A permanent family visa in Saudi Arabia lets a resident bring his wife and children to live in the Kingdom on dependent iqamas tied to his own. It is a two-stage process: you apply on Absher (Expatriates Affairs) and, if you work for a company, your employer approves in Muqeem; then the residence visa is issued on MOFA’s KSA Visa platform for SAR 379. Your family stamps the visa at the embassy or Tasheer, enters the Kingdom and must get their iqama within 90 days. Each dependent then costs SAR 400 a month in dependent fees.
Check your family’s cover: each dependant’s insurance can be checked by iqama number; see our health insurance check guide.
Many expats in Saudi Arabia lose weeks because they follow old advice: applying through the wrong ministry, paying an agent for a “salary certificate” route, or bringing a son who is too old for the visa. This guide follows the official MOFA, Absher and Jawazat rules as of October 2026, and tells you clearly which requirements are official and which are only commonly asked for.
Permanent Family Visa at a Glance (2026)
| Item | What applies |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | A resident worker (head of household) with a valid iqama |
| Who can come | First-degree family: wife, sons under 18, unmarried daughters (sons under 25 on the new skilled-worker route) |
| Stage 1: approval | Absher Individuals, Expatriates Affairs family recruitment service; employer approves in Muqeem |
| Stage 2: visa | MOFA residence visa on KSA Visa: SAR 379, about 1 business day |
| At the embassy | Passport, approved medical report, photo, attested relationship documents |
| After arrival | Iqama via Absher “Add Dependent” within 90 days (SAR 500 fine if late) |
| Running cost | SAR 400 per dependent per month, plus medical insurance |
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Who Can You Bring on a Family Residence Visa?
MOFA describes the residence visa as a service for the families of residents to bring their first-degree relatives, valid for the period of the resident’s iqama.
- Wife: yes. You need an attested marriage certificate.
- Sons: under 18 on the regular route. The skilled-worker route announced on 6 October 2026 allows sons under 25.
- Daughters: unmarried daughters.
- Parents: no official route on this visa. Parents normally visit on a family visit visa, which can be extended on Absher.
In Saudi Arabia, this rule works differently from what many agents promise: no official minimum salary or profession list is published for the permanent family visa. Absher checks your iqama profession and details when you apply. If the online service refuses your request, the documented fallback is an appointment with Expatriates Affairs booked through Absher. Treat any website that prints a fixed salary table as unofficial.
New in October 2026: family entry for skilled workers
The Ministry of Interior announced on 6 October 2026 that eligible skilled workers can get entry visas for their spouse, sons under 25 and unmarried daughters while their own work visa is still being processed, and complete residency after arrival. The eligible categories, portal and fees have not been published yet. See our skilled expats family visa update.
How to Apply for a Permanent Family Visa: Step by Step
- Apply on Absher Individuals. Open the Expatriates Affairs family recruitment service and enter your details and, for each family member, the name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and relationship, exactly as in the passport.
- Employer approval in Muqeem. If you work for a company, your employer receives the request under Family Recruitment Requests in Muqeem and approves or rejects it electronically. Ask HR to look for it. Some employers still ask for a printed request attested by the chamber of commerce (around SAR 35 for e-attestation).
- Pay the Interior Ministry fee shown in Absher through SADAD or government payments. The amount is commonly reported as SAR 2,000; check the exact figure on the payment screen.
- Request the residence visa on KSA Visa. MOFA’s service: Visitor Services, then Residence Visa Request. Enter the applicant and visitor details, attach the documents, submit, and keep the request number. MOFA lists the fee as SAR 379 and the service time as 1 business day.
- Stamping at the embassy or Tasheer. Your family submits the passport, an approved medical report (through Wafid where it applies) and a photo, and gives biometrics. The visa is electronic with a QR code. See how to book a Tasheer appointment.
- Travel to Saudi Arabia within the visa validity.
- Get the iqama within 90 days. On Absher, go to Family Members Services and use Add Dependent. The family member needs a border number, valid medical insurance and fingerprints (for those aged 6 and over), and the dependent fee must be paid. Company employees can also have this done by the employer through Muqeem.
Track the visa request on KSA Visa, and once it is issued your family can check and print it with our Saudi visa check guide. If a medical report is needed, see our Wafid (GAMCA) medical guide.
Documents Required for a Permanent Family Visa
| Document | Who needs it | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Valid iqama and Absher (Nafath) access | You (the sponsor) | Required; Absher blocks invalid iqamas |
| Employer approval in Muqeem | Company employees | Required |
| Passport valid for at least 6 months | Each family member | Required |
| Approved medical report and photo | Each family member | Required by MOFA |
| Marriage certificate, attested | Wife | Required as proof of relationship |
| Birth certificates, attested | Each child | Required as proof of relationship |
| Degree certificate attested, matching the iqama profession | You | Commonly asked for; not in official MOFA text |
| Salary or GOSI certificate | You | Sometimes asked for; not in official MOFA text |
Attest marriage and birth certificates in your home country first (the issuing authority and your foreign ministry), then at the Saudi embassy or through the authorised attestation channel, and keep Arabic translations ready. Ask your Tasheer centre for its current checklist before booking.
