Iqama for Family and Dependents
Bringing your family to Saudi Arabia means each dependent gets their own Iqama under your sponsorship — and that comes with its own rules, fees and eligibility factors. This guide explains how dependent Iqamas work, what affects whether you can sponsor family, and the ongoing costs to keep their residency valid.
When you sponsor family members, each dependent (spouse and children) receives their own Iqama linked to you as the sponsor. Each dependent adds a recurring dependent fee (the family levy) and requires their own medical insurance. Your eligibility to sponsor family can depend on factors like your profession and salary, so it is worth checking before planning a move.
How dependent Iqamas work
Your spouse and children do not share your Iqama — each gets their own residence permit, sponsored by you. This makes you responsible for issuing, renewing and funding the dependent fees for each of them, alongside your own Iqama.
Because every dependent is a separate Iqama, families have more to track: multiple expiry dates, multiple insurance policies and the cumulative dependent fees. Keeping them aligned, ideally renewing together, makes life much simpler.
What affects your eligibility to sponsor family
Not every resident can automatically sponsor family. Eligibility can be influenced by your profession (the job category on your Iqama) and, in some cases, salary thresholds. Certain professions make family sponsorship straightforward, while others can make it harder.
If you are planning to bring family, it is worth confirming your eligibility early, because the profession on your Iqama is not always something you can change quickly. See our guide on Iqama professions for why the job category matters.
The ongoing cost of dependents
- A recurring dependent fee (family levy) for each family member.
- Separate, active medical insurance for each dependent.
- The dependent's own Iqama issuance and renewal fees.
- Tracking each dependent's expiry date to renew on time.
- Budgeting for these as a recurring annual cost, not a one-off.
Is your Iqama about to expire?
Find out exactly how much renewal costs and what steps to follow before the expiry date.
Frequently asked questions
Does each family member need their own Iqama?
Yes. Your spouse and children each get their own Iqama under your sponsorship, with their own expiry date and insurance.
Why are dependent fees so significant?
Because they are charged per dependent and recur each period. For a larger family, the combined dependent fees can be the biggest part of your total Iqama cost.
Can my profession stop me sponsoring family?
It can affect eligibility. Some professions make sponsorship harder. See our Iqama professions guide for detail.
Where can I find official information?
Always rely on the official government portals such as absher.sa and moi.gov.sa for the most accurate, up-to-date information about your residency.
Is this guide official?
No. This is an independent informational guide written to explain the topic in plain English. It is not affiliated with the Saudi government.