Sponsoring Family in Saudi Arabia: Dependent Iqama Guide

Bringing your spouse and children to live with you in Saudi Arabia is one of the most important steps for many residents. The process runs through a family residence visa, then entry, medical and insurance requirements, and finally issuing an individual dependent Iqama for each family member. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through eligibility, documents, costs, and the exact digital steps — with a clear reminder that the amount shown in your official invoice is always the number that counts.

Who You Can Sponsor

As a rule, an eligible resident can sponsor a spouse and children. Every family member needs a separate passport and their own individual Iqama — there is no shared or combined document. Whether you qualify depends on your profession, your status, and having a valid sponsor Iqama.

• Spouse and children are the standard eligible dependents.
• Each person requires their own valid passport.
• Each person receives a separate Iqama, not a shared one.

Main Requirements Before You Start

Prepare these before you begin any application, as missing items are the most common cause of delays:

• A valid sponsor Iqama and an eligible profession/status.
• Approved relationship documents — marriage and birth certificates.
• Valid passports for every family member.
• A medical examination where required.
• Valid health insurance for each dependent.
• Payment of all applicable fees and the dependent levy.

If your marriage or birth certificates were issued outside Saudi Arabia, they generally need legalisation/attestation and an Arabic translation before they will be accepted.

Bringing a New Dependent Into the Kingdom

If your family is still abroad, start with the family residence visa through the relevant Saudi visa services and the embassy or consulate in their country. The initial family residence visa is commonly listed at around SAR 2,000, and the entry visa is generally valid for 90 days from issuance — so plan travel accordingly.

Once your family arrives, you complete the entry formalities, the medical examination and health insurance, and then move on to issuing the dependent Iqama inside the Kingdom.

Issuing the Dependent Iqama on Absher

After requirements and payments are complete, the Iqama is issued through أبشر using the family-member Iqama services. In eligible cases the service is fully electronic and does not require an office visit.

• مقيم is the employer-side system for resident and dependent records and related transactions.
• قوى is generally for employment services, not ordinary dependent-Iqama issuance.
• The controlling government amount always appears in the generated payment invoice — published third-party figures conflict (commonly quoted between SAR 500 and SAR 650), so trust the invoice.

The Dependent Levy You Must Not Forget

The dependent levy is SAR 400 or SAR 4,800 for a full 12 months, and it remains in effect in 2026. There is no confirmed 2026 change to this amount. Pay it through SADAD or your Saudi bank application before you attempt renewal, because an unpaid levy will block the process.

Renewing a Dependent Iqama

Renewal is done by the sponsor through Absher:

• Go to أبشر → Electronic Services → Passports → Renew Iqama.
• Select the family member you want to renew.
• Pay the invoice displayed on screen.
• Complete the renewal.

Dependent Iqamas are usually renewed for a period linked to the sponsor's own Iqama and the duration you pay for. The available period and the exact amount both appear in Absher before payment. Renewal can be blocked by an unpaid dependent levy, expired health insurance, an expired sponsor Iqama, or unresolved passport or status issues.

Exit, Re-Entry and Other Costs

Family-member exit/re-entry and final-exit services are also available electronically through Absher. The applicable fees and the visa validity are shown during issuance and depend on the visa type and duration you choose.

Finally, remember that health insurance, the medical examination, document attestation, translation, and passport-related charges vary and are separate from government fees. Always confirm the final figures on the official Saudi government portals — Absher and SADAD — since the invoice is the number that decides what you pay.

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