Saudi imposes “dependent’s fee’
Saudi imposes “dependent’s fee’ on foreign workers The
government of Saudi Arabia now requires expatriate workers, including overseas
Filipino workers, to pay for each family member or dependent holding a resident
permit or iqama. Starting July 1, 2017, foreign workers in the Kingdom have to
pay to the General Directorate of Passport the amount of 100 Saudi riyals or
approximately Php1,350 per dependent per month. Dependents include wife or
wives, children, parents, in-laws, house workers, drivers, and any person whose
name is registered in the system as sponsored by the expatriate worker. The fee
applies to dependents of all expatriates working in the private sector. The fee
will be paid in advance up to the date of validity of iqama and is
nonrefundable. The government will not issue exit and re-entry visas or renew
residence permits without payment of dependent’s fee. The dependent’s fee is
being implemented gradually and annually through the government-run SADAD
payment banking system. It will be increased to SR 200 per dependent per month
on July 1, 2018, SR 300 per month on July 1, 2019, and SR 400 on July 1, 2020.
The Saudi cabinet approved the collection of dependent’s fee from foreign
workers reportedly to boost state revenues to offset the impact of the drop in
oil prices./END
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