Indian in Saudi Arabia· Editorial Team · iqama-residency · 4 min read
Iqama Fees in Saudi Arabia 2026: Renewal, Work Permit, Dependent Fee & Fines
Every Iqama cost in one place: SAR 650 Iqama fee, SAR 700–800 monthly work permit levy, SAR 400 monthly dependent fee, late renewal fines, and who pays each one. With worked examples.
Short answer: renewing a company worker’s Iqama for one year costs SAR 650 (Jawazat fee), plus a work permit levy of SAR 700 or 800 a month and a SAR 100 work permit fee. All of these are paid by the employer. If your family lives with you, you pay a dependent fee of SAR 400 per person per month.
Last checked: November 2026, against the Jawazat fee schedule.
Iqama costs at a glance
| Charge | Amount | Paid to | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iqama issue/renewal (company worker) | SAR 650 per year | Jawazat | Employer |
| Iqama for domestic worker, farmer, shepherd | SAR 600 per year | Jawazat | Employer (sponsor) |
| Expat levy, if expats outnumber Saudis in the company | SAR 800 per month (SAR 9,600 a year) | MHRSD via Qiwa | Employer |
| Expat levy, if expats do not outnumber Saudis | SAR 700 per month (SAR 8,400 a year) | MHRSD via Qiwa | Employer |
| Work permit fee | SAR 100 per year | MHRSD via Qiwa | Employer |
| Dependent fee (wife, children, parents) | SAR 400 per person per month (SAR 4,800 a year) | Government, at Iqama renewal | Head of family (you) |
| Iqama for a dependent aged 18+ | SAR 500 per year | Jawazat | Head of family |
| Health insurance | Depends on the policy | Insurer | Employer for the worker |
Who pays: Article 40 of the Saudi Labour Law makes the employer pay the worker’s own Iqama fee, work permit fee, their renewal and any late fines the employer causes. Your employer cannot deduct these from your salary. The dependent fee is not covered by Article 40, so you pay it unless your contract says otherwise.
Renewing for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months
Since 2021, a private-sector worker’s Iqama and work permit can be renewed for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, and fees are paid only for that period. The dependent fee is paid for the same period as your own Iqama.
| Item (SAR) | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iqama fee | 163 | 325 | 488 | 650 |
| Expat levy (more expats than Saudis) | 2,400 | 4,800 | 7,200 | 9,600 |
| Expat levy (expats equal or fewer) | 2,100 | 4,200 | 6,300 | 8,400 |
| Work permit fee | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 |
| Dependent fee, per person | 1,200 | 2,400 | 3,600 | 4,800 |
Absher and Muqeem may also add a small platform service fee. The exact amount is shown before you pay.
Worked examples
1. Bachelor, company with more expats than Saudis, 12 months 650 + 9,600 + 100 = SAR 10,350 a year, all paid by the employer. You pay nothing.
2. Worker with wife and two children, 12 months Employer pays SAR 10,350 for you (as above). You pay the dependent fee: 3 × 4,800 = SAR 14,400 a year (or SAR 3,600 every 3 months).
3. Same family, renewing for 3 months only You pay 3 × 1,200 = SAR 3,600 for the quarter.
Late renewal fines
If the Iqama is not renewed within 3 days of expiry:
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| First time | SAR 500 |
| Second time | SAR 1,000 |
| Third time | Deportation |
For the worker’s own Iqama, the employer pays the fine when the delay was the employer’s fault (Article 40). Check your Iqama expiry date early: how to check Iqama expiry date.
Other Jawazat fees expats often ask about
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single exit re-entry visa (up to 2 months) | SAR 200, plus SAR 100 per extra month |
| Multiple exit re-entry visa (up to 3 months) | SAR 500, plus SAR 200 per extra month |
| Final exit visa | Free |
| Add a dependent or newborn born outside Saudi | SAR 2,000 |
| Add a dependent born in Saudi | Free |
| Profession change | SAR 1,000 |
| Sponsorship transfer: 1st / 2nd / 3rd time | SAR 2,000 / 4,000 / 6,000 |
| Visit visa extension | SAR 100 |
Paying exit re-entry fees? See how to pay exit re-entry fees online. Changing jobs? See job transfer rules in Saudi.
How to pay
- Employer fees (Iqama, levy, work permit) are paid by the company through Qiwa and Muqeem, then the Iqama is renewed in Muqeem.
- Dependent fee: pay through your bank app under SADAD → Government payments → Passports (Jawazat) using your Iqama number, then renew in Absher.
- The amount due always shows in Absher or your bank app before you pay. Trust that figure over any website, including this one.
FAQ
Is the dependent fee still SAR 400 in 2026? Yes. It has been SAR 400 per dependent per month since 1 July 2020. No change had been announced by November 2026.
Do children under 18 pay the dependent fee? Yes. The SAR 400 applies to every dependent, at any age. The separate SAR 500 Iqama fee applies only to dependents aged 18 and above with their own Iqama.
Can my company make me pay the work permit levy? No. Article 40 of the Labour Law puts the Iqama fee, work permit fee and levy on the employer.
Is the dependent fee refunded on final exit? No. It is paid in advance and is not refunded.
Related guides
- Saudi Iqama renewal: new rules in 2026
- Health insurance for dependents at Iqama renewal
- Check Iqama expiry date
- Check huroob status on Iqama
References
- General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) — Fees — gdp.gov.sa (last updated 12 Aug 2026)
- Ministry of Human Resources — Labour Law, Article 40 — hrsd.gov.sa
- Umm Al-Qura — Cabinet decision on 3-month Iqama renewal — uqn.gov.sa
- Saudi Gazette — Late Iqama renewal fines — saudigazette.com.sa
- iqama
- fees
- dependent fee
- levy
- jawazat
- renewal
