Dependent Levy Calculator (KSA) — حاسبة رسوم المرافقين
Calculate the total cost of sponsoring family members and domestic workers in Saudi Arabia. Includes fee breakdowns, exemptions, salary impact, and 5-year projections.
حاسبة رسوم المرافقين — Dependent Levy Calculator
Calculate total cost of sponsoring family members and domestic workers in Saudi Arabia. SAR 400/month per dependent.
👨👩👧👦 Family Dependents
0 or 1
🏠 Domestic Workers
📋 Duration & Salary Impact
Dependent Levy Breakdown
Total for 12 months
SAR 14,400.00
3 dependents
What Is the Dependent Levy? (رسوم المرافقين)
The Dependent Levy (رسوم المرافقين والمرافقات) is a monthly fee that expatriates in Saudi Arabia must pay for each family member they sponsor under their Iqama (residency permit). Introduced in July 2017 as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy, the fee is designed to generate non-oil revenue for the Kingdom.
The current rate is SAR 400 per dependent per month (SAR 4,800 per year per dependent). The fee applies to spouses, children, parents, and other family members sponsored by the expatriate.
SAR 400 per dependent per month
SAR 4,800 per dependent per year
SAR 13.33 per dependent per day
Fee History — How It Increased (2017–2020)
The dependent levy was introduced gradually over four years:
| Period | Monthly Rate | Annual per Dependent | Annual for Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2017 | SAR 100 | SAR 1,200 | SAR 4,800 |
| July 2018 | SAR 200 | SAR 2,400 | SAR 9,600 |
| July 2019 | SAR 300 | SAR 3,600 | SAR 14,400 |
| July 2020 → Present | SAR 400 | SAR 4,800 | SAR 19,200 |
The Saudi government is currently reviewing these fees to attract and retain skilled professionals, but no changes have been officially announced.
Who Is Exempt? — Complete Guide
Not everyone pays the dependent levy. The following categories are fully exempt:
| # | Exempt Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spouse of Saudi citizen | Non-Saudi wife or husband of a Saudi national |
| 2 | Children of Saudi parent | Non-Saudi children of a Saudi father OR mother |
| 3 | Widow/divorcee of Saudi man | Exempt for herself and her expatriate children |
| 4 | Government sector employees | Expats employed directly by Saudi government |
| 5 | GCC nationals | Citizens of UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar |
| 6 | Students on student visa | Foreign students studying in Saudi Arabia |
| 7 | Non-Saudi parents of Saudi children | Exempt under family ties provision |
| 8 | Newborns (first 90 days) | Grace period after birth registration |
| 9 | Dependents on final exit | Those who have left on final exit and not returned |
| 10 | Premium Residency holders | Same domestic worker limits as Saudi citizens |
Domestic Worker Fees — Separate Rules
Domestic workers (drivers, housemaids, nannies, cooks) have a different fee structure from family dependents:
| Sponsor Type | Free Workers | Fee for Each Additional Worker |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Citizens | First 4 free | SAR 9,600/year (SAR 800/month) |
| Expatriate Employers | First 2 free | SAR 9,600/year (SAR 800/month) |
| Premium Residency | First 4 free (same as Saudi) | SAR 9,600/year (SAR 800/month) |
Total Cost — Worked Examples by Family Size
| Family Composition | Dependents | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | 5-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse only | 1 | SAR 400 | SAR 4,800 | SAR 24,000 |
| Spouse + 1 child | 2 | SAR 800 | SAR 9,600 | SAR 48,000 |
| Spouse + 2 children | 3 | SAR 1,200 | SAR 14,400 | SAR 72,000 |
| Spouse + 3 children | 4 | SAR 1,600 | SAR 19,200 | SAR 96,000 |
| Spouse + 4 children | 5 | SAR 2,000 | SAR 24,000 | SAR 120,000 |
| Spouse + 3 children + 1 parent | 5 | SAR 2,000 | SAR 24,000 | SAR 120,000 |
Financial Planning — Impact on Your Salary
The dependent levy can consume a significant portion of an expatriate's income:
| Monthly Salary | 3 Dependents | % of Salary | 4 Dependents | % of Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAR 5,000 | SAR 1,200 | 24.0% | SAR 1,600 | 32.0% |
| SAR 8,000 | SAR 1,200 | 15.0% | SAR 1,600 | 20.0% |
| SAR 10,000 | SAR 1,200 | 12.0% | SAR 1,600 | 16.0% |
| SAR 15,000 | SAR 1,200 | 8.0% | SAR 1,600 | 10.7% |
| SAR 20,000 | SAR 1,200 | 6.0% | SAR 1,600 | 8.0% |
| SAR 30,000 | SAR 1,200 | 4.0% | SAR 1,600 | 5.3% |
Newborn Baby — Registration, Iqama & Fees
Adding a newborn to your sponsorship involves multiple steps and costs:
- Hospital birth notification → obtain from the hospital
- Birth certificate → Civil Affairs Office (الأحوال المدنية)
- Passport → Home country embassy/consulate
- Pay Iqama fee → SAR 2,000 for newborn Iqama
- Pay dependent levy → SAR 400/month from day 91 (90-day grace period)
- Register at Jawazat → General Directorate of Passports
| Cost Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iqama Issuance | SAR 2,000 | One-time fee |
| Dependent Levy (first year) | ~SAR 3,600 | 9 months × SAR 400 (after 90-day grace) |
| Total First Year | ~SAR 5,600 | |
| Subsequent Years | SAR 4,800/year | Full 12 months |
How to Pay — Absher, Muqeem & SADAD
Method 1: Absher
- Log in to absher.sa
- Go to Electronic Services → Residents
- Select Pay Dependent Fee
- System displays total liability
- Pay via linked bank account or SADAD
Method 2: SADAD (Bank Apps)
- Open your Saudi bank app (SNB, Al Rajhi, Riyad, etc.)
- Go to SADAD → Government Payments
- Select dependent fee payment service
- Enter family head's Iqama number
- Select dependents and payment period
- Confirm and pay
Method 3: Muqeem
Employers may use the Muqeem (مقيم) platform to manage dependent services, including the "Companion Fee Calculator" for fee estimation.
Exit/Re-Entry Visa Fees
| Visa Type | Base Fee | Extension | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Exit/Re-Entry | SAR 200 | + SAR 100/month | Max 2 months initially |
| Multiple Exit/Re-Entry | SAR 500 | + SAR 200/month | Max 3 months initially |
Important: All dependent levy fees must be fully paid before exit/re-entry visas can be processed for dependents.
Refund Policy
- Dependent fees are generally non-refundable
- If dependents leave on final exit before Iqama expires → no refund
- Overpayments may appear as available funds in Absher and can potentially be refunded through the originating bank
- File complaints through SAMA portal for bank-related refund issues