Permanent Family Visa Fees and Running Costs
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MOFA residence visa (KSA Visa) | SAR 379 | Official MOFA figure |
| Interior Ministry recruitment fee (Absher) | Commonly SAR 2,000 | Confirm on the Absher payment screen |
| Chamber e-attestation | Around SAR 35 | Only if your employer still uses it |
| Medical report, Tasheer or agent | Varies by country | Check the receipt |
| Medical insurance | Set by the insurer | Private employers must insure wife, sons up to 25 and unmarried daughters |
| Dependent fee | SAR 400 per dependent per month | Paid in advance for the iqama period |
Dependent fee estimator
Based on SAR 400 per dependent per month, paid in advance with the iqama. Iqama fees, insurance and visa costs are extra.
The dependent fee rose in steps: SAR 100 a month from July 2017, 200 from July 2018, 300 from July 2019 and 400 from July 2020, and no change has been announced since. Renewing a dependent’s iqama while they are outside the Kingdom costs double. Plan the full monthly picture with our cost of living calculator, and compare all iqama costs with the iqama fees calculator.
Keeping Your Family on Your Iqama
- Sons: Jawazat requires male dependents to move to their own sponsorship at 25. Renewing a dependent over 21 may need proof of study.
- Daughters: can stay on your sponsorship while unmarried.
- Newborns: register a birth in Saudi Arabia on Absher within 30 days, then add the child to your file. The dependent fee applies from registration.
- Work: dependents can work only in activities and professions allowed by the Ministry of Human Resources, with a fee equal to the expat worker levy (Cabinet decision 229 of 1447). For the jobs a wife can do and how she gets a permit, see our guide to jobs in Saudi Arabia for females.
- Travel: each dependent needs a valid exit re-entry visa, and the dependent fee is paid when it is issued. See our exit re-entry visa guide.
Family Visit Visa or Permanent Family Visa?
| Compare | Family visit visa | Permanent family visa |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Visit (up to 3 months per entry, extendable to 180 days) | Live in the Kingdom on a dependent iqama |
| Who | Parents, spouse, children | Wife, sons under 18 (under 25 on the skilled route), unmarried daughters |
| Where to apply | KSA Visa (MOFA) | Absher, then KSA Visa |
| Government fee | SAR 300 visa fee | SAR 379 visa + Interior Ministry fee |
| Monthly cost | None | SAR 400 per dependent |
Many families start on a visit visa and switch to the permanent visa once the budget is clear. Children under 18 already in the Kingdom on a visit visa can now have it converted to residency if both parents are residents. If you earn a high salary or own a home worth SAR 4 million or more, also compare Saudi Premium Residency, which covers your family without the dependent fee.
Common Reasons for Delay or Rejection
- An iqama that is expired or close to expiry (Absher and Muqeem block invalid iqamas).
- Your employer rejecting or not acting on the request in Muqeem.
- Names or passport numbers that do not match the passport exactly.
- Unattested or mismatched marriage, birth or degree certificates.
- A son over the age limit for the route you used.
- Unpaid traffic fines or other blocks on your Absher record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a permanent family visa in Saudi Arabia?
Apply on Absher Individuals through the Expatriates Affairs family recruitment service. If you work for a company, your employer approves the request in Muqeem. With that approval, the residence visa is requested on MOFA’s KSA Visa platform (SAR 379), and your family completes the medical report and passport stamping at the embassy or Tasheer.
What documents are required for a family permanent visa?
You need a valid iqama, Absher access and your employer’s approval. Each family member needs a passport valid for at least 6 months, a photo, an approved medical report and proof of relationship: an attested marriage certificate for a wife and attested birth certificates for children. Many applicants are also asked for an attested degree certificate that matches the iqama profession.
How much is the permanent family visa fee?
MOFA’s residence visa costs SAR 379. Absher also shows an Interior Ministry recruitment fee, commonly reported as SAR 2,000; confirm the exact amount on the payment screen. After arrival, each dependent costs SAR 400 a month in dependent fees, plus medical insurance.
Is there a minimum salary for the family visa in Saudi Arabia?
No official minimum salary or profession list is published. Absher checks your iqama profession and details when you apply. If the online service refuses the request, you can book an appointment with Expatriates Affairs through Absher.
Who can I bring on a permanent family visa?
First-degree family who will live on your iqama: your wife, sons under 18 and unmarried daughters. Under the skilled-worker route announced in October 2026, sons under 25 can be included. Parents normally come on a family visit visa instead.
How long do I have to get my family’s iqama after they arrive?
Within 90 days of entry. The head of household adds them on Absher (Add Dependent) after medical insurance and fingerprints. Jawazat fines SAR 500 if the iqama is not obtained in time.
Is the SAR 400 dependent fee still charged in 2026?
Yes. The dependent fee has been SAR 400 per dependent per month since July 2020 and no change has been announced. It is paid in advance for the months of iqama validity.