Residency renewal in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the essential requirements that residents must adhere to in order to ensure their legal stay in the country. To avoid severe consequences, it is necessary to understand the fees for residency renewal in the Kingdom and the conditions required for its renewal.
Following the digital transformation the Kingdom is undergoing as part of Vision 2030, residents can now renew their residencies easily through electronic platforms such as Absher and Tawakkalna, which saves time and effort. The government has also provided several methods for paying fees electronically, making the residency renewal process smooth and stress-free, provided all conditions are met before submitting your application. In this article, we will review the conditions and fees for residency renewal, as well as the steps to consider during the renewal process.
Table of Contents
|
Cost of Residency Renewal for 2025
Residency renewal fees vary depending on the type and category of the resident. Below are the details of the annual fees specified for each category:Annual Residency Renewal Fees
- Domestic workers (private driver, maid, nanny, cook): 600 Saudi Riyal annually.
- Employees in private companies and institutions: 650 Saudi Riyal annually.
- Resident’s spouse: 500 Saudi Riyal annually.
- Dependents under 20 years old: 500 Saudi Riyal annually per individual.
Residency Renewal Fees for Two Years
- Domestic workers: 1200 Saudi Riyal.
- Private sector employees: 1300 Saudi Riyal.
- Resident’s spouse and dependents: 1000 Saudi Riyal.
Possible Additional Fees
- Dependents and companions: 400 Saudi Riyal per month per individual.
- Health insurance: Depends on the service provider and the chosen insurance category.
- Exit and re-entry visa: 200 Saudi Riyal for multiple exits, and 500 Saudi Riyal for an additional 3 months.
Residency Renewal Conditions
To have the renewal application accepted, the following conditions must be met:- The resident must be inside the Kingdom when submitting the application.
- The passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
- No unpaid traffic violations.
- No recorded absconding report against the resident.
- Completing the required medical examination from authorized entities.
- Having valid health insurance.
- Paying all required fees through available methods.
Steps for Electronic Residency Renewal
To facilitate residents and citizens, the Saudi government has made it possible to renew residencies electronically at any time and from anywhere, thanks to the Kingdom’s robust technological infrastructure.1. Through the Absher Platform
- Log in to the Absher Individuals platform.
- Select “Electronic Services” then “Passports“.
- Click on “Residency Renewal”.
- Select the resident or sponsored individual whose residency is to be renewed..
- Specify the duration of residency renewal (one or two years).
- Review the information and ensure its accuracy.
- Pay the fees through available methods.
- Confirm the request and receive a confirmation message upon successful completion.
2. Through the Tawakkalna Platform
- Access the Tawakkalna app on your mobile phone.
- Log in using your account details.
- Select “Services” then “Passports”.
- Choose the option “Residency Renewal”.
- Enter and review the required information.
- Pay the fees electronically.
- Confirm the request and wait for a notification confirming successful renewal.
Electronic Payment Methods for Residency Renewal Fees
Residency renewal fees can be paid easily through the following methods:- Online banking services (e.g., AlAhli Online, AlRajhi Mabashir).
- ATMs by selecting “Government Payments”.
- Banking apps on smartphones.
- Electronic wallets such as STC Pay and Apple Pay.
- Payment via SADAD bills through bank accounts.
How to Check Residency Status and Print the Renewed Document
Checking the residency status is essential to avoid fines and violations. The most important methods to check residency status include:1. Checking Residency Validity through Absher
- Log in to Absher Individuals.
- Go to “Electronic Services”.
- Select “Check Residency Validity”.
- Enter the residency number and verification code.
- View the residency status and expiration date.
2. Printing the Renewed Residency
- Access the Absher platform.
- Go to “Passports Services”.
- Select “Residency Management” then “Print Residency”.
- Enter the required information and click “Print”.
- The document can be received via Saudi Post or from passport offices.
When Does a Resident’s Residency Lapse?
According to the law, residency lapses in the following cases:- Failure to renew residency within 3 days of its expiration.
- An absconding report filed against the resident by the employer.
- Leaving the Kingdom and not returning within 6 months after the expiration of the exit and re-entry visa.
- Death of the resident or change of nationality.
Categories Exempt from Residency Fees
According to Saudi law, some categories are exempt from residency renewal fees, including:
- Newborns of resident parents in the Kingdom.
- Students receiving government scholarships.
- Expatriates from countries exempted under special agreements.
- Children of Saudi women married to non-Saudi husbands.
What Are the Prices of Services Provided by the Saudi Passports Directorate?
- Adding a dependent born in the Kingdom: Free.
- Final exit visa: Free.
- Residency renewal for students holding a study visa: Free.
- Visit visa extension: 100 Saudi Riyal.
- Issuing or renewing a Saudi passport for 5 years: 300 Saudi Riyal.
- Issuing or renewing a Saudi passport for 10 years: 600 Saudi Riyal.
- Issuing a single exit and re-entry visa: 200 Saudi Riyal, provided the travel duration does not exceed two months. For exceeding two months, an additional 100 Saudi Riyal per month is required, and the residency must be valid.
- Multiple-entry visa valid for six months: 3000 Saudi Riyal.
- Multiple-entry visa valid for one year: 5000 Saudi Riyal.
- Multiple-entry visa valid for two years: 8000 Saudi Riyal.
- Issuing a residency permit for domestic workers such as farmers and shepherds: 600 Saudi Riyal per worker.
- Issuing or renewing residency for new dependents or renewing their residency after reaching the legal age of 18: 500 Saudi Riyal.
- Issuing or renewing residency for company and institution workers: 650 Saudi Riyal per individual annually.
Can I Renew Residency Electronically While Residing Outside Saudi Arabia?
To facilitate workers in the Kingdom, Saudi authorities have allowed residency renewal for residents outside Saudi Arabia through the Tawakkalna app by following these steps:-
- Open the Tawakkalna app and log in to your account.
- Select the residency renewal service from the services menu.
- Enter your details, such as the residency number or border number.
- Pay the fees through the app.After payment, print the residency through the Absher platform.
Can I Renew Residency While Outside Saudi Arabia Through the Passports Office?
If you wish to renew residency manually through traditional methods or face difficulties accessing electronic platforms, you can do so by:- Visiting a passports office branch and submitting the required documents.
- Submitting a residency renewal application with the documents.
- Paying the residency renewal fees.
What Are the Documents Required for Manual Residency Renewal?
If you wish to know the residency renewal fees and the required documents for manual or traditional renewal, you must bring and submit the following documents to the relevant authority.- Original expired residency permit.
- Copy of a valid passport.
- Recent passport-sized photo with official dimensions and a white background.
- Valid medical insurance.