Iqama fees aren’t “one fee.” In 2026, most residents end up paying a bundle tied to (1) the residence permit itself, (2) the work-permit levy for expat employees, and (3) the dependent/companion levy if family members are sponsored. These charges matter because Saudi systems can block renewals if key requirements aren’t met, and penalties can apply if renewals are delayed. Saudi Arabia’s mid-2024 population was 35.3 million, including 15.7 million non-Saudis, so these fees affect a huge share of the country’s residents and employers.
2026 fee snapshot (what most people mean by “Iqama fees”)
| Fee type | Who it applies to | Common 2026 amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iqama renewal (residence permit) | Resident worker (most private-sector expats) | SAR 650 / year | Often paid as part of renewal bundle. (kashmiroverseas.com) |
| Work permit “financial equivalent” (MHRSD levy) | Expat employee (company-paid) | SAR 700 or 800 / month | Depends on company Saudization balance; official document shows 700 when expats don’t exceed Saudis, 800 when they do; payable in installments (e.g., 3 months). |
| Work permit (license) fee | Expat employee (company-paid) | SAR 100 / year | Listed with the same official schedule. |
| Dependent / companion levy | Sponsored family/companions | SAR 400 / month per person | Fee reached SR400 since 2020; applies to defined dependent/companion categories. (Saudi Gazette) |
| Absher Business e-services fee (processing) | Employers using Absher Business | e.g., SAR 51.75 (many services) | Fee list published by Saudi Gazette; varies by service. (absher.sa) |
Important: Saudi authorities have discussed reviewing some expat-related fees (especially dependents), but SR400/month per dependent remains the widely enforced baseline in the most recent public guidance and reporting.
What “Iqama fees” actually include (and why people get surprised)
Most renewals (especially for private-sector expats) boil down to:
- Jawazat (Iqama) renewal fee
- MHRSD work permit costs (the big one for employers)
- Dependent/companion levy (if you sponsor anyone)
- Sometimes: platform/service processing fees (e.g., Absher Business)
That’s why two people with the “same Iqama” can pay very different totals.
Iqama renewal fee (residence permit) in 2026
For many private-sector expat workers, the commonly published renewal fee is SAR 650 per year.
Quarterly renewal is still a thing (3/6/9/12 months)
Saudi authorities introduced flexibility to issue/renew residency and work permits for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. Domestic workers are excluded from this quarterly option (they typically renew yearly).
Commonly published pro-rated Iqama renewal amounts:
| Renewal period | Iqama fee (commonly shown) |
|---|---|
| 3 months | 163 |
| 6 months | 325 |
| 9 months | 488 |
| 12 months | 650 |
You’ll see these exact breakouts across multiple practical renewal guides and fee-check tools.
Work permit fees in 2026
This is where employers feel the pain.
An official MHRSD schedule shows the “financial equivalent” (often called the expat levy / work permit levy) at:
- SAR 700/month when expat employees don’t exceed Saudi employees
- SAR 800/month when expat employees exceed Saudi employees
That same schedule also lists a work permit (license) fee of SAR 100/year, and shows installment options (e.g., 3-month payments) for the monthly levy.
What that means annually (per employee)
| Scenario | Monthly | Annual (12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Saudization-balanced (700) | 700 | 8,400 |
| Expats exceed Saudis (800) | 800 | 9,600 |
(Official schedule).
Dependent and companion levy (family fee) in 2026
Current baseline: SAR 400/month per person
Reporting and government-linked announcements describe the dependent/companion levy ramping up to SR400/month and being in effect at that level since 2020.
Saudi Gazette also outlines how dependents/companions are defined in practice (dependents vs companions can include different family members and certain registered categories).
Annual cost per dependent
400 × 12 = SAR 4,800 per person / year.
Quick visual (annual dependent levy)
- 1 dependent: 4,800 ████
- 2 dependents: 9,600 ████████
- 3 dependents: 14,400 ████████████
- 4 dependents: 19,200 ████████████████
Absher / platform service fees (what some employers forget)
If an employer uses Absher Business, there may be e-service processing fees per transaction. Saudi Gazette published a fee list that includes SAR 51.75 for many Absher Business services (with different amounts for others).
Renewal timing and penalties (don’t play with expiry)
Saudi MOI’s violations schedule includes penalties tied to Iqama compliance. For example, it states that non-reporting for Iqama renewal prior to 3 days of expiry can trigger penalties, including double the Iqama fees for private companies/establishments in that scenario.
It also lists escalating fines for other violations (e.g., failing to prove holding an Iqama when requested: 1,000 then 2,000 then 3,000 SR across instances).
Who pays in 2026: employer vs employee (what the law says)
Saudi Labour Law Article 40 places key costs on the employer, including fees related to recruitment, the residence permit (Iqama), work permits, renewals, and certain fines tied to employer negligence.
Real-world practice varies by contract and category (especially around dependents), but if you’re negotiating an offer: use Article 40 as your anchor and get the dependent coverage clarified in writing.
2026 cost calculator (simple formula)
For a typical private-sector expat worker:
Total (annual) ≈ Iqama (650) + Work permit levy (8,400 or 9,600) + Work permit license (100) + Dependents (4,800 × #dependents)
(Plus any platform/service processing fees if applicable.)
Worked examples (12-month renewal)
| Example | Company levy rate | Dependents | Annual total (SAR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Single worker | 700/mo | 0 | 650 + 8,400 + 100 = 9,150 |
| B: Single worker | 800/mo | 0 | 650 + 9,600 + 100 = 10,350 |
| C: Worker + spouse + 2 kids | 700/mo | 3 | 9,150 + (4,800×3)= 23,550 |
| D: Worker + spouse + 2 kids | 800/mo | 3 | 10,350 + 14,400= 24,750 |
Work permit levy + license from official schedule; dependent fee baseline from public guidance/reporting; Iqama renewal commonly published at 650/year.
Iqama transfer (sponsorship change) fees (commonly referenced)
If someone changes employers and a sponsorship transfer is required, many practical guides list:
- 1st transfer: SAR 2,000
- 2nd transfer: SAR 4,000
- 3rd+ transfer: SAR 6,000
(Always confirm in the official workflow you’re using at the time of transfer—rules and eligibility can shift under labor reforms.)
FAQ
Can I renew my Iqama for 3 months instead of 12?
Yes, Saudi authorities enabled 3/6/9/12-month renewal periods for residency/work permits, but domestic workers are excluded from the quarterly option.
What’s the dependent fee in 2026?
Public guidance and reporting continue to reflect SR400/month per dependent/companion (SR4,800/year each).
Does health insurance matter for renewal?
Yes. Renewals are commonly described as being linked to insurance verification through the CCHI ecosystem (system checks rather than manual paperwork in many cases)
What happens if renewal is delayed?
MOI’s penalties schedule includes consequences for not renewing on time, including cases where the employer can be required to pay double the Iqama fees for late renewal reporting (per the listed violation)
