Iqama Services

Iqama Fees in Saudi Arabia 2026 — Complete Breakdown

Iqama costs are the largest single recurring workforce expense for foreign employers in Saudi Arabia. They are also the most opaque — MOL, GOSI, Absher and insurance are paid through different portals on different cycles. This page is the canonical breakdown.

What is iqama fees 2026 in Saudi Arabia? Iqama fees in Saudi Arabia 2026 cover the MOL work permit, dependent levy (SAR 400/dep/month), GOSI contributions, mandatory health insurance, and Muqeem admin. Total annual cost ranges from SAR 7,000 to SAR 25,000+ per Iqama-holder depending on family size and Saudization band.

Iqama Fees 2026 — operational guide

Iqama fees in Saudi Arabia 2026 cover the MOL work permit, dependent levy (SAR 400/dep/month), GOSI contributions, mandatory health insurance, and Muqeem admin. Total annual cost ranges from SAR 7,000 to SAR 25,000+ per Iqama-holder depending on family size and Saudization band.

Iqama costs are the largest single recurring workforce expense for foreign employers in Saudi Arabia. They are also the most opaque — MOL, GOSI, Absher and insurance are paid through different portals on different cycles. This page is the canonical breakdown.

Tamra runs iqama fees 2026 as a managed service for foreign employers — including the GOSI, Saudization, Absher and Muqeem touch-points that block most non-specialist providers.

Key facts

ServiceIqama Fees 2026
CostSAR 7,000 (single, no dependents, Green Nitaqat) to SAR 25,000+ (4 dependents, Red Nitaqat) per worker per year.
TimelineRecurring annual; levy is monthly; GOSI is monthly.
Primary portalMuqeem / Absher / Qiwa
Sponsoring authorityMOI + MHRSD

Process — step by step

Recurring annual; levy is monthly; GOSI is monthly.

  1. MOL work permit fee. SAR 9,600/year + SAR 100 admin (paid via SADAD). Required for renewal.
  2. Dependent levy. SAR 400 per dependent per month, paid monthly via Absher. A worker with a wife and 2 children pays SAR 14,400/year in levy.
  3. Mandatory health insurance. SAR 800 – SAR 3,000 per person per year via CCHI-approved insurer. Mandatory before Iqama renewal.
  4. GOSI contributions. Employer pays 12% of salary (2% occupational hazards + 9% pension + 1% unemployment). Saudis: 21% total. Foreign workers: 2% only.
  5. Muqeem & admin. SAR 50 – SAR 200 per transaction depending on the operation (renewal, transfer, dependent add).

Documents required

  • Valid commercial registration with active MOL and Muqeem accounts
  • Active GOSI registration
  • Approved CCHI health insurance policy per worker and dependent
  • Updated Saudization status (auto-fetched from Qiwa)

Common mistakes

  • Underestimating the levy — for a worker with 3 dependents, levy alone is SAR 14,400/year
  • Not budgeting for Saudization-band escalation — Red band loses access to renewals entirely
  • Choosing the cheapest health insurance — many CCHI-approved plans get rejected at Iqama renewal for inadequate coverage
  • Forgetting GOSI 12% on top of salary

Frequently asked questions

What is the total annual cost of one Iqama in 2026?

SAR 7,000 – SAR 25,000+ depending on dependents and Saudization band. Single worker in Green Nitaqat: ~SAR 11,000/year. Worker with 3 dependents in Red: SAR 25,000+.

Who pays the dependent levy?

The employer pays the levy as part of payroll deductions (or absorbs it). The employee bears it economically — it is a workforce cost.

Has the levy increased in 2026?

The dependent levy remains at SAR 400/dependent/month for 2026. The MOL work permit fee remains at SAR 9,600/year. Saudization-band-based fee escalation continues to apply.

Does Tamra handle this end-to-end?

Yes. Tamra manages this as part of the standard Iqama administration package — including all government portal interactions, fee payments and compliance reporting.

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