Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) announced that expatriates in the Kingdom can make quarterly payment of the fee for their dependents and companions when they renew their residency permit (iqama) on a quarter-of-a-year basis.

According to a source at Jawazat, expatriates can make the payment through the updated government payments system available at all the Saudi local banks.

The source explained that those who come under the definition of dependents include wife, sons under the age of 18 years and daughters while companions include sons at the age of 18 and above, wives (second, third and fourth), father and mother, father in law, mother in law, domestic workers, and any expatriate who is registered in the Muqeem system as one who is in the service of the expatriate worker.

The monthly fee for all these categories of dependents and companions is amounted to SR400 each.

It is noteworthy that Minister of Interior Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Saud Bin Naif launched on Nov. 3 a series of online services and these included the renewal of iqama on a quarter-of-a-year basis.

These services are available on Absher Afrad (Individual) platform. Saudi banks recently started updating their government payments system for the issuance and renewal of iqamas, which are linked to work permits, for three-month and six-month periods.

According to the recently updated government payments system, iqama fees can be paid on a quarterly- or half-yearly basis. This will facilitate completing the procedures of issuance and renewal of iqamas for the required period through the online platforms of Absher Business, Muqeem, and Qiwa under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

According to the recent amendments in the government payment system, banks will accept the payment of the fee for the work permit by the employer for a minimum three-month period or its multiples up to a whole year. The issuance and renewal of iqama are linked to the work permit.

Employers shall make payment of the expatriate fee for the renewal of the work permit, which is SR800 per month or SR9,600 in a year.