Privileged residency holders won't need to pay dependent fee: report

Privileged iqama (residence permit) holders will not have to pay dependent fee, Saudi Gazette reported, citing the decision issued by the Council of Ministers.

Privileged iqama holders can sponsor their wives, daughters and sons who are less than 21 years of age, the report noted.

Last week, Saudi Arabia approved the creation of a residency permit scheme for qualified international expatriates.

The Kingdom started imposing a monthly tax on expatriate family members and dependents, with a monthly fee of SAR 100 per expat dependent from last July. The fee will increase gradually by SAR 100 every year until 2020, amounting to SAR 400 per dependent per month in 2020. The dependent fee is payable for spouses, dependent children, parents, house maids and domestic workers.

However, the new residency rules don't mention if women can sponsor their husbands.