Health Insurance Now Mandatory for Dependent Iqama Renewal — What You Need to Know

Saudi Jawazat has confirmed that health insurance is required for renewing dependent iqama (residence permits). This affects all sponsors who have dependents — spouse, children, or other family members — on their iqama.

What CareAljawazat confirmed

In a reply to a user query, @CareAljawazat stated: “In the case of dependents, health insurance is required to complete iqama renewal.” (Source, 1,717 views)

This is not new. The Cooperative Health Insurance Law says a residence permit may not be granted or renewed without a health insurance policy that covers the iqama period (CHI), and Jawazat has checked dependents’ insurance before issuing or renewing iqamas since August 2014. Absher’s own guide also lists medical insurance for the worker and family members as a condition for iqama renewal (Absher).

Who is affected?

• Sponsors renewing iqama for their spouse
• Sponsors renewing iqama for their children
• Sponsors renewing iqama for any dependent family member

If you are a sponsor and your dependents do not have active health insurance, you cannot complete the iqama renewal through Absher or at Jawazat.

Who pays? For private-sector employees, the Council of Health Insurance (CHI) says the employer alone is responsible for paying the insurance premiums for employees and their dependents (CHI FAQ). Ask your HR to add your family to the company policy before you pay for one yourself.

What health insurance is required?

The insurance must be:

• Active (not expired)
• Issued by a licensed Saudi insurance provider
• Covering the dependent (not just the sponsor)
• Valid for the iqama renewal period

Common insurance providers

Premiums depend on the insurer, plan class, age and city, so get a quote. (An earlier version of this table gave price ranges that we could not verify, so we removed them.)

Tip: Open a dedicated savings account with SNB Neo (referral link) to set aside funds for insurance premiums. Track payments and renewals in one place.

How to check if your dependent has insurance

1. Ask your insurance provider for a coverage certificate
2. Check via the insurance company’s app or website
3. Verify on the CHI (Council of Health Insurance, formerly CCHI) insurance inquiry service with the dependent’s iqama (or passport/border) number

What happens if you try to renew without insurance?

• ❌ Absher will block the renewal transaction
• ❌ You will receive an error message about missing insurance
• ❌ Jawazat will not process the renewal in person either

Step-by-step: How to renew dependent iqama with insurance

1. Verify insurance — check that your dependent’s insurance is active
2. Get insurance certificate — download or request from your provider
3. Login to Absher — open the family members (dependents) services and choose iqama renewal (menu names may differ slightly)
4. No upload needed — the policy must be electronically linked to the dependent’s iqama, and the system checks it automatically
5. Pay the fees — the iqama fee and the monthly dependent fee, through your bank (SADAD)
6. Complete renewal — iqama is renewed digitally

What if you don’t have insurance yet?

If your dependent’s iqama is expiring and you don’t have insurance:

1. Ask your employer first (private-sector employers must cover dependents), or contact an insurance provider — Bupa, Tawuniya, Medgulf, or any CHI-approved provider
2. Get a policy issued — this can often be done same-day
3. Then renew — once insurance is active, the renewal will go through

Tip: Don’t wait until the last minute. Set up a dedicated account with SNB Neo (referral link) to manage insurance payments and iqama renewal fees in one place.

Related guides

• Iqama & Residency — Complete Guide
• Check Iqama Expiry Date
• How to Open a Bank Account
• Dependent Passport Separation at Age 18

References

1. @CareAljawazat — Health insurance mandatory for dependent iqama — Twitter (July 2026)
2. CHI — Council of Health Insurance (formerly CCHI) — chi.gov.sa
3. CHI — Cooperative Health Insurance Law, Article 3 — chi.gov.sa

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Insurance and iqama rules may change. Always verify with Jawazat and your insurance provider.