2026 UPDATE
Work Permit Fee Calculator
Saudi Arabia · 2026
Calculate the total annual work permit levy for your establishment — including exempt workers, Nitaqat discount tiers, and small-business exemptions.
Equal Saudi Count
SAR 700/mo
Expats ≤ Saudi headcount
Over Saudi Count
SAR 800/mo
Expats exceed Saudi headcount
Work Permit Fee
SAR 100
Per non-Saudi worker · Annual
Small Biz Exempt
Up to 4
Workers free if GOSI Saudi registered
🧮 Work Permit Fee Calculator · 2026
Based on the official Qiwa / MHRSD formula · Includes exempt categories & small-business discount
1
Enter your establishment headcount
From all establishments in your group. Exclude the business owner — enter separately below.
Business Owner Is the owner working full-time and registered in GOSI?
Answering Yes counts the owner toward the ≤9 employee threshold for the small-business discount.
Total Employees
0
2
How many non-Saudi employees belong to exempt categories?
These workers are excluded from the levy. Total exemptions cannot exceed total non-Saudis.
ℹ️ Note: The number of exempt employees should not be greater than the actual number of Non-Saudi employees.
Exempt by Type — Levy-free Worker Categories
Private Expatriates
Citizen's husband · Citizen's wife · Son/daughter of a citizen
Nationalities Exempted from Deportation
Palestinian with Egyptian document · Balochi residents · Turkestan residents
Displaced Tribe Members
Holders of the five-year card (Saudi passport holders who are not Saudis)
Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Citizens of Kuwait · Qatar · Bahrain · Oman · UAE
Workers in Recruitment Companies
Rental of home workers
Working in Agriculture, Forestry, or Fishing
With a maximum of 6 expatriate workers on activity 1-5
Work Permit Payment
Total Annual Cost
SAR 0
Per year for your establishment
—
—
Fee Breakdown
Work Permit Levy Rates · 2026
Official MHRSD / Qiwa rates
Monthly Levy by Nitaqat Status
Per non-Saudi worker · Paid by employer
| Scenario | Monthly Rate | Annual Rate | Quarterly | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expats exceed Saudi headcount | SAR 800 | SAR 9,600 | SAR 2,400 | Over Count |
| Expats equal or fewer than Saudis | SAR 700 | SAR 8,400 | SAR 2,100 | Equal Count |
| Industrial sector (valid license) | SAR 0 | SAR 0 | SAR 0 | Exempt |
| Domestic workers — Saudi employer | SAR 0 | SAR 0 | SAR 0 | First 4 free |
| Domestic workers — Non-Saudi employer | SAR 0 | SAR 0 | SAR 0 | First 2 free |
⚠️ Under Saudi Labor Law Article 40, the employer is legally obligated to pay the work permit levy. Deducting this fee from an employee's salary is prohibited. Levy can be paid quarterly (min. 3 months), or for 6, 9, or 12 months via SADAD. Quarterly amounts: SAR 2,100 (700 rate) or SAR 2,400 (800 rate) per worker. Domestic worker exemption limits: Saudi employer → first 4 workers free; non-Saudi employer → first 2 workers free.
Work Permit Fee — Flat Annual Charge
Per establishment · In addition to per-worker levy
| Fee Type | Rate | Applies To | Paid By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work Permit Service Fee | SAR 100 / worker | All non-Saudi workers incl. exempt | Employer |
The SAR 100 work permit service fee applies to all non-Saudi workers per year — including those exempt from the monthly levy. It is charged separately from the monthly levy (SAR 700 or SAR 800/month).
Exempt Worker Categories
Not counted toward the levy
Exempt by Type — Full & Partial Levy Waiver
Worker categories with reduced or zero monthly levy
| Category | Description | Max | Exemption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Expatriates | Citizen's spouse or son/daughter of a Saudi citizen | No limit | Full Exempt |
| Nationalities Exempt from Deportation | Palestinians with Egyptian documents, Balochi residents, Turkestan residents | No limit | Full Exempt |
| Displaced Tribe Members | Five-year card holders (Saudi passport but not Saudi nationals) | No limit | Full Exempt |
| GCC Citizens | Citizens of Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE | No limit | Full Exempt |
| Recruitment Company Workers | Domestic/home worker rental through licensed recruitment companies | No limit | Full Exempt |
| Agriculture / Forestry / Fishing | Workers in ISIC activity codes 1–5 | Max 6 | Up to 6 |
| Domestic Workers (Saudi employer) | Housekeepers, private drivers, home guards — Saudi employer | First 4 free | Partial |
| Domestic Workers (Non-Saudi employer) | Housekeepers, private drivers, home guards — non-Saudi employer | First 2 free | Partial |
| Industrial Sector | Companies holding a valid Industrial License (Cabinet decision Dec 2025) | All workers | Full Exempt |
Total exempt workers (by type) cannot exceed total non-Saudi headcount. Note: The SAR 100 annual work permit service fee still applies to all non-Saudis even when exempt from the monthly levy.
