Saudi Dependent Fee Calculator 2026

How the Saudi dependent levy is calculated

The Saudi dependent levy is one of the simpler residency calculations in the Gulf. The fee was introduced by Royal Decree in July 2017 at SAR 100 per dependent per month and rose in annual SAR 100 steps until it reached its current ceiling of SAR 400 per dependent per month in July 2020. For every sponsored dependent over the age of 18, the expat sponsor pays SAR 400 per calendar month through SADAD, the Saudi national bill-payment network. The annual figure works out to SAR 4,800 per dependent.

The math is linear. A typical family of a working spouse with one adult dependent and two children under 18 pays for a single dependent only: SAR 400 a month, or SAR 4,800 per year. The same family with two adult dependents pays SAR 800 a month, or SAR 9,600 a year. A family with one spouse and two parents living in the Kingdom on the same Iqama file pays SAR 1,200 a month, or SAR 14,400 a year. There is no household cap and no sibling discount. For the full case-by-case treatment of the levy, see the Saudi dependent fee guide.

Who pays and who is exempt

The levy is paid by the primary expatriate sponsor, never by the employer. Saudi labour law explicitly prohibits deducting the dependent fee from the worker's salary. That is a different rule from the employer-paid work permit levy (SAR 700 to SAR 800 per month per expatriate worker depending on Nitaqat balance) which is settled alongside the Iqama renewal but never appears on the employee's SADAD bill.

Children under 18 are exempt. Foreign wives of Saudi citizens with documented disabilities are exempt. Premium Residency holders are exempt for their entire dependent file as long as the Premium Residency itself is in force. Industrial-sector workers were exempt through end-2025; the 2026 status of that exemption is not confirmed in MHRSD official channels and should be checked directly on Absher before relying on it.

The 90-day new-arrival grace

When a dependent enters Saudi Arabia for the first time on a family residency visa, the meter does not start immediately. There is a 90-day grace from the date of arrival. Practically that means roughly the first three months of the levy are not charged for that dependent. The first chargeable day is day 91 after entry. The calculator above subtracts the remaining grace automatically when the new-arrival option is selected with a recent arrival date.

The grace applies per dependent, not per family. A spouse who arrives in March and a parent who arrives in July each enjoy their own 90-day window from their personal entry stamp. Mid-year arrivals also benefit. A dependent who arrives in October will cross day 91 in mid-January of the following year, so the first calendar year carries roughly two months of levy rather than the full three a January arrival would owe. Confirm the entry date on Muqeem before relying on the grace.

Worked examples

Example 1: One adult dependent, full year. A worker sponsoring a spouse who has been in Saudi Arabia for three years pays SAR 400 per month, or SAR 4,800 over the next 12-month Iqama renewal. A 24-month renewal doubles the figure to SAR 9,600. The SADAD bill clears in a single transaction.

Example 2: Two dependents, new arrival mid-year. A worker sponsors a spouse who arrived in April 2026 and one adult parent who arrived in February 2026. For the 12-month window starting June 2026, the spouse owes about 9 months of levy (July onward, after the grace ends in July), so SAR 3,600. The parent owes a full 12 months because their grace ended in May, so SAR 4,800. Total SADAD bill is SAR 8,400.

Example 3: Industrial-sector worker. Industrial-sector workers were exempt through end-2025. If the exemption was extended into 2026, the SADAD bill is SAR 0 regardless of dependent count. If not, the standard rate applies from January 2026 forward. Until MHRSD confirms the 2026 position, plan for the standard SAR 400 per dependent per month and adjust once the exemption status is confirmed on Absher.

Edge cases and traps

Final exit and exit/re-entry

The levy stops on the date a dependent leaves on a final exit visa. It keeps running on a regular exit and re-entry, because the Iqama remains active throughout the trip outside the Kingdom. A dependent who spends six months abroad on a multi-trip exit and re-entry permit still owes six months of levy. Convert to final exit if the departure is permanent.

Premium Residency mid-stay

If the sponsor upgrades to Premium Residency mid-year, the levy stops on the issue date of the Premium Residency and the unpaid balance up to that date is still owed. If the Premium Residency is downgraded later, the levy resumes from the downgrade date without retroactive grace.

Arrears never expire

An unpaid month from two years ago is still owed in full today. SADAD aggregates all missed months into a single bill at the next Iqama renewal attempt. There is no partial settlement option: the full arrears figure must clear before any further immigration transaction can proceed.

Salary deduction is illegal

Saudi labour law explicitly bars employers from deducting the dependent levy from salary. Any deduction labelled as a dependent fee on a payslip is recoverable through an MHRSD wage complaint. Keep the SADAD receipt and the payslip side by side.

