RIYADH: The General Directorate of Passports (Jawasat) has announced that the wife of an expatriate who has a different religion from her husband should make an independent iqama. If a non-resident family head wishes to include his wife and minor children in his residence document Iqama, if their religion is different from his religion, separate Iqama must be taken. According to Jawazat, the procedure to obtain an independent iqama is to be completed by paying a legally prescribed fee of 500 riyals.
The Passport Department (Jawazat) has revealed the procedures to be followed for requesting inclusion of wife and minor children in Iqama, the residence document of the head of the family. The head of the family should fill the application form and match the information entered in the passport with reality. Then the passport category has been specified for the first time in the procedures to sign the application form. Secondly, it is suggested that the head of the family should bring the passports of his wife and children whom he wishes to add to his Iqama and entry visa or legal or formal documents issued by the Saudi Embassy to stay with their parents to add them to Iqama.
Jawasat clarified that the procedures include submission of a different color photograph of each family member in ‘4 : 6” size and the original iqama of the head of the family to be added. The wife whom the head of the family wants to add to his iqama, should present a copy of the marriage contract if he married in Saudi Arabia. Then their sponsorship (kafala) must be transferred to the husband first. Jawasat also informed that her name will be added to her husband’s iqama if she pays the fee as prescribed by law.
If minor children born in Saudi Arabia want to be enrolled in the iqama of the head of the family, the original and copy of the child’s birth certificate must be presented. Also, the procedures require a medical report from an approved hospital or medical clinic.
