Family & Spouse Visas in Saudi Arabia
Sponsoring a partner, children, or parents
A resident may sponsor a spouse and children where the occupation on the iqama and the salary permit it, and where the employer supports the application. Sponsored dependants hold residence derived entirely from the sponsor, they must be covered by health insurance, and a monthly levy is payable for each dependant, which is a significant part of the cost of a family posting.
| Who may be sponsored | Spouse and children, with parents and other relatives in narrower circumstances source |
| Conditions | Occupation classification on the iqama, a qualifying salary, and employer support |
| Dependant levy | A monthly fee payable for each sponsored dependant |
| Insurance | Health cover is required for dependants as a condition of residence source |
| Status | Dependant residence ends when the sponsor's residence ends |
The conditions that decide eligibility
Family sponsorship is not open to every resident. The occupation recorded on the sponsor's iqama matters, since some job classifications are not accepted for family residence at all, and a minimum salary applies, commonly with housing considered as part of the assessment.
The employer's cooperation is also required in practice, because applications are submitted through the employer's account on the government platforms and because the employer bears administrative responsibility for the sponsored file. Where the thresholds are not met, families frequently use visit visas instead, which permit stays of limited duration without residence rights.
The dependant levy
A monthly fee is charged for each dependant residing with a sponsored worker, payable in advance when residence permits are issued or renewed. For a worker with several children the annual sum is substantial and is a routine subject of negotiation in employment packages.
Some employers meet the levy in full, others share it, and many do not cover it at all. Because it is charged per dependant per month, it is worth confirming in writing who pays before relocating a family, alongside schooling and housing allowances.
What dependant status does and does not give
- Residence for the duration of the sponsor's permit, ending when that permit ends.
- Access to private schooling, which most foreign families use, at fees that are a major household cost.
- Health insurance cover arranged through the sponsor's policy.
- No independent right to work: a dependant who takes employment normally requires a work permit and a transfer of sponsorship.
- No accumulation of any entitlement to permanent residence or nationality through time spent as a dependant.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.