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 milestones for many expatriate residents. The process — known as family sponsorship — is well-established and largely digital, but it carries recurring costs that you should plan for carefully. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through how dependent iqamas work in 2026, what you'll pay, and the practical steps to keep everything valid and stress-free.

Who manages family sponsorship?

Family sponsorship for expatriates falls under the Ministry of Interior (General Directorate of Passports – Jawazat) together with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). Most transactions are handled online:

• أبشر (Absher Individuals) for the sponsor's own passport and residence services.
• مقيم (Muqeem), the platform used by employers for iqama issuance and renewal.

Payments are typically completed through SADAD using your Saudi bank app or online banking, often initiated directly from أبشر.

The core costs per dependent in 2026

Each family member you sponsor — spouse, sons, daughters, and other dependents on your file — comes with a set of recurring charges. For 2026, plan for the following per dependent:

• Dependent levy: SAR 400 equal to SAR 4,800 This rate is unchanged for 2026.
• Dependent iqama issuance/renewal fee: SAR 500 via مقيم / Jawazat.
• Absher processing service fee: SAR 51.75 per dependent iqama transaction (issuance, renewal, or replacement).
• Health insurance (mandatory, CCHI basic tier): typically SAR 1,000–2,500 depending on age and coverage.
• In-Kingdom medical exam for dependents over 12: around SAR 300–500 per person at a مقيم-approved clinic (where required).

Understanding the dependent levy

The dependent levy is the single biggest recurring cost of family sponsorship. It applies to every family member on your iqama file at a standard rate of SAR 400 or SAR 4,800

A helpful development in 2026 is flexible payment. Sponsors can now pay the levy for 3, 6, or 12 months at a time instead of a single annual lump sum:

• 3 months: SAR 1,200 per dependent
• 6 months: SAR 2,400 per dependent
• 9 months: SAR 3,600 per dependent
• 12 months: SAR 4,800 per dependent

Keep in mind the levy must be paid in full for the requested iqama period before the iqama can be issued or renewed. If you sponsor three dependents, you multiply these figures accordingly, so budgeting ahead matters.

What's new in 2026

• No increase in the levy rate: it remains SAR 400 with no official rise announced.
• Quarterly and semi-annual payment options: as of mid-2026, you can renew the iqama and settle the levy for 3, 6, or 12 months through أبشر / مقيم, easing the burden of a single annual payment.

Step-by-step: renewing a dependent iqama

• Confirm your own iqama is valid — a dependent's residence cannot outlast the sponsor's.
• Ensure mandatory health insurance for each dependent is active.
• Log in to أبشر Individuals, open the Passports services, and select the dependent.
• Choose your levy period (3, 6, or 12 months) and generate the SADAD payment.
• Pay the levy, the iqama renewal fee, and the Absher service fee via your bank app.
• Complete the renewal and download the updated iqama record for your files.

Practical tips before you commit

• Multiply every cost by the number of dependents to see the true annual figure.
• Renew early to avoid any lapse, since an expired dependent iqama can complicate travel and daily services.
• Keep your health insurance policies renewed alongside the iqama — an inactive policy can block renewal.
• Because fees and rules can be updated, always confirm the latest amounts and steps on the official Saudi government portals (أبشر and مقيم) before paying.

With a little planning, sponsoring your family is a straightforward and rewarding part of building your life in the Kingdom. Budget for the levy, keep documents current, and lean on the digital platforms to handle most of the work from your phone.

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