Exempt by Discount — Small Business Rule
Auto-applied · Extended until March 2027
| Establishment Size | Owner GOSI | Saudi Employees | Expats Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 9 total employees | Yes | ≥ 1 Saudi (GOSI registered) | Up to 4 Tier B |
| ≤ 9 total employees | Yes | No Saudi employees | Up to 2 Tier A |
| ≤ 9 total employees | No | Any | 0 — No discount |
| > 9 total employees | Any | Any | 0 — No discount |
The owner counts toward the ≤9 threshold only when GOSI-registered full-time. Small business exemption extended until March 2027. The calculator auto-applies the correct tier based on your inputs.
Understanding Work Permit Fees in Saudi Arabia · 2026
🏭
Employer Obligation
Saudi Labor Law Article 40 makes the employer fully responsible for work permit fees. Deducting any portion from employee salaries is strictly prohibited and subject to fines.
📊
Nitaqat-Linked Rates
The levy rate depends on your Saudization ratio. If expats outnumber your Saudi employees, you pay SAR 800/month per expat. If Saudis equal or exceed expats, the rate drops to SAR 700/month.
🏗️
Industrial Exemption
Since December 2025, establishments holding a valid Industrial License are permanently exempt from the work permit levy — a major benefit under Vision 2030's manufacturing push.
🏪
Small Business Discount
Establishments with ≤9 employees where the GOSI-registered owner qualifies: 2 free expats if owner only; 4 free expats if owner + ≥1 Saudi also GOSI-registered. Extended until March 2027.
🏠
Domestic Worker Partial Exemption
Not fully exempt. Saudi employers: levy applies from the 5th domestic worker (first 4 free). Non-Saudi employers: levy applies from the 3rd domestic worker (first 2 free).
How the Work Permit Fee Is Calculated
The total annual work permit cost has two components: (1) a work permit service fee of SAR 100 per non-Saudi worker — applied to all non-Saudis including exempt categories — and (2) a monthly levy per billable non-Saudi worker, which is SAR 700 or SAR 800 per month depending on Saudization status. The levy can be paid in instalments covering a minimum of 3 months (quarterly), or for 6, 9, or 12 months at a time via SADAD.
The levy splits billable non-Saudis into two tiers based on comparing expat headcount with Saudi headcount. Workers up to the Saudi headcount are billed at SAR 700/month. Any workers exceeding the Saudi headcount are billed at SAR 800/month. Both tiers can apply simultaneously in the same establishment.
What Is Nitaqat and How Does It Affect the Fee?
- Platinum / Green: Compliant establishments — expats ≤ Saudi employees. Levy rate is SAR 700/month per billable expat worker.
- Red: Non-compliant — expats outnumber Saudis. Levy rate is SAR 800/month per billable expat worker, and permit renewals may be restricted.
- The Qiwa platform automatically calculates and displays your Nitaqat status based on current headcount.
- Employers pay via SADAD using the invoice number generated by Qiwa. Minimum payment period is 3 months (quarterly).
Who Is Exempt from the Levy?
- Exempt by type: GCC nationals, private expatriates (spouses/children of citizens), nationalities exempt from deportation, displaced tribe members, recruitment company workers, and agriculture/fishing workers (max 6 on activity codes 1–5).
- Domestic workers: The levy is partially exempt based on employer type. For Saudi employers, the levy applies from the 5th domestic worker onwards — the first 4 are exempt. For non-Saudi (foreign) employers, the levy applies from the 3rd domestic worker onwards — the first 2 are exempt.
