Saudi visa · Work visa
Work visa check: block visa to iqama
A Saudi Arabia work visa check online is confusing because no single site follows the whole journey. The record moves between at least four systems as you go from a company block visa quota to a visa stamp, an entry stamp and finally an iqama. This page maps every stage and names the exact portal for each one, plus the separate Musaned route for domestic workers.
Portal steps last verified 24 July 2026
The work visa journey: block visa to iqama, stage by stage
A Saudi work visa check works best once you know which stage you are at, because each stage sits on a different system with a different owner. This table is the map: find your stage, then use the checker in the last column.
| Stage | What happens | Who acts | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Block visa quota | The employer secures permission to sponsor a set number of foreign workers, based on its commercial registration and Saudization standing. | Employer, via Qiwa | Not checkable by the worker: this is a company-level quota, not a personal record |
| 2. Contract and visa number | The employer creates your employment contract and requests a visa number against the block visa quota. | Employer, via Qiwa | Qiwa employer account (see the Qiwa section below) |
| 3. Visa issuance | The application is submitted for approval and given an application, visa document or visa request number. | Employer or a licensed recruitment agent | MOFA Visa Platform inquiry screen |
| 4. Stamping | Once approved, the visa is stamped or printed into your passport, usually at a Saudi embassy or consulate, or by an authorised agent office. | Saudi mission or authorised agent | MOFA Visa Platform inquiry (status shows as approved before stamping) |
| 5. Entry to Saudi Arabia | You travel and enter on the stamped visa. Jawazat records your arrival and assigns a border number. | Jawazat at the airport or land border | The entry stamp and border number in your passport |
| 6. Iqama issuance | Your employer registers you for residency, and the iqama is issued against your border number. | Employer, via Muqeem or Absher | Muqeem or Absher once the iqama number is active |
Some job categories also require a medical clearance before visa issuance. See our visa medical check guide for the Wafid steps.
Checking your work visa status before you travel
Before you land in Saudi Arabia, your record sits with whoever submitted the visa application on your behalf, so a work visa check online means finding the right reference number, not searching by name.
- Ask your employer or recruitment agent which number they were given: an application number, visa document number or visa request number.
- Open the the MOFA Visa Platform (منصة التأشيرات) at visa.mofa.gov.sa using the button below.
- Switch the site to English using the language link in the corner, since it opens in Arabic first.
- Find “Inquiry about submitted applications” and choose the query type that matches your number.
- Enter the number, plus your registry number (usually your passport number at this stage).
- Type the verification code shown, then submit to read the current status.
You enter your details on visa.mofa.gov.sa, the government site, not here. You type your numbers on visa.mofa.gov.sa, the government site, not here.
For the full field by field walkthrough, including the Arabic to English label table and how this platform connects to the newer KSA VISA platform, see our MOFA visa check guide.
Musaned visa check for domestic workers
A domestic worker visa runs through a separate system. Musaned (مساند) is the official Saudi platform for recruiting and managing domestic workers. If you are hiring, or you are checking a maid, driver or nanny visa, this replaces the general MOFA route above.
- Open the Musaned portal using the button below (it opens the official musaned.com.sa site in a new tab).
- Find the “Visa Status Inquiry” page from the menu.
- Enter the worker’s National ID or Iqama number, if one has already been issued.
- Add the date of birth, or the iqama expiry date, in the Hijri calendar.
- Enter the Request ID given by your recruitment office or employer account.
- Click Search to view the visa status.
You enter your details on musaned.com.sa, the government site, not here. You type the worker's details on musaned.com.sa, the government site, not here.
A musaned visa check online by passport number is not possible on this screen: the site asks for the Request ID and a national ID or iqama number instead, so keep the recruitment office confirmation that carries the Request ID. Before you pay a recruitment office, it is worth learning how to check a visa delegation (okala) so you can spot a scam early.
