family admin
How to Add a Dependent to Your Iqama in Saudi Arabia
If your spouse or children are moving to Saudi Arabia to live with you, you need to add them as dependents under your Iqama. This gives them residency status and their own Iqama cards. The process is done through Absher and requires your employer's involvement.
Who Is This For?
Expatriate residents in Saudi Arabia who want to bring their spouse or children to live with them on a family residency visa.
What You Need Before Starting
- ✓A valid Iqama with sufficient validity
- ✓An active Absher account
- ✓Your employer's approval — they must be willing to sponsor dependents
- ✓Valid passports for all dependents (minimum 6 months validity)
- ✓Marriage certificate for spouse (may need to be translated and attested)
- ✓Birth certificates for children (may need to be translated and attested)
- ✓Medical insurance coverage that includes dependents
Step-by-Step Process
- 1Confirm with your employer that your contract allows dependent sponsorship — not all employers permit this
- 2Obtain a family visa for your dependents — apply through Absher under 'Visa Services' > 'Family Residence Visa'
- 3Your dependents travel to Saudi Arabia on the family residence visa
- 4Once they arrive, visit the Jawazat (Passport Office) with all required documents to issue their Iqama cards
- 5Pay the dependent levy fee — this is an annual fee charged per dependent
- 6Your dependents will receive their Iqama cards, typically within a few days
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗Not confirming employer approval first — some contracts exclude dependent sponsorship
- ✗Bringing dependents on a visit visa and then trying to convert — this is not straightforward and may require them to exit and re-enter
- ✗Not having attested marriage and birth certificates — originals alone are often not accepted
- ✗Forgetting the dependent levy — it must be paid annually per dependent
Timing & Fees
Family residence visa fee: SAR 200–500. Iqama issuance fee per dependent: SAR 650/year. Dependent levy: SAR 400/month per dependent (may vary). Allow 2–4 weeks for the full process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dependent levy?
The dependent levy (expat levy) is a monthly fee charged for each dependent you sponsor in Saudi Arabia. As of recent rates, it is SAR 400 per dependent per month. It is collected annually through Absher.
Can I sponsor my parents as dependents?
Parents are generally not eligible for family residency under the standard dependent system. You can invite them on a family visit visa instead.
What documents need to be attested?
Marriage certificates and birth certificates typically need to be attested by your home country's foreign affairs ministry and the Saudi embassy in your country, then by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon arrival.