- Exempt by discount (small business): Establishments with ≤9 total employees where the owner is GOSI-registered full-time qualify: owner only (no Saudi staff) → 2 free expats; owner + ≥1 GOSI-registered Saudi employee → up to 4 free expats. Extended until March 2027.
- Industrial sector: Permanent full exemption from the monthly levy since December 2025 for companies holding a valid Industrial License.
Related Calculators & Guides
🪪
Iqama Fees Calculator
Full renewal cost · 2026
⚖️
ESB Calculator
End-of-service gratuity · Article 84
⏱️
Overtime Calculator
150% & 200% rates · Article 107
🛒
Cost of Living Calculator
Saudi Arabia vs your country
Frequently Asked Questions
The total annual cost has two parts: (1) a work permit service fee of SAR 100 per non-Saudi worker per year (applies to all non-Saudis including exempt categories), and (2) a monthly levy per billable non-Saudi worker — SAR 700/month (SAR 8,400/year) if non-Saudis do not exceed Saudi employees, or SAR 800/month (SAR 9,600/year) if non-Saudis exceed Saudi employees. The levy can be paid quarterly (minimum 3 months), or for 6, 9, or 12 months via SADAD. Exempt workers are excluded from the levy but the SAR 100 service fee still applies to them.
The levy rate is determined by your Nitaqat Saudization ratio. If your total non-Saudi employees do not exceed your Saudi employees, you pay SAR 700/month per expat (the "equal count" tier). If non-Saudis outnumber Saudis, the excess workers are billed at SAR 800/month. Both rates can apply to the same establishment simultaneously — the calculator splits the workers accordingly.
Full exemptions: GCC nationals, private expatriates (citizen's spouse or children), nationalities exempt from deportation (Palestinians with Egyptian documents, Balochi, Turkestan residents), displaced tribe members, recruitment company workers, and up to 6 agriculture/fishing workers. Industrial sector establishments are fully exempt since December 2025. Domestic workers are partially exempt: Saudi employers pay levy from the 5th domestic worker onwards (first 4 free); non-Saudi employers pay from the 3rd domestic worker onwards (first 2 free). Small businesses with ≤9 total employees where the owner is GOSI-registered qualify for an additional discount of up to 2–4 expat workers, extended until March 2027.
The work permit levy is entirely the employer's responsibility under Saudi Labor Law Article 40. It is illegal to deduct the levy from an employee's salary. Employers who shift this cost to employees face fines.
There are two tiers, both extended until March 2027. Tier A: Owner GOSI-registered full-time + no Saudi employees + ≤9 total employees → 2 expat workers exempt from the monthly levy. Tier B: Owner GOSI-registered + at least one Saudi employee also GOSI-registered + ≤9 total employees → up to 4 expat workers exempt. Owner GOSI=No → zero discount. The Qiwa calculator asks "Is the owner working full-time and registered in GOSI?" — this question only appears when Saudis + Non-Saudis ≤ 9.
The Saudi Cabinet permanently cancelled the work permit levy for establishments holding a valid Industrial License in December 2025. This is a full exemption — SAR 0 per worker — applicable as long as the license remains valid. It is one of the most significant labor cost reductions under Vision 2030's manufacturing initiative.
Yes. The minimum payment period is 3 months (quarterly) — you cannot pay month by month. Payment options are 3, 6, 9, or 12 months at a time through SADAD using the invoice generated on Qiwa. At SAR 700 rate: SAR 2,100 (3M), SAR 4,200 (6M), SAR 6,300 (9M), SAR 8,400 (12M). At SAR 800 rate: SAR 2,400 (3M), SAR 4,800 (6M), SAR 7,200 (9M), SAR 9,600 (12M) per worker.
Failure to pay the levy can result in suspension of Iqama renewals for your employees, restrictions on issuing new work permits, and your establishment being placed in a non-compliant (Yellow or Red) Nitaqat category. Employers can also face direct fines from MHRSD. The Qiwa platform generates the invoice and tracks payment status automatically.
Disclaimer: This calculator replicates the official Qiwa Work Permit Calculator formula based on published MHRSD rates. Results are estimates for informational purposes only. Actual fees may differ based on regulatory changes, Nitaqat category, establishment type, and Cabinet decisions. Always verify through official platforms: Qiwa (qiwa.sa), Absher Business, and MHRSD. This page does not constitute legal or financial advice.