Indian residents of Saudi Arabia bring family in two ways. The family visit visa, SAR 300 for a single entry valid 90 days or SAR 500 for multiple entries over a year, is requested by the resident on Absher or the MOFA visa platform, approved in 1 to 7 days and stamped at VFS Tasheer in India within 3 to 7 working days, so 2 to 4 weeks in all. The family residence visa, SAR 2,000 per dependant plus the SAR 400 a month dependant levy, lets residents in eligible professions earning about SAR 5,000 a month sponsor their spouse and children permanently on a dependant iqama. Both need marriage and birth certificates attested by the MEA and the Saudi Embassy in New Delhi.
The short version with the price card and checklist is on the Saudi Arabia family visit visa route page. This article is the long version: who can sponsor and whom, the two routes compared, fees including the levy, the attestation chain, the timeline and the reasons requests are refused. The sponsor's own status is covered in the Saudi work visa and iqama guide.
Who qualifies for a Saudi family visit visa?
A resident of Saudi Arabia holding a valid iqama, in a profession the MOFA platform lists as eligible to host visitors, may invite their spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law and siblings; some professions may also invite grandparents and other relatives. The platform checks the sponsor's profession and salary when the request is created: engineers, accountants, teachers, nurses, doctors, managers and most office roles qualify, while labourers, drivers and domestic workers generally do not. The visitor must hold a passport valid 6 months and the relationship must be proven with attested certificates.
Visitors on the family visit visa stay up to 90 days per visit, extendable on Absher in 30-day blocks (SAR 100 each) to a maximum of 180 days for the single-entry visa, may perform Umrah outside the Hajj season and may not work. Indians who hold a used US, UK or Schengen visa can instead use the tourist eVisa described in the Saudi tourist visa guide, which needs no sponsor.
How do the family visit visa and the family residence visa compare?
| Feature | Family visit visa | Family residence visa (dependant iqama) |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | SAR 300 single (90 days) or SAR 500 multiple (1 year) | SAR 2,000 per dependant |
| Monthly levy | None | SAR 400 per dependant |
| Iqama | None | About SAR 650 a year per dependant |
| Sponsor | Any eligible iqama holder | Eligible profession with about SAR 5,000 salary |
| Who | Spouse, children, parents, in-laws, siblings | Spouse, sons under 18 (longer in education), unmarried daughters, sometimes parents |
| Stay | 90 days per visit, extendable to 180 | Residence tied to the sponsor's iqama |
| Work | Not allowed | Only after transfer to a work iqama |
| Schooling | Not applicable | Private or international schools |
The dependant levy, SAR 400 a month for each family member since July 2020, is the biggest ongoing cost: a spouse and two children cost SAR 14,400 a year before school fees. Many Indian families keep children in India and use the visit visa for school holidays.
How much does a Saudi family visa cost?
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Family visit visa, single entry | SAR 300 | 90 days; extendable at SAR 100 per 30 days |
| Family visit visa, multiple entry | SAR 500 | 1 year; 90 days per visit |
| Mandatory visitor insurance | About SAR 50 to 100 | Bought with the visa |
| VFS Tasheer service fee | About INR 3,000 to 4,000 per person | Paid in India |
| Family residence visa | SAR 2,000 per dependant | Istiqdam on the MOFA platform |
| Dependant levy | SAR 400 a month per dependant | Paid with the sponsor's iqama renewal |
| Dependant iqama | About SAR 650 a year each | Issuance and renewal |
| MEA and Saudi Embassy attestation | INR 2,000 to 5,000 per document | Marriage and birth certificates |
Vistolane charges the government fee at the official rate and shows attestation and Tasheer costs separately on the Saudi Arabia destination page.
What documents are needed, and how does attestation work?
Visit visa. The sponsor's iqama and Absher account, the visitor's passport (valid 6 months) and photo, the attested marriage certificate for a spouse or birth certificate for children and parents, and for parents-in-law both the marriage certificate and the spouse's birth certificate. The platform generates a visa application number that the visitor takes to VFS Tasheer with the passport, photos and the insurance receipt.
Residence visa. The same relationship certificates plus the sponsor's Qiwa contract showing profession and salary, the Istiqdam approval, the dependant's Wafid medical (for those over a certain age), and for children a school enrolment plan.
Attestation chain. Indian certificates are attested by the state Home Department or HRD, then the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, then the Saudi Embassy or its authorised centre; Arabic translation is required for the residence visa. The chain takes 1 to 3 weeks through an agent.
How does the application run?
- The sponsor creates the request on Absher or the MOFA visa platform, selects the relative, pays SAR 300 or SAR 500 (or SAR 2,000 per dependant through Istiqdam for residence) and uploads the attested certificates.
- MOFA approves in 1 to 7 days and issues the visa application number.
- The relative books VFS Tasheer in India, attends for biometrics with the passport, photos, application number, insurance and certificates, and pays the service fee.
- The passport is stamped in 3 to 7 working days and returned by courier.
- The relative travels within the visa validity; residence dependants complete the medical and receive the dependant iqama within 90 days of arrival.
How long does it take?
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Attestation | 1 to 3 weeks | State, MEA, Saudi Embassy |
| MOFA or Absher approval | 1 to 7 days | Sponsor's request |
| VFS Tasheer stamping | 3 to 7 working days | Biometrics in India |
| Travel | Within the visa validity | 90 days per visit |
| Dependant iqama | Within 90 days of arrival | Residence route only |
What happens during the stay?
Visitors may not work or study and must leave before the visa expires or extend on Absher; overstaying costs SAR 100 a day and brings an entry ban. Dependants on an iqama live, study and travel with the sponsor, hold their own Absher identity and may take up employment only after an employer transfers them to a work iqama in an eligible profession. Children attend private or international schools, and Indian curriculum schools in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam charge SAR 8,000 to 20,000 a year. Families seeking sponsor-free status without the levy consider the Saudi Premium Residency guide.
Why are Saudi family visas refused, and what fixes each reason?
Sponsor's profession not eligible. Labourer or driver on the iqama. Only the sponsor's employer can change the profession; otherwise use the tourist eVisa route if the relative qualifies.
Certificates not attested. Marriage certificate without the MEA or embassy stamp. Complete the full attestation chain before requesting.
Salary below the threshold. Residence sponsorship with a Qiwa salary under about SAR 5,000. Use the visit visa until the salary qualifies.
Name mismatch. Passport and certificate names differ in spelling. Obtain a name affidavit and attest it.
Levy or iqama arrears. Sponsor's dues unpaid. Clear the dependant levy and iqama fees on Absher before applying.
How Vistolane files it
Vistolane prepares the attestation chain, guides the sponsor's Absher or MOFA request and books VFS Tasheer for the relative, charging the SAR 300, SAR 500 or SAR 2,000 fee at the official rate. Start with the free eligibility check or the Saudi Arabia family visit visa route page. Families in the Gulf can compare the UAE family residence visa guide and the Qatar family residence visa guide.
