Bringing your family to Medina is a big step. Alongside the excitement, there’s a long list of documents, decisions and deadlines: residency for your spouse and children, school places, a home that works for everyone, and health cover.
This guide shows how the pieces fit together and gives a practical planning timeline. We don’t quote fees or official processing times, because they vary by case and change; we point you to where to check them.
Quick answer
Short answer: Move with family in stages. Secure your own job and iqama first, then apply for your family’s residency through your employer and Absher, prepare attested documents, and arrange a home on Ejar and school places before they arrive. Check the current conditions and fees in Absher, and allow several months for the whole process.
Step 1: Your own residency comes first
Family residency for expatriate workers is built on the main sponsor’s iqama. Eligibility and fees depend on your job and circumstances, so start by asking HR and checking the family services shown in Absher.
Once your family is here, you’ll manage their resident IDs yourself. The National Platform explains that family members’ iqamas are renewed through Absher (National Platform).
Warning
Only use your employer and official platforms for family visas and residency. Don’t pay agents who promise faster family visas outside the official process.
Step 2: Prepare your documents early
Document preparation is where many families lose time. Requirements vary by nationality and case, so confirm the list with your employer, but most families need some or all of these:
Documents to gather
- Passports for every family member, with plenty of validity left
- Marriage certificate
- Children’s birth certificates
- Children’s school records and latest reports
- Vaccination records
- Any certificates your employer says must be attested in your home country
Ask your employer early which documents need attestation and where. Attestation in your home country can take weeks.
Step 3: A home that works for the family
Choose the neighborhood around school and work, not just rent. A short school run makes a big difference in Medina’s long, hot summers. Our neighborhoods guide compares areas, and our housing checklist covers what to inspect.
Register the lease on Ejar before paying, and register your National Address once you’ve moved in. Saudi Post explains that it’s used for deliveries and government services (SPL).
Step 4: School places
The Ministry of Education publishes admission rules for resident children in public schools, including how foreign certificates are handled (MOE). Its pre-registration service lists its sign-in options and steps (MOE).
Private and international schools set their own processes and fees, so contact them directly and visit if you can. Our schools guide explains the options.
Step 5: Health cover and essential contacts
Ask your employer what health cover it provides for your family and which hospitals and clinics accept it. Set up Sehhaty for appointments (MOH), and save the MOH’s 937 line, which offers medical advice around the clock.
Contacts every family should save
- 937: MOH health advice line, 24 hours (MOH).
- 997: ambulance (National Platform).
- 998: Civil Defense.
- 999: police.
A practical planning timeline
There’s no official timeline that fits every family. This sequence is a planning aid based on the steps above, not an official processing schedule.
Planning sequence for a family move
1
Before you move: confirm family eligibility and costs with HR and Absher; start document attestation.
2
Your first weeks: activate your iqama services, open a bank account, and research neighborhoods and schools.
3
Before the family arrives: apply for their residency through official channels, sign and register a lease, and request school places.
4
Arrival month: register the National Address, set up Sehhaty and enrol the children.
5
Every year after: renew family iqamas through Absher before they expire.
Tip
If you can, time the family’s arrival for the school holidays or the cooler months. Children settle more easily when they can start at the beginning of a term.
FAQ
Can I bring my family to Medina on my work visa?
Family residency depends on your circumstances and your employer’s policy. Check the family services in Absher and ask HR.
Which documents do my children need for school in Medina?
The Ministry of Education’s admission page explains the rules, including how foreign certificates are handled. Private schools set their own requirements.
How long does a family move to Medina take?
It varies by case. Allow several months for documents, residency, housing and school places.
Last checked 13 October 2026. Conditions and fees change; always check Absher and your employer before you act.
Sources
- https://www.absher.sa/wps/wcm/connect/individuals/contents/individuals/about+absher_en
- https://my.gov.sa/en/services/112096
- https://www.moe.gov.sa/en/education/ResidentsAndvisitors/pages/schoolsadmission.aspx
- https://www.moe.gov.sa/en/knowledgecenter/eservices/pages/preregister.aspx
- https://rega.gov.sa/en/rega-services/platforms/ejar/
- https://splonline.com.sa/en/national-address-1/
- https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/937/pages/default.aspx
- https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/eservices/sehhaty/pages/default.aspx
- https://my.gov.sa/en/emergency-contact