Employer view on Qiwa vs your own status check
Qiwa (قوى) is the Ministry of Human Resources labour platform where employers manage work visas, contracts and workers. It is built around a company login, so most workers cannot sign in to Qiwa directly to check their own visa. This table sets out who sees what.
| Employer, on Qiwa | Worker, without a Qiwa login | |
|---|---|---|
| Contract status | Visible in the company Qiwa account, alongside the worker’s occupation and Saudization category | Not directly visible; ask the employer or HR contact |
| Block visa quota use | Visible: how many visas remain against the company allocation | Not applicable to an individual worker |
| Visa application status | Tracked internally once submitted to MOFA | Check the MOFA Visa Platform inquiry with the reference number the employer shares |
| Residency (iqama) status after entry | Managed and updated via Muqeem | Check via Absher or Muqeem once the iqama is active |
If your employer will not confirm a stage of the process, the reliable next step is the portal that owns that stage, not a repeated call to HR. Use the journey map above to pick the right one.
If your work visa check shows no result or a delay
A blank or unclear result usually points to one of a small number of causes, roughly in order of how often they come up at each stage:
- Wrong reference type: an application number entered into a visa document number field, or the reverse. Try the other query type on MOFA.
- Record not yet logged: the employer or agent has submitted the request, but the system has not indexed it yet. Wait a day before trying again.
- Wrong stage checker: searching Muqeem for a visa that has not stamped yet, or searching MOFA after the iqama stage has already begun. Recheck the journey map above.
- Missing Musaned Request ID: for domestic worker visas, no result usually means the Request ID was mistyped or the Hijri date does not match the record.
None of these portals can be checked on your behalf here. This guide explains the stage and the right portal; the employer, agent or the Jawazat holds the actual record. If you are unsure which portal fits your case at all, use our which-portal decision table to work it out from a passport number alone.
Work visa check: common questions
How do I do a Saudi Arabia work visa check online?
There is no single site that tracks a work visa start to finish. Check the stage you are actually at: the MOFA Visa Platform for a submitted application, the embassy that issued your stamp for stamping questions, and Muqeem or Absher once you have entered the Kingdom and your iqama is being processed.
How do I check a Musaned visa online by passport number?
Musaned does not search by passport number alone. Open the Visa Status Inquiry page on musaned.com.sa, then enter the national ID or iqama number, the date of birth or iqama expiry in the Hijri calendar, and the Request ID from your recruitment agent or employer, then submit.
What is the difference between a block visa and a work visa?
A block visa is a quota: permission for a company to sponsor a set number of foreign workers, tied to its commercial registration and Saudization level. A work visa is the individual permit issued against that quota for one named worker. You cannot check a block visa yourself, since it belongs to the employer, not to any one worker.
How do I check my work visa status before I travel to Saudi Arabia?
Before you travel, your reference sits with the MOFA Visa Platform if an application or visa document number was issued to you, or with your employer or recruitment agent otherwise. Ask for whichever reference number they used, since a status check without one is not possible on the government side.
Why can I not check my own visa status on Qiwa?
Qiwa accounts are built around employer logins tied to a company file, not personal worker accounts for most job categories. Your employer sees your contract and work permit status inside their Qiwa account. If you need to confirm something, ask them to check it, or use Muqeem or Absher once you hold an iqama.
When does my work visa check move from MOFA to Muqeem?
The switch happens once you land and your employer begins registering your residency. Before entry, MOFA and the embassy that stamped your visa hold the record. After entry, the Jawazat issues an iqama through your employer, and from that point Muqeem or Absher become the places to check your status.
What does a border number have to do with my work visa?
The border number is stamped or written on your passport when you first arrive on the work visa. It is your temporary reference until the iqama is issued, and Jawazat and Muqeem staff may ask for it if your iqama record is not yet showing. Keep the entry stamp page safe until the iqama arrives.
Keep going
More Saudi visa checks
This is part of our Saudi and GCC visa check hub, which lists the right official portal for every kind of visa, with exact steps and free tools. Already working under a Saudi iqama? See what a full career there could pay out with the Saudi end of service calculator, built for workers who arrived on exactly this journey.