Work Permit Fee Calculator for Saudi Arabia

Enter your Saudi and non-Saudi headcount to estimate what the establishment pays each year for work permits. The calculator separates the SAR 100 annual permit fee from the monthly levy, applies every exempt worker category and checks whether the small-business discount is available.

How the work permit fee and monthly levy are calculated

There are two separate charges. The work permit fee is SAR 100 a year for every non-Saudi worker on the establishment, and the monthly financial levy is charged on each billable non-Saudi worker: SAR 700 a month while billable expats stay within the Saudi headcount, and SAR 800 a month for every billable expat above it.

Both rates can appear in the same estimate. The calculator first removes exempt workers, then splits what is left at the Saudi headcount — workers up to that line use the lower rate and the rest use the higher one — and multiplies by 12 to give a yearly figure.

Exempt workers and the small-business discount

Several categories are excluded from the monthly levy entirely: GCC citizens, spouses and children of Saudi citizens, nationalities exempted from deportation, displaced tribe members holding the five-year card, workers supplied through licensed recruitment companies, and up to 6 workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing. The total exempt by category can never exceed the non-Saudi headcount.

Establishments with 9 or fewer employees may also qualify for the small-business discount when the owner works full-time and is registered with GOSI. The owner then counts toward the 9-employee threshold, and the discount exempts up to 2 expat workers when there are no Saudi employees, or up to 4 when there is at least one.

Who pays, and when to confirm the real figure

Article 40 of the Saudi Labor Law puts the cost of the work permit on the employer, so it must not be deducted from a worker's salary. Employers settle the charge through the Qiwa invoice using SADAD, and the minimum billing period is 3 months, with 6, 9 and 12-month options available.

Actual invoices depend on establishment status, licence period and platform eligibility — including the industrial exemption, which requires a valid qualifying licence. Always read the final Qiwa invoice before paying rather than relying on an estimate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the SAR 700 and SAR 800 levy?

Both are monthly rates for a billable non-Saudi worker. Workers within the Saudi headcount are charged SAR 700 a month, and workers above the Saudi headcount are charged SAR 800 a month, so a single establishment can pay both rates at the same time.

Who is exempt from the monthly work permit levy?

Exemptions cover GCC citizens, spouses and children of Saudi citizens, nationalities exempted from deportation, displaced tribe members, recruitment-company workers and up to 6 agriculture, forestry or fishing workers. Domestic workers, qualifying industrial establishments and eligible small businesses also receive exemptions. Confirm the final status in Qiwa.

What is the SAR 100 work permit fee?

It is the annual work permit fee charged for every non-Saudi worker on the establishment. It is separate from the SAR 700 or SAR 800 monthly levy and is still due even when every expat worker is exempt from the levy.

Does the employee pay the work permit fee?

No. Article 40 of the Saudi Labor Law makes work permit costs the employer's responsibility, and the charge must not be deducted from the worker's salary.

What is the small-business work permit discount?

Establishments with 9 or fewer employees whose owner is registered full-time with GOSI can exempt up to 2 expat workers when there are no Saudi employees, or up to 4 when at least one Saudi employee is registered. The owner counts toward the threshold only while that GOSI registration holds.

Can the levy be paid quarterly instead of monthly?

Yes. The minimum billing period is 3 months and payment is made for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months through SADAD using the invoice generated on Qiwa. Late payment can hold up work permit issuance and renewal, so check the establishment's compliance status.