Dependent Iqama Guide: Sponsoring Family in Saudi Arabia

Bringing your spouse and children to live with you in Saudi Arabia is one of the most important steps for any expat settling into life in the Kingdom. Once your family is here on your sponsorship, you become responsible for keeping their dependent iqamas valid — and that means understanding the monthly dependent levy, how to pay it, and how the renewal process works. This Saudi Living guide walks you through the costs, the payment channels, and the practical flow so you can keep your family file in good standing without surprises.

What the dependent levy actually is

The dependent levy (sometimes called the family or accompanying-persons fee) is a recurring government charge for each family member you sponsor in the Kingdom. It is set at SAR 400 per month per dependent, which works out to SAR 4,800 per year per dependent.

The key word is per dependent. The fee is charged for each person on your file — so if you sponsor a spouse and two children, you multiply the levy across all three, not once for the whole family. This levy rate has stayed at SAR 400

How the cost adds up

Because the levy is it helps to plan ahead for the full renewal period, which is usually one year. As a rough guide:

• One dependent: SAR 400 or SAR 4,800 for a year.
• Two dependents: SAR 800 or SAR 9,600 for a year.
• Three dependents: SAR 1,200 or SAR 14,400 for a year.

The levy is tied to the family file linked to your own iqama, and it is paid in advance for the period you are renewing. On top of the levy, a small service-processing fee of about SAR 51.75 is commonly charged on some iqama transactions.

Where to pay

You have two main channels, and both are straightforward:

• أبشر (Absher Individuals): the government portal where you manage most resident services and pay the dependent fee directly.
• SADAD via your Saudi bank: the national bill-payment system accessible through your bank app or online banking.

Both routes settle the same charge; choose whichever is more convenient for you.

Step-by-step: paying the dependent fee

The typical flow inside أبشر looks like this:

• Log in to your أبشر account.
• Open the resident or family services section.
• Choose the dependent-fee (accompanying-persons) payment service.
• Select the dependent or dependents you want to cover.
• Choose the period you are paying for.
• Confirm and pay.

If you prefer SADAD, generate the relevant bill or use the dedicated payment code through your bank and settle it there. Keep the confirmation for your records.

Renewing the dependent iqama

The levy and the iqama renewal are two connected steps. Once the dependent levy is cleared, you complete the renewal through the resident-services workflow. The dependent iqama validity is normally tied to your own residence permit renewal period — most commonly one year at a time.

Practical tips to keep the process smooth:

• Make sure your own iqama is valid and renewed first, since the family file follows it.
• Pay the levy in advance for the full period you plan to renew.
• Renew before expiry to avoid any disruption to your family's legal residency.
• Keep passports and any required documents up to date.

Confirm the latest before you pay

The figures above reflect the standard dependent levy and processing charges, but service fees and exact steps can be updated over time. Before you commit, confirm the current amounts and workflow on the official Saudi government portals — أبشر for individual services and your bank's SADAD channel for payment. That way you always pay the correct amount for the correct period and keep your family's residency in the Kingdom fully in order.

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