A fresh explainer published on 12 November 2026 by expatriate portal IndianInSaudiArabia.com clarifies the 2026 fee schedule for renewing Saudi residence permits (iqama) and highlights a policy change that allows expatriates to renew their permits online via Absher while outside the Kingdom. The Ministry of Interior’s fee circular keeps the base work-permit component at SAR 650 but confirms that the monthly levy for private-sector employers remains SAR 400 per foreign worker, payable pro-rata for renewals of three, six, nine or 12 months. Dependents continue to attract the SAR 100 monthly levy. Late renewal fines start at SAR 500 and double to SAR 1,000 on the second offence. Crucially, the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) now lets iqama holders renew from abroad, provided their exit-re-entry visa is still valid. The move benefits an estimated 2.5 million Indian nationals—India’s largest overseas community—many of whom take extended home leave during the winter wedding season and risk overstaying an expiring iqama. Indian recruiting agencies and Gulf HR teams must update departure checklists: workers leaving Saudi Arabia over the next few months should ensure their sponsors pay renewal fees online if the iqama will lapse while they are in India. Failure to renew voids health insurance and can trigger hefty re-entry penalties. The clarification comes amid Riyadh’s broader labour-market reforms, including the optional “flexi-iqama” allowing job mobility without employer consent after one year. Companies employing Indian talent should monitor further tweaks expected before the 2027 expatriate levy review.
Source: IndianInSaudiArabia.com
