If you sponsor your family in Saudi Arabia, Iqama renewal for dependents is something you handle yourself on Absher, usually alongside the dependent fee. The renewal itself takes a few minutes. What slows people down is the list of checks Absher runs first. This guide covers where the service sits in Absher, what has to be in order, how the fees work, and what to do when a family member is abroad.
A quick note on scope: your own Iqama as an employee is renewed by your employer through Absher Business or Muqeem. This guide is for heads of household renewing for family members and domestic workers.
Where to find the service in Absher
The National Platform describes the paths like this:
- Family members: Family Member Services, then Resident ID Services, select the family member, then Resident ID Renewal.
- Domestic workers: Labor Services, then Resident ID Services, select the worker, then Resident ID Renewal.
- The mother of a citizen, or an investor: My Services, then Passports, then Resident ID Services, then Resident ID Renewal.
You choose the renewal period, pay, and the new expiry date appears on the family member’s record.
Check these before you renew
These are the conditions the National Platform lists for the service. If one of them fails, the renewal will not go through:
- Residency fees for the chosen period are paid.
- No unpaid traffic violations registered to the family member.
- The family member’s passport is valid.
- The person is not registered as absent from work (relevant for domestic workers).
- Fingerprint and photo are registered for the family member, for those above 6 years old.
- Each family member has their own passport. Nobody can be registered on someone else’s passport.
- The residency has not been expired for more than six months.
In practice the most common blockers are a child who turned six and has no fingerprint registered yet, a passport close to expiry, and a forgotten traffic fine.
Fees: the Iqama fee and the dependent fee
The National Platform lists the cost as variable, because it depends on the period you choose. On top of the renewal fee there is the dependent fee: since July 2020 it has been SAR 400 per dependent per month. Both appear in Absher before you confirm, and that total is the figure that counts.
Plan for it month by month. With several dependents, the dependent fee is usually the larger part of the bill, and it has to be settled before the renewal goes through.
When a family member is outside the Kingdom
The General Directorate of Passports announced in January 2025 that dependents and domestic workers outside the Kingdom can have their resident IDs renewed through Absher and Muqeem after paying the fees. That helps when a long trip runs past the Iqama date. If they are travelling on an exit re-entry visa, remember that the visa and the Iqama dates depend on each other; our guide to the exit re-entry visa explains how.
A simple renewal routine
- Check every family member’s Iqama and passport expiry dates a month ahead.
- Clear any traffic violations registered to them.
- Register fingerprints for children who have turned six.
- Make sure the dependent fee is paid.
- Renew on Absher and confirm the new expiry date on each record.
How Moaqeb can help
We go through the conditions with you before you pay anything: passport validity, fingerprints, violations and fees. Then we guide you through Absher step by step. Your Absher login, verification codes and payments stay with you. See our help with Saudi government e-services or browse all our services.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my dependents’ Iqama while they are outside Saudi Arabia?
Yes. The General Directorate of Passports announced in January 2025 that dependents of residents and domestic workers who are outside the Kingdom can have their resident IDs renewed through Absher and Muqeem, after paying the applicable fees.
How much is the dependent fee?
Since July 2020 the fee on dependents of expatriate workers has been SAR 400 per dependent per month. It is paid in addition to the Iqama renewal fee, and Absher shows the total before you pay.
What if the Iqama expired more than six months ago?
Absher’s renewal service requires that the residency has not been expired for more than six months, so an older expiry needs to be resolved through the Passports channels first.
Do children need their own passport?
Yes. A family member cannot be added to another person’s passport for this service; each family member needs a separate passport.
