Arabic to English Identity Card Translation for Immigration Petitions

Understanding the Saudi Resident Identity Card (Iqama)

The Saudi Iqama is the most common Arabic-language identity document we see in translation requests for immigration petitions. It is a physical card issued by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior that serves as both a residence permit and a primary proof of identity for expatriates. For anyone submitting an immigration application to a country that requires documents in English, the Iqama must be translated so that the reviewing officer can read the holder’s full name, nationality, sponsor details, and residency status without Arabic fluency.

Structure of the Card

A typical Iqama carries a standard set of printed fields. The card header usually displays “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Ministry of Interior” in Arabic, followed by the word Muqeem (Resident). Beneath that, you will find the resident’s photograph, a machine-readable zone at the bottom, and the following key data points: a 10-digit resident identity number (raqam al‑iqaama), the holder’s full name, nationality, occupation, sponsor (kafeel) name, date of birth, date of expiry, and the issuing centre. The reverse side often repeats the same information and includes a barcode. When Lekhak’s AI converts the card to English, it extracts these field labels and their values to preserve the exact information in a clean, tabular format.

Common Arabic Terms and Their English Translations

From our experience processing Saudi Iqamas and other Arabic identity cards, the vocabulary is fairly consistent across issuances. The table below gives the most frequent field labels in Arabic, their romanisation, and the standard English rendering used in translation output.

Arabic	Romanisation	English
رقم الإقامة	Raqm al‑iqaama	Residence number
الإسم	Al‑ism	Name
الجنسية	Al‑jinsiya	Nationality
المهنة	Al‑mihna	Occupation
الراعي	Al‑raa‘i	Sponsor
تاريخ الإنتهاء	Taareekh al‑intihaa’	Expiry date
جهة الإصدار	Jihat al‑isdar	Issuing authority
مكان الإصدار	Makaan al‑isdar	Place of issue
أخصائي تجارة إلكترونية	Ukhtisasi tijara iliktroniyya	E‑commerce specialist
مديرية الجوازات العامة	Mudeeriyat al‑jawazaat al‑‘aamma	General Directorate of Passports

When a specific occupation like “e‑commerce specialist” appears on the card, our AI preserves the exact term in English as recorded in the source. The same holds for all other factual data, names, dates, and reference numbers are not paraphrased or reinterpreted.

Why Translate an Iqama for an Immigration Petition

Immigration authorities in English‑speaking countries routinely require a translated identity document to verify the applicant’s legal name, nationality, and lawful residence in the country where the document was issued. An untranslated Arabic‑language Iqama cannot serve that purpose. The petition reviewer needs a complete, faithful rendering of the card’s contents in English so they can cross‑check the personal details against the rest of the application package. A clear translation also helps your legal representative or employer prepare the supporting affidavit or cover letter, because they can read the sponsor name, the expiry date of the residence permit, and the issuing body immediately. In all cases, the translation must be a true record of what appears on the card, a requirement that machine translation meets well when used as a draft or internal working document.

AI Translation vs Human‑Certified Translation: When Each Fits

Lekhak’s AI produces a direct, editable English translation of your Arabic identity card in minutes. You receive a DOCX file with the fields laid out in a clear table. That output is perfectly suited for pre‑submission review, for sharing with a solicitor to prepare your petition, or for your own understanding of the card’s details. It is not, however, a certified translation. A certified translation carries a translator’s signed statement of accuracy and is generally required when you file the original application with a government body, especially for final embassy or USCIS submission. If your immigration authority’s checklist demands a “certified translation,” the AI‑only DOCX will not satisfy that requirement on its own.

For many users, the AI version fills the earlier steps: you can check all the data is correct, reformat it if your solicitor requests a different layout, and attach it to an internal case file. The certified step is a separate, formal process that Lekhak addresses through a managed‑service contact rather than the self‑serve platform. This separation keeps the instant translation genuinely fast and keeps the certified path honest about what it entails.

