Indian Men Working In Saudi Arabia Set To Become 'Bachelors' Thanks To Rs 1,700 Monthly Fees Per Dependents

Many Indians employed in Saudi Arabia are planning to send their dependents back with the kingdom set to introduce, from July 1, a monthly 'dependent fee' for expats.

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The fee ¡ª 100 riyals (approximately Rs 1,700) per month for each dependent ¡ª is likely to prove a big financial burden for the Indian expats.

Also Read: More Than 20,000 Indians Will Return From Saudi Arabia Via Its 90-Day Amnesty Scheme

At 41 lakh, Indians from Saudi Arabia's largest expat group.

"Some families I know have made plans to return to Hyderabad as they feel they cannot afford to stay there any longer," said Mohd Taher, a computer professional who lives in Dammam.

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Migrant rights activist Bheem Reddy Mandha said several people had already sent their families back in the past four months. "The men have become forced bachelors," he said.

Saudi Arabia issues the family visa to people with a salary of 5,000 riyals (approx. Rs 86,000) per month. So, an Indian expat living in the country with his wife and two children would have to pay 300 riyals (approx. Rs 5,100) a month.

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Moreover, this tax is set to go up by 100 riyals per dependent every year till 2020. This means that, in 2020, a family would have to shell out 400 riyals (approx. Rs 6,900) for each dependant every month. To top it all, this fee has to be paid in advance. For instance, if a man's dependent wife is to stay in Saudi Arabia for one year, a total of 1,200 riyals has to be paid in advance at the time of the renewal of the 'iqama' (residence permit).

So, for a family of three dependents (wife and two children), the employee will have to pay an advance tax of 3,600 riyals or around Rs 62,000 per year. While some companies are planning to compensate their employees for the 'dependant fee', most people have no option but pay it themselves.

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Asked what effect the 'dependent fee' would have on Indian expats in Saudi Arabia, a senior official in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said nothing could be said as yet.

"But it will affect all expats," the MEA official said.