Madinah Passport Directorate - Ar Rawabi

The SAR 9,600 worker levy and SAR 400-per-month dependant levy are Ministry of Finance charges generated by Muqeem. Disputes about the amount are raised by the sponsor through Muqeem with a corrective SADAD invoice. Ar Rawabi intervenes when the levy has been paid but Absher still blocks renewal, when a pro-rated refund is sought after departure, or when seasonal Umrah-operator workers have been charged the annual levy in error. Bring SADAD receipts, Muqeem statement, worker's passport and Iqama, and a Najiz-attested complaint. Approved refunds post within ten to fifteen working days.

If your sponsor filed a huroob report on Absher you have 30 working days to dispute it at Ar Rawabi. Bring your passport, the Qiwa-authenticated employment contract, three months of Mudad salary-bank statements, and any documented correspondence proving you attended work. The case is escalated to the Madinah-region labour-immigration committee; accepted disputes clear the huroob within five working days and reinstate the Iqama. Rejected disputes carry one further appeal at the regional directorate. Sponsor-initiated withdrawal is faster - the sponsor logs into Absher and the flag clears within 24 hours.

The 2026 Absher amendment lets sponsors inside the Kingdom renew Iqamas for dependants currently abroad provided the dependant's exit-re-entry was issued and valid when they left. The transaction posts on Absher within 24 to 48 hours without a counter visit. The sponsor pays SAR 650 annual Iqama fee and SAR 400-per-month dependant levy via SADAD; medical insurance must remain active. Ar Rawabi intervenes only when the exit-re-entry has lapsed, the dependant has been abroad more than six months, or the family mulhaq record needs updating. Attend with the dependant's passport copy, original exit-re-entry confirmation and updated medical-insurance certificate.

Final exit (Khurooj Nihai) cancels the Iqama on the date of issue, not departure. The sponsor files through Muqeem; the worker clears all Saher fines, traffic violations and expat-levy arrears via SADAD; the visa is linked to the passport electronically. Exit within 60 days or the visa lapses. Ar Rawabi handles disputed cases where a religious-tourism company refuses to file the exit: bring a Najiz-attested complaint, the Qiwa contract, three months of Mudad payslips and the worker's passport. The Madinah-region labour-immigration committee can compel issuance if a documented breach is proven. The visa is free but settlement of all financial obligations is mandatory before issue.

Yes for routine matters. The Ar Rawabi branch requires an Absher appointment for Iqama renewal escalations, dependant updates, profession amendments and most travel-permit cases. Book under Passport Services and select the Madinah branch. Walk-ins are accepted for Umrah-overstay regularisation cases where the pilgrim's permit has already expired and no Absher slot can be booked in time, and for genuine emergencies such as imminent travel bans. The QR code on the appointment confirmation must be shown at the gate. Five daily prayer breaks of 20 to 30 minutes shape the counter rhythm.

Yes, but with restricted vehicle access. During Hajj and the last ten nights of Ramadan, central Madinah is closed to non-permit-holding vehicles. Ar Rawabi remains accessible from the eastern outer ring road, but parking is heavily restricted and journey times into the city expand significantly. Use a ride-hailing app such as Careem or take a taxi licensed for the Holy Region. Pilgrim-overstay cases take priority during these seasons and routine cases face longer waits.

Pilgrims who entered Saudi Arabia on a Umrah permit and remained beyond their visa expiry can regularise their stay at Ar Rawabi by paying the standard overstay fine, typically SAR 100 per month, plus a final-exit visa for departure. The pilgrim or their service company surrenders the original passport and Tasreeh permit reference. The case is logged on Absher and a deportation order is replaced with a voluntary-exit notice. In limited cases a religious-tourism employer can sponsor a status change from Umrah to residence, but this requires Ministry of Hajj approval and is rarely granted.

During Ramadan hours shorten to 09:00 to 13:30, Sunday to Thursday, with no afternoon counter. In the last ten nights of Ramadan demand spikes because Umrah pilgrims arrive for Laylat Al Qadr observances; the branch opens an evening counter from 21:30 to 02:00 dedicated to pilgrim-permit cases. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha closures are announced via the Ministry of Interior's X account around two weeks before each holiday. Plan all routine matters at least one week before Ramadan, Eid or the Hajj season.

No. Iqama renewal is Absher-led across Saudi Arabia. The Ar Rawabi counter handles only the residue: profession amendments, dependant-levy disputes, expired medical insurance, Nitaqat-blocked sponsors (including religious-tourism companies whose Nitaqat fluctuates seasonally), and renewals where the resident has been outside the Kingdom for more than 180 days. The SAR 650 annual fee and SAR 9,600 worker expat levy must still be paid via SADAD before the officer can issue. A clean Absher renewal posts within 24 hours; counter-handled escalations typically take three to five working days.

A single exit-re-entry visa costs SAR 200 for the first two months and SAR 100 for each additional month. A multiple visa is SAR 500 for three months plus SAR 200 per added month, capped at the remaining Iqama validity. Madinah-based religious-tourism workers often travel home during the off-Umrah summer months; sponsors should file at least five working days before departure to allow for any Absher rejection. Overstaying abroad cancels the Iqama automatically and triggers a re-entry ban of up to three years.

Yes. The Ar Rawabi branch operates a dedicated PRO window for religious-tourism companies and their sub-contractors, Sunday to Wednesday from 07:30 to 11:00. Each PRO must carry a current Najiz Wakeel covering Iqama and travel-permit matters, individual passports and Iqamas for each worker, and a master SADAD receipt covering the batch. During post-Hajj season this window extends into the afternoon to handle the surge of seasonal-worker final exits and Umrah-overstay regularisations.

Yes. Bring the baby's original Saudi birth certificate from the Madinah Civil Status Department, both parents' passports and Iqamas, the family mulhaq number, and your attested marriage certificate. Newborns must be added within 90 days of birth or a SAR 100 per month overstay fee applies. The newborn's Iqama expiry matches the father's, and the SAR 400-per-month dependant levy is pro-rated. Medical insurance covering the infant must be active on Muqeem before the Iqama prints. Saudi nationality is not automatic for children born in Madinah to expatriate parents.

Yes. Absher Individuals handles routine Iqama renewals, exit-re-entry visas, final exits, dependant travel permits and most fine payments. Muqeem mirrors the employer side. Qiwa handles work-permit and contract authentication. The 2026 amendment lets sponsors inside the Kingdom renew Iqamas for dependants currently abroad, provided the dependant left on a valid exit-re-entry. Ar Rawabi is reserved for biometric capture, huroob disputes, Umrah-overstay regularisation, sponsor-blocked exits and dependant updates requiring sighted originals.