What Lekhak’s AI Translation of an Identity Card Produces

When you upload a scanned image or PDF of your Arabic identity card to Lekhak, the AI pipeline extracts the visible text and arranges the field labels and their values into a two‑column English table inside a DOCX file. The document includes the original field identifier (e.g., “Residence Number”) and the corresponding value as read from the card. Placeholder tokens mark any area that could not be read clearly, for instance, [BLURRED IMAGE], so you know exactly what was captured. No additional commentary, certification stamp, or translator’s note is added. The output is uncompressed, editable, and ready to be reviewed or shared. You get it in minutes, not days, and you can regenerate it immediately if you notice a scan-quality issue.

When You Need Notarisation, Apostille, or Embassy Attestation for a Translated ID

Some immigration processes require the translated identity document itself to be notarised or attested, not simply submitted as a plain translation. The typical chain for a Saudi‑issued document begins with attestation at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), followed, depending on the destination country, by an apostille or further attestation at the receiving country’s embassy. The steps apply to the original card and, when a certified translation is needed, to the translated document as well. Lekhak does not process these attestations inside the self‑serve platform. For certified translation with notarisation, apostille, or embassy attestation, Lekhak offers a managed service. Reach out to Lekhak’s support team through the website to discuss your requirements; they will confirm whether the current managed‑service pathway fits your timeline and destination authority.

Regional Variations: Saudi Iqama vs UAE Emirates ID vs Other GCC IDs

Although the Saudi Iqama drives the majority of Arabic identity‑card translations we see, users also submit UAE Emirates ID cards, Kuwaiti civil IDs, Qatari residence permits, and Bahraini CPR cards. The issuing authorities differ, for example, the Emirates ID is managed by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, while the Saudi Iqama falls under the Ministry of Interior, but the core translation task remains the same: extract Arabic text, identify the field‑value pairs, and present them in a clear English table. The fields “Name,” “Nationality,” “ID Number,” “Expiry Date,” and “Issuing Authority” appear on all of them. Selecting the correct document type in your translation request simply ensures that the AI recognises the expected label positions; the translation approach does not change.

How to Obtain a Duplicate or Replacement Iqama

If your Iqama is lost, damaged, or has expired, a replacement must be obtained directly through Saudi government channels. Most expatriates use the Absher e‑services portal to request a reissue after their sponsor updates the necessary records. Your sponsor can also visit a Jawazat (passports) office on your behalf. Lekhak cannot assist with card replacements, this is a purely informational note for those who need a fresh original before attempting a translation. Always ensure you have a legible scan or photograph of the current, valid card before uploading it for translation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lekhak’s AI translation accepted by USCIS or UKVI?

AI‑generated DOCX output is not a certified translation. For final filing, immigration authorities normally require a certified translation with a signed accuracy statement. Our AI translation works well for draft, internal review, or legal‑consultation purposes. If you need certified output, enquire about Lekhak’s managed service.

What does the translated DOCX contain?

It contains a plain‑text table with all fields extracted from your Arabic identity card, listed in English alongside the Arabic values. No stamp, certificate page, or layout imitation of the original card is included. The file is editable, so you can copy the table into other documents.

How long does the AI translation take?

Most identity‑card translations finish in under two minutes. The DOCX is available for download as soon as the processing is complete. There is no queue and no rush‑fee option, speed is inherent to the self‑serve design.

Can I get a notarised translation through Lekhak’s self‑serve platform?

No. The self‑serve product delivers AI‑only translation without notarisation. For notarised and attested translations, Lekhak offers a separate managed service; you can contact our support team via the website to learn about current arrangements.

Which languages does Lekhak’s AI support for identity card translation?

The platform supports 22 Indian languages and over 70 global languages, including Arabic‑to‑English and English‑to‑Arabic pairs. If your card is in a language other than Arabic, the same instant DOCX model applies for all supported source languages.

Try Lekhak’s Free Trial

You can translate your Arabic identity card to English right now without a credit card. Lekhak gives every new user 250 free credits, enough to translate several pages. Upload a clear scan of your Iqama or other Arabic ID, and the AI pipeline will return a DOCX in minutes. The document preserves all field data in a structured table, ready for your own review or for your solicitor. Visit lekhak.app to sign up and see the output for yourself before committing any payment.