Bringing your family to Saudi Arabia: a practical guide for expat employees

Understand the sponsorship route before you sign

Your family’s ability to join you in Saudi Arabia depends almost entirely on your own residence status. As an employee, you will hold an iqama linked to your employer. Dependants — a spouse and children — are sponsored separately, usually by you as the employee, once your own iqama is issued and your profession is eligible. Not every job title can sponsor family members. Some roles, particularly those classified as labour or service positions, may not qualify. Ask your employer early whether your profession code allows family sponsorship, and get that answer in writing if you can.

Do not assume that a generous salary package automatically includes family sponsorship. Some employers cover dependant visa and iqama costs; others expect you to pay. Some provide family housing or a housing allowance that increases with dependants; others do not. Before you accept an offer, ask specifically: “Will the company sponsor my spouse and children? What costs will I bear? What support do you provide for family relocation?” The answers should be part of your written contract or a formal side letter. If the employer is vague, treat that as a risk.

Your own iqama must be valid and your profession must be on the list of those permitted to sponsor dependants. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Ministry of Interior set these rules. Your employer’s government relations officer, often called a PRO or mandoob, will handle most of the paperwork. But you should understand the sequence so you can chase the right person at the right time.

Prepare and attest documents before you leave home

The single biggest cause of delay is missing or incorrectly attested documents. You cannot fix most of these quickly once you are in Saudi Arabia. Start gathering them before you travel, and check the exact requirements with the Saudi embassy or consulate in your home country, because they vary by nationality and issuing country.

Typically you will need:

• Marriage certificate, attested by your home country’s foreign ministry and then by the Saudi embassy or consulate.
• Birth certificates for each child, attested the same way.
• Passports for your spouse and children, valid for a period well beyond your intended stay. Check the minimum validity required for a dependant visa.
• Passport-sized photographs meeting Saudi specifications.
• Your own iqama copy and employment contract, once issued.
• A medical report for each adult dependant, from an approved clinic, showing they are free of contagious diseases. The list of required tests changes, so confirm with the embassy or your employer’s PRO.
• Proof of relationship, which is the attested marriage and birth certificates. If documents are not in Arabic or English, you will need certified translations.

Attestation is not the same as translation. Attestation is a chain of stamps that proves the document is genuine. The usual chain is: notary or issuing authority in your home country, then your home country’s foreign ministry, then the Saudi embassy or consulate. Some countries have joined the Apostille convention, which can simplify this, but Saudi Arabia’s acceptance of apostilles for family visas has changed over time. Do not rely on forum advice. Ask the Saudi embassy directly.

If you are already in Saudi Arabia and your family is still abroad, you may be able to start the process through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa platform, but the documents still need to be attested in the home country first. Plan for this before you fly.

Ask the employer the right questions about sponsorship and costs

Employers vary enormously in how they handle family sponsorship. Some have a dedicated PRO who will manage everything from the dependant visa application to the family iqama. Others expect you to navigate the process yourself, with only minimal support. Before you accept a job, ask these questions in writing:

• Will the company sponsor my spouse and children? If yes, what is the process and who is my point of contact?
• What costs will the company cover? This includes visa fees, iqama fees, medical tests, translation and attestation, and any dependant levy or expat fee. Some employers reimburse these; others do not.
• Does my housing allowance change if my family joins me? Some contracts specify a higher allowance for accompanied status.
• Does the company provide family medical insurance? What does it cover? Are dependants included automatically or at extra cost?
• What happens if my family arrives before my iqama is issued? Can they enter on a visit visa and then convert, or must they wait?
• What is the policy on school fees? Some employers pay a contribution towards children’s education; many do not.

Do not accept verbal promises. If the employer says they will cover family costs, ask for it in the offer letter or contract. If they refuse, budget for the costs yourself. The expat dependant fee is a recurring annual charge per dependant, and it is significant. Check the current amount on official channels, because it has changed over time.

Also ask about the timing. Your family cannot usually join you until your own iqama is issued and your employment is confirmed. Some employers will not start the dependant process until you have passed probation. Others will start immediately. Knowing this helps you plan the move.

