Dependent Fee in Saudi Arabia: Rate, Grace Period, Payment

The dependent fee in Saudi Arabia is SAR 400 per month for each sponsored family member, unchanged since 2020. Newly arrived dependents get a 90 day grace period before it starts. Unlike most Iqama fees, this one is the worker’s own cost, not the employer’s.

The Rate, and Why This Fee Is Different

SAR 400 per month, per dependent. That works out to SAR 4,800 a year for each family member you sponsor.

This rate has held steady since 2020, after ramping up gradually from an initial SAR 100 introduced in 2017. It is one of the more stable figures in this entire cluster.

Here is the detail that sets it apart from every other fee covered so far. This is the worker’s own cost, not the employer’s, unless a specific contract states otherwise.

Every other major fee in this cluster falls on the employer under Article 40. That covers the Iqama fee itself, the work permit levy, and health insurance. The dependent fee is the clear exception.

Who Counts as a Dependent?

The fee applies to family members sponsored under your Iqama, most commonly a spouse and children.

Some sources describe a further split between “dependents” and “companions,” covering categories like additional spouses or sponsored parents. In practice, the same monthly rate applies across these sponsored family members regardless of the specific label used.

Domestic workers sponsored separately are not covered by this fee at all. They fall under Musaned, a distinct system with its own separate fee structure entirely.

The 90 Day Grace Period

New arrivals do not start accruing this fee immediately, which surprises people expecting a charge from day one.

Dependents get 90 days from their arrival date before the monthly levy begins. If your family arrived within the last three months, you may not owe anything yet for that period.

Once the 90 days pass, the fee applies from that point forward. It does not retroactively apply to the grace period itself.

How to Pay Dependent Fee in Saudi Arabia?

Payment runs through the same system used for most other Iqama-related fees.

1. Confirm the exact amount owed for your dependent count
2. Open your bank’s SADAD service
3. Search for the Muqeem dependent fee bill code
4. Pay the outstanding amount
5. Confirm the payment reflects before requesting any renewal

The fee is non-refundable once paid, regardless of what happens afterward with your dependent’s status.

Pro Tip: Pay dependent fees on a schedule you control, such as the start of each quarter. A blocked renewal at a time-sensitive moment is worse than a planned payment.

What Gets Blocked Until You Pay?

This fee is not optional in any practical sense, since two processes stop cold without it.

Dependent Iqama renewal cannot proceed until the fee is settled in full for that person. Exit and re-entry visas for dependents are also blocked until payment clears. The renewal process itself, and the other preconditions checked alongside it, sit in the Iqama renewal guide.

Full detail on the exit and re-entry visa process itself sits in the exit re-entry visa check guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the dependent fee in Saudi Arabia?

SAR 400 per month for each sponsored dependent, which totals SAR 4,800 per year. This rate has been stable since 2020.

Who pays the dependent fee, me or my employer?

The worker typically pays this fee personally, unlike most other Iqama-related costs. Some employers choose to cover it as part of a compensation package, but that is not the legal default.

Is there a grace period for new dependents?

Yes, newly arrived dependents get 90 days from their arrival date before the monthly fee starts. It applies from that point forward, not retroactively.

Does the dependent fee apply to domestic workers?

No. Domestic workers are sponsored through Musaned, a separate system with its own fee structure entirely.

Final Thoughts

This is the one fee worth budgeting for personally rather than assuming your employer handles it. Every other major Iqama cost sits with your sponsor by law, which makes this exception easy to overlook.

Treat it as a predictable recurring cost from the day your family lands, once the 90 day window closes. A missed payment does not just cost money later, it blocks the exact renewal or travel visa you need most.

Last verified: August 2026

Reviewed by: Roman Shah

Source: Ministry of Interior dependent levy schedule; Absher; SADAD; Muqeem

Note: fee amounts, grace periods, and category definitions are subject to change. Confirm your exact amount owed directly through Absher or Muqeem before paying.