residence permit (RP) is the legal status that allows an expatriate to reside in a GCC country beyond the limits of a visit or tourist visa. Each country issues its own version: the residence visa and Emirates ID in the UAE, the Iqama in Saudi Arabia, the Qatar ID (QID) in Qatar, and equivalents in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
Most residence permits are linked to a sponsor under the kafala system, normally an employer or, for dependents, a family member. The permit records the holder's identity, profession or relationship, and a validity period that must be renewed before expiry. Common validity runs in multi-year blocks, though the exact term varies by country, category, and sometimes the sponsor's status.
An active RP is required for most daily essentials, including opening a bank account, signing a tenancy contract, accessing healthcare, and sponsoring family. An expired or cancelled permit usually triggers overstay fines and can block other government transactions, so tracking the renewal date is important.