Sponsoring Family in Saudi Arabia: Dependent Iqama Guide

If you live and work in Saudi Arabia and want your spouse and children with you, you'll need to understand the dependent iqama — the residence permit issued to sponsored family members. The process is largely electronic and predictable once you know the fees, the systems involved, and the documents you must keep valid. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through eligibility, costs, issuance, and renewal so you can plan ahead and avoid last-minute surprises.

Who can sponsor and who qualifies

To sponsor family members, you must hold a valid iqama yourself and register your eligible dependents in the official systems. Typically this covers your spouse and children. Before anything else, make sure your dependents' passport and visa details exactly match the records held in the government systems — mismatched names or dates are one of the most common causes of delays.

• The sponsor must have a valid iqama with no blocking issues.
• Eligible family members must be registered in the official records.
• Passport and visa data must match the dependent's records.

Understanding the costs

There are two main recurring charges to plan for, plus possible extras:

• Dependent levy: SAR 400 usually paid in advance through SADAD or أبشر. That works out to SAR 4,800 per dependent per year. If you prefer, you can pay in blocks — SAR 1,200 for a quarter or SAR 2,400 for six months. The levy generally applies to sponsored dependents, including spouses and children.
• Iqama issuance or renewal fee: commonly listed at SAR 500 per dependent per year.
• Other charges: separate government, banking, insurance, or service fees may apply on top.

Publicly available references for 2026 are not always consistent about the exact iqama-card fee and any electronic-processing charges. The safest approach is to check the final payable amount shown in أبشر or SADAD before you pay.

Issuing a dependent iqama for a new arrival

Once your dependent enters Saudi Arabia on a valid family residence visa, you as the sponsor complete the issuance electronically through أبشر. The service is also reachable through the Saudi government services portal. Keep the passport, entry visa, and health insurance details ready before you start.

A note on timing: some administrative guidance describes a 90-day window for newly arrived dependents before the levy becomes chargeable. Because the applicable amount and payment status can vary, confirm exactly what is due in أبشر or your bank payment system rather than assuming.

Renewing a dependent iqama step by step

Dependent iqamas are generally issued or renewed for one year. In some cases the system allows shorter periods, provided the associated payments and insurance coverage extend across the selected period. A clear renewal sequence looks like this:

• Pay the dependent levy and the iqama fee through a bank channel or SADAD.
• Ensure valid health insurance is in place for each dependent.
• Confirm the passport is valid and there are no blocking violations.
• Submit the family-member iqama renewal through أبشر.

Employers, by contrast, use مقيم for related resident-permit transactions, so it's worth knowing which system applies to your situation.

Which official channels to use

Using the correct platform saves time. For dependents:

• أبشر handles individual family-member iqama issuance and renewal.
• مقيم supports employer and resident-permit processing.
• Jawazat covers passport and residency matters.

Note that قوى, ناجز, نفاذ, Balady, توكلنا, and Etimad are not the normal channels for issuing or renewing a dependent iqama, even though you may use some of them for other government services.

Practical tips before you pay

• Renew early — don't wait until the iqama is close to expiry.
• Match your insurance coverage period to the iqama period you select.
• Clear any violations first, as they can block the transaction.
• Always confirm the final total shown in أبشر or SADAD, since fees can differ from unofficial figures.

With your documents valid and the levy and fees paid through the right channel, the dependent iqama process is straightforward. When in doubt about an exact amount, rely on what the official screen shows you rather than estimates.

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