How the Saudi levy compares across the GCC

Saudi Arabia's flat SAR 400 per dependent per month is the heaviest recurring dependent charge in the region, and it is the same for everyone regardless of who sponsors. Kuwait took a different path in its December 2025 reform, tiering the annual dependent fee from KWD 20 to KWD 300 by sponsor category, which the Kuwait dependent fee calculator prices out. The UAE and Qatar charge no recurring per-dependent levy once the residence visa issues, so the cost is front-loaded rather than annual; you can confirm whether you even clear the salary gate there with the UAE family sponsorship checker and the Qatar family sponsorship checker. For the full multi-country fee picture, see the GCC paperwork cost index. If your iqama profession also needs to clear the family-sponsorship class gate, the Saudi family sponsorship checker tests that first.

How to pay through SADAD

All Saudi banks expose SADAD payments inside their mobile app. Open the app, choose SADAD or government payments, search for "Muqeem dependent fee" or use bill code 077, and pay for 3, 6 or 12 months in a single transaction. The minimum payment window is three months; SADAD does not accept single-month payments on this bill. The receipt is kept inside the bank app and also appears on the Muqeem dashboard within minutes.

Most sponsors pay 12 months at a time and renew the SADAD bill alongside the Iqama. An unpaid balance silently blocks the Iqama renewal at the Muqeem pre-check screen and blocks every exit and re-entry visa request. Paying for the full new window before clicking renew on Muqeem avoids a wasted trip back to the bank. For the full walkthrough of the Iqama renewal sequence, see the Iqama renewal complete guide and the family sponsorship salary thresholds in the GCC family sponsorship salary requirements. If you are weighing the Premium Residency exemption, the Saudi Premium Residency guide breaks down the trade-offs. To budget the full iqama cost behind the levy, pair this with the Saudi iqama cost calculator, and if you are planning the whole family file, our family sponsorship service runs the eligibility check and the SADAD payments end to end. For the wider picture of settling in the Kingdom, see our Saudi Arabia country guide.

Frequently asked

What is the Saudi dependent fee in 2026?

The dependent levy in Saudi Arabia is SAR 400 per sponsored dependent per month, or SAR 4,800 per dependent per year. The fee was introduced by Royal Decree in July 2017 and the SAR 400 ceiling has been in force since July 2020. It is paid by the expat sponsor, not the employer, through SADAD using bill code 077 or by searching 'Muqeem dependent fee' inside any Saudi bank app. Payment can be made in 3, 6 or 12-month windows in a single transaction.

Who counts as a dependent for the levy?

Spouses, children aged 18 and over, and parents you sponsor all count. Children under 18 are exempt. Foreign wives of Saudi citizens with disabilities are exempt. Premium Residency holders (Saudi Green Card) are exempt for their entire dependent file. Industrial-sector workers were exempt through end-2025; the 2026 status of that exemption is not confirmed in official MHRSD channels, so confirm directly on Absher if you work in industry.

Is there a grace period for new arrivals?

Yes. New arrivals get a 90-day grace period from the date the dependent enters Saudi Arabia before the meter starts. The first chargeable day is day 91, so the calculator subtracts roughly three months of fees when the new-arrival option is selected and the arrival date is recent. The grace applies per dependent: a spouse arriving in March and a parent arriving in July each get their own 90-day window from their personal entry date.

How and when do I pay the dependent fee?

Through SADAD, the Saudi national bill-payment system. Open your bank app, choose SADAD payments, search for 'Muqeem dependent fee' or use bill code 077, and pay for 3, 6 or 12 months at once. Pay the full window before your Iqama renewal date; an unpaid balance silently blocks the renewal at the Muqeem pre-check screen. Most sponsors pay 12 months at a time to align the bill with the Iqama cycle.

What happens if I do not pay the dependent fee?

Arrears compound at SAR 400 per dependent per month and never expire. An unpaid balance blocks every exit and re-entry visa request and blocks the Iqama renewal itself. Saudi authorities settle arrears as a single SADAD bill that must be cleared before any further immigration transaction can proceed. There is no grace on arrears: a missed month is still owed in full even if you discover the gap two years later.

Are dependents on Premium Residency exempt?

Yes. Premium Residency holders pay none of the standard resident fees on their dependent file, including the SAR 400 monthly levy. The exemption holds as long as the Premium Residency itself is in force. If the Premium Residency is downgraded or surrendered, the standard levy resumes from the date of downgrade, with no retroactive grace. Confirm the status on Absher before assuming the exemption still applies.

Does the fee apply if my dependent leaves the country mid-year?

The levy is calculated by months of presence on the Iqama. If a dependent departs on a final exit visa, the meter stops on the exit date. If they leave on an exit and re-entry visa, the meter keeps running because the Iqama remains active. Mid-year arrivals also benefit from the 90-day grace, so a dependent who arrives in October pays for roughly two months in their first calendar year rather than three.

Can I pay just one month at a time?

No. SADAD enforces a 3-month minimum on the Muqeem dependent fee bill. You can pay 3, 6 or 12 months in a single transaction. Most sponsors align the 12-month window with the Iqama renewal date so that one SADAD payment clears both the levy and the Muqeem pre-check in the same week.