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Saudi Iqama Renewal & Expat Levy Calculator 2026

Estimate annual Iqama renewal fees, the monthly expat worker levy and the dependent levy for expatriates in Saudi Arabia.

⚠️ Commonly cited figures — confirm before relying on this. These amounts come from third-party Saudi immigration/HR summaries, not the primary Ministry of Interior or GOSI notification. Confirm current amounts via Absher, Qiwa or your company's PRO before budgeting.
SAR 0 estimated total for the period
Iqama renewal fee—
Dependent (over-18) renewal fees—
Worker levy (monthly × 12 × years)—
Family/dependent levy (monthly × 12 × years)—
Total for the period—

In short

Saudi Iqama renewal costs about SAR 650 per year for a standard worker (SAR 600 for domestic workers). Employers pay an expat levy of SAR 800 per month per foreign worker (SAR 700 where Saudis are at least half the workforce), and a dependent levy of SAR 400 per month per family member.

Who this is for: Expatriates and employers in Saudi Arabia budgeting Iqama renewal, work-permit levy and dependent levy for the year.

Not tax or legal advice. Fee amounts are commonly cited figures from third-party Saudi HR/immigration advisory sources, not the primary Ministry of Interior or GOSI notification, and can change. Confirm current amounts via Absher, Qiwa or your company's PRO before budgeting or making any payment.
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Three separate charges that make up an expat's annual cost

The cost of employing or sponsoring an expatriate in Saudi Arabia is made up of several distinct fees, not one number:

  • Iqama renewal fee: paid annually (or for a 2-year period) to renew the residence permit itself — a different rate applies to domestic workers.
  • Dependent renewal fee: a dependent aged over 18 typically needs their own Iqama renewal, at a separate rate.
  • Worker (expat) levy: a monthly fee the employer pays for each non-Saudi employee, reduced for companies meeting a Saudization threshold (≥50% Saudi workforce).
  • Dependent (family) levy: a separate monthly fee per family member residing with the sponsor in Saudi Arabia — this applies regardless of the dependent's age.

Two exemptions worth knowing about: companies holding a valid Industrial Licence had the expatriate workforce levy permanently cancelled from December 2025, and very small businesses (nine or fewer employees) may qualify for exemptions on specified foreign workers.

See also: Saudi End of Service Calculator (EOSB).

Source: Saudi immigration/HR advisory summaries — confirm exact current amounts via Absher, Qiwa or your PRO.

Assumptions

  • Renewal fee is SAR 650/year (standard) or SAR 600/year (domestic worker); dependents over 18 are SAR 500/year each.
  • Worker levy is SAR 800/month, or SAR 700/month where Saudis are at least 50% of the workforce.
  • Dependent levy is SAR 400/month per family member you enter.
  • Industrial-licence and small-business exemptions are not applied.

Worked example

Standard worker, 1-year renewal, 2 family dependents, company below 50% Saudization

Iqama renewal: SAR 650
Worker levy: SAR 800 × 12 = SAR 9,600
Family levy: 2 × SAR 400 × 12 = SAR 9,600
Total for the year ≈ SAR 19,850

Frequently asked questions

Does the worker levy apply to me if I'm the employee, not the employer?

No — the worker levy is paid by the employer/sponsor for each non-Saudi employee, not by the worker directly. It's included here so employees can understand the full cost their sponsor carries.

What counts as a 'dependent' for the family levy?

Typically a spouse and children residing with the sponsor under their Iqama sponsorship — check your Absher account for exactly who is registered as your dependent.

Are there any exemptions?

Yes — Industrial Licence holders had the worker levy permanently cancelled from December 2025, and businesses with nine or fewer employees may qualify for exemptions on specified foreign workers. This calculator does not model either exemption.

Who pays the dependent levy?

The sponsor pays it when renewing dependents' Iqamas, for the full renewal period in advance.

Is the worker levy the same for all sectors?

No — industrial-licence holders were exempted from December 2025 and some sectors and small businesses have exemptions or reductions; check Qiwa for your entity.

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Written by the Swift IT Sols editorial team · SWIFT SOLSRules sourced from the official authorities named on this page and last checked How we source and check calculators

Found an error? Report it — tell us the inputs, the result you got, what you expected and the rule or source. Confirmed corrections are published within a week.

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