The dependant visa and iqama process, step by step

Once you are in Saudi Arabia and your iqama is active, the process for bringing your family typically follows this sequence:

1. Your employer’s PRO submits a dependant visa application through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa platform or the relevant e-service. This requires your iqama details, your attested marriage and birth certificates, and your dependants’ passport copies.
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a visa authorisation number. This is sent to the Saudi embassy or consulate in your home country, or made available electronically.
3. Your family applies for the dependant visa at the Saudi embassy or consulate, using the authorisation number. They will need the attested documents, medical reports, photographs and completed forms.
4. Once the visa is issued, your family travels to Saudi Arabia. The visa is usually a single-entry visa valid for a limited period, so they must travel within that window.
5. After arrival, your employer’s PRO applies for the dependant iqama for each family member. This involves a medical examination in Saudi Arabia, fingerprinting, and payment of the dependant fee.
6. The dependant iqama is issued, usually valid for the same period as your own iqama. It must be renewed at the same time as yours.

Throughout this process, you will use the Absher and Muqeem platforms to check status and pay some fees. Your employer’s PRO will guide you, but you should create your own Absher account as soon as you have your iqama, because many steps require your personal login.

Common mistakes: starting the process before your iqama is issued, submitting documents that are not attested in the correct order, and letting the visa authorisation expire before your family applies. Keep copies of everything, and track the authorisation number carefully.

Settling in: practical steps for your partner and children

Once your family arrives, the first few weeks are about paperwork and routine. Do these in order:

• Register your family’s arrival with your employer and ensure the dependant iqama application is submitted immediately. Do not delay; the visa has a limited validity.
• Open a bank account for your spouse if they will need one. Some banks allow dependants to open accounts with their iqama. Check the requirements with the bank.
• Get a SIM card for your spouse. This requires their iqama or passport, depending on the stage of the process.
• Enrol your children in school. International schools in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province have waiting lists, so start this process before your family arrives if possible. Ask about curriculum, fees, and whether the school accepts children on a dependant visa before the iqama is issued.
• Find housing that suits a family. If your employer provides housing, confirm the size and location. If you are renting, use the Ejar platform for a registered lease. Family compounds are popular for their amenities and community, but they cost more. Consider proximity to your workplace, your children’s school, and your spouse’s daily needs.
• Sort out transport. Your spouse may need to drive. Check the rules for converting a foreign driving licence to a Saudi one, and whether dependants can drive on an international licence initially. See our guide on driving in Saudi Arabia for more detail.
• Register with a local clinic or hospital. Your employer’s medical insurance should cover dependants, but confirm the network and how to book appointments.

Your spouse cannot work on a dependant iqama. If they want to work, they will need their own employment contract and work permit, which transfers their sponsorship to an employer. This is a separate process through Qiwa. If your spouse plans to work, discuss this with your employer early, because it affects your family’s visa status.

Budget for the real cost of family life

Family life in Saudi Arabia is more expensive than single life, and the costs are not always obvious. The biggest items are:

• The annual dependant fee, paid per dependant. This is a government charge, not an employer cost unless your contract says otherwise.
• School fees. International schools are expensive, and fees vary widely by city and curriculum. Some employers contribute; many do not. Ask for the school fee policy in writing before you accept the offer.
• Housing. A family needs more space, and compounds or larger apartments cost more. If your employer provides housing, check whether it is suitable for a family. If you receive a housing allowance, check whether it increases with dependants.
• Medical insurance. Dependants are usually covered under the employer’s policy, but check the coverage limits, especially for maternity, dental and optical care.
• Transport. You may need a second car, and fuel is cheap but insurance and maintenance add up.
• Domestic help. Many families hire a driver or housemaid. Sponsoring domestic workers is a separate process with its own fees and rules.

Use our cost of living guide to compare cities and build a realistic budget. And read our guide on how to read a Saudi salary offer to understand what is included and what is not.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

The families who settle most smoothly are those who treat the process as a project with a clear owner. The most common pitfalls:

• Assuming the employer will handle everything. Even with a good PRO, you need to track deadlines, keep copies of documents, and follow up. The PRO has many employees to manage; your family is your priority.
• Starting the document attestation too late. Attestation can take weeks or months, depending on your home country. Start before you have a job offer if you are serious about moving with your family.
• Not checking the profession eligibility. Some job titles cannot sponsor dependants. If your profession is not eligible, no amount of salary will change that. Ask before you sign.
• Underestimating school waiting lists. The best international schools fill up months in advance. Contact schools as soon as you know your city and start date.
• Ignoring the dependant fee. This is a recurring annual cost that many expats forget to budget for. Check the current amount on official channels and include it in your financial planning.
• Letting the visa authorisation expire. Once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues the authorisation, your family has a limited window to apply at the embassy. If they miss it, you start again.

If you are still evaluating offers, use our live vacancies in Saudi Arabia to compare packages, and read our guide on negotiating a Saudi job offer to ask for family support as part of the deal.

This guide is general information and not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; always confirm with your employer, the Saudi embassy in your home country, and official Saudi government platforms.