Expats Dependent Fees 2021

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is thinking about this move inorder to improve the relationship for private workers.

These discussion came up in a meeting organized by Makkah Chamber of Commerce & Industry along with Madina & Taif chambers

Ministry is still reviewing the Iqama dependent Fees on Expatriates and will likely change the payment to quarterly instead of yearly payment for expat dependents

Many new changes have been initiated in labor reforms from abolishment of Sponsorship system, changing of companies without employers consent & issuance of exit and re-entry visa, final exit visas to improve private sector jobs and to lure more skilled foreign workers in the kingdom.

Privileged iqama (residence permit) holders will not have to pay dependent fee, according to the approval granted by the Council of Ministers.

Privileged iqama holders can keep with them as dependents their wives, daughters and sons who are less than 21 years of age.

The privileged iqama (residence permit) scheme, which was approved by the Council of Ministers last Tuesday, came into effect on Sunday.

The scheme comprises 14 articles specifying the rights, duties and privileges of privileged iqama holders.

Privileges

1. Can stay in the Kingdom with his family.

2. Can obtain visit visas for his relatives.

3. Can recruit domestic workers.

4. Can own real estate units for residential, commercial and industrial purposes in all Saudi cities and towns except the holy cities of Makkah, Madinah and border areas.

5. However, they can invest in real estate units in Makkah and Madinah for periods of up to 99 years.

6. Can work in any private establishment and freely switch jobs except in professions restricted to Saudis.

7. Can exit and enter the Kingdom freely.

8. Can use special passport desks designated for Saudi citizens at airports.

9. Can practice commercial activities in line with the regulations for foreign investments.

Types of iqamas

1. Permanent

2. One-year renewable

Conditions to get privileged iqama

1. Present a valid passport

2. Must be at least 21 year old

3. Present documents proving enough financial resources

4. Present a police clearance certificate

5. Present health certificate issued less than 6 months ago

6. If the applicant is a resident of the Kingdom, then his iqama should be valid

7. Within 30 days of getting an approval, the applicant must pay the fees, present medical insurance policy,

Cancelation

1. Privileged iqama will be canceled if the holder is convicted of a crime for which he or she is sentenced to 60 days or fined SR100,000, or if he or she has to be deported from the country under a court order.

2. It can also be canceled in case the data provided in the application is found to be incorrect.

3. Holders can also voluntarily relinquish the privileged residency status if they wished so.

The Results of the study on Expat Levy will be released within 30 days along with the advantages and challenges of the issue.

Saudi Government has already decided to keep the Expat Fees fixed till now and at the same time studying about it development for it t be reviewed.

The study is being done because it will benefit the country and if there’s a specific sector or industry that would benefit from a change and it would help meet broader goals, such as promoting the balance of payments or creating jobs for Saudis.

In January, the Kingdom introduced a monthly fee of SR400 on companies for each foreign worker they hire. Firms that employ an equal or greater number of Saudis than expats pay SR300. The monthly fee will increase to SR500-600 per worker per month in 2019 and then SR700-800 per worker per month in 2020.

Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia confirmed on Monday about the Expatriate Dependent Fees and denied the social media reports related to Dependent Fees change rumours.

“Expatriate dependent fee will remain as was announced earlier. No amendments have been introduced,” the ministry said in a statement.

Changes in Expatriate Dependent Fee? No, there will not be any changes or postponement in Dependent Fees.

All the Expatriates must know that they have to pay the dependent Fees as shown below:

Dependent Fees without any Installments – Jawazat

An Expatriate living in the Kingdom has questioned the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) on Social media website ‘Twitter’ regarding the installments for paying Dependent Fees for his family, wherein he got a reply that Dependent Fees must be paid at once and cannot be payed in installments.

Question on Twitter: “Is it possible for me to make installment payments for dependents upon the arrival of my family?”

The Passport Directorate replied: “The fees shall be paid at once.“

Due to many questions asked, I thought it would be helpful to post about this.

IMPORTANT: THIS NEWS IS ONLY FOR EXPATS THOSE WHO DOESN’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT DEPENDENT FEES

Related Article: Expatriate Dependent Fees 2017 – Explained in Detail

Its a well known fact for all the Expats living in Saudi that Dependent Fees was implemented in 1st of July 2017 and expat has to pay SR 100 every month per Dependent and this has to be paid at the time of renweing your Iqama.

However, there was a recent News which was circulating on Social Media websites such as Facebook & Twitter that King Salman has stopped Dependent Fees which is incorrect.

Its just a rumour and Fake News that the dependnet Fees will be cancelled or stopped. So, all the expats have to pay Dependent Fees.

I request all the expats to pass this information to all Expat Brothers & Sisters who don’t have this information ans stop spreading Rumors about the Cancellation of Dependent Fees and stop this Fake News circulation.

Computer system malfunctioned and payment discrepancies was observed for expatriates. For people who went out of the kingdom on a Exit-Re Entry VISA with 2 months validity before July 1st, when checked online showed their VISA as expired.

Many Expatriates who were on Final Exit was also worried about the discrepancy shown in SADAD Payment system.

We went to Jeddah and Riyadh and here are some of the statement by Expats:

“Dependent Fees is really a worry for Expats”
“We are just waiting in a huge line near Jawazat Office to check Exit VISA status”
“I’m Really Confused about the Fee displayed in SADAD payment system”
“I’ve taken an Exit Re-Entry VISA before 1st July, What will be my status”

Almost all the Jawazat Office in Saudi Arabia were rushed by expatriates to check their status. Most of them even left to their home countries before July 1st who thought that they couldn’t survive in the kingdom after paying the heavy the Dependent Fee.

Most of the Expatriates sent their Families back to their home countries to avoid paying Dependent Fees in Saudi Arabia. However this decision by the Saudi Government towards Saudization and improving the economy of the country has created panic in Expats Life.

May Allah remove burdens in Expats Life and give back their Happy Life in the kingdom.

The main concern for all the expatriates is Feed will be levied on all the dependents living with an Expatriate. Even dependents who are below 18 years will also be levied.

Most of the Banks such as Al Rajhi Bank, AlAhli Bank, NCB Bank, SABB and Riyadh Bank in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have already updated their SADAD system for the Iqama Renewals.