Dependent Iqama Guide: Sponsoring Family in Saudi Arabia

Bringing your spouse and children to live with you in Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest steps in settling into life here. Once your family is on your sponsorship, you become responsible for their residency status, the dependent levy, and keeping each person's iqama valid and aligned with your own. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through how dependent sponsorship works in practice — the recurring costs, the official channels, and the renewal cycle — so you can plan ahead and avoid surprises.

Who counts as a dependent

A dependent is any family member sponsored under your iqama rather than an employer's work sponsorship. In most households this means:

• Your spouse
• Your children

Each of these individuals is treated as a separate dependent for both the monthly levy and the annual iqama fees. Based on the information gathered for 2026, there was no age-based exemption — the levy was described as applying across dependents rather than being waived for younger or older family members. If your circumstances are unusual, confirm the specifics for your case on أبشر or through the relevant Saudi government portal.

Understanding the dependent levy

The dependent levy is the main recurring cost of sponsoring family members. It is charged per month:

• SAR 400 per dependent per month
• SAR 4,800 per dependent per year

This is multiplied by every dependent you sponsor. A family of a spouse and two children, for example, means the levy applies three times over. As of 2026, the SAR 400 monthly figure remained unchanged. The levy is typically paid in advance for the intended iqama period before your renewal or issuance is processed, so budget for the full period up front rather than month by month.

Iqama issuance and renewal fees

Separate from the levy, each dependent's iqama carries its own issuance or renewal fee:

• SAR 500 per person per year for issuing or renewing the dependent iqama
• An أبشر service fee of around SAR 51.75, with another 2026 listing showing SAR 75 for renewal-related processing

Because service-fee amounts can vary slightly between listings and update over time, always treat the exact figure shown at checkout on أبشر as the authoritative one for your transaction.

The official channels you'll use

Dependent sponsorship touches several government platforms, each with a role:

• أبشر — your main gateway for family services and dependent iqama transactions, including issuance and renewal.
• مقيم — used for employer and sponsor residency processing.
• SADAD — the payment system for settling levies and fees.
• الجوازات — responsible for residency issuance and enforcement.

In practice, you generate the required payment, settle it via SADAD, then complete the iqama action through أبشر once the balance clears.

Validity and the renewal cycle

A dependent iqama is generally tied to your own iqama's validity and renewed on the same cycle. This keeps the whole family aligned rather than juggling different expiry dates. When your iqama comes up for renewal, plan to renew your dependents at the same time — and remember the levy is usually settled in advance for the period you're renewing.

How to plan your budget

To estimate your annual cost combine the levy and the iqama fee:

• Levy: SAR 4,800 per dependent
• Iqama fee: SAR 500 per dependent
• Plus the applicable أبشر service fee per transaction

Multiply the levy and iqama fee by the number of dependents to see your household total. For a family with several members, the levy is by far the largest line item, so it pays to plan for it well before renewal season.

Practical tips

• Check every dependent's iqama expiry early and set a reminder ahead of your own renewal.
• Keep enough balance ready for the full advance levy, not just one month.
• Verify the exact service fee at checkout, since listings can differ.
• When in doubt about exemptions or special cases, confirm directly on أبشر or the relevant Ministry portal rather than relying on general figures.

With the levy, fees, and renewal cycle understood, sponsoring your family becomes a predictable annual routine rather than a stressful scramble. Plan the costs ahead, use the official channels, and keep your family's residency in sync with your own.

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