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Premium Residency

A residency status that separates your life in the Kingdom from your employer

Saudi Premium Residency lets qualifying individuals live, work, own property and sponsor family without a local sponsor. Choosing the right category — and evidencing it properly — determines whether an application succeeds first time.

At a glance

What the programme now covers

  • Seven routes in total

    The two original unlimited and limited grants, plus the five categories introduced in 2024: special talent, gifted, investor, entrepreneur and real estate owner.

  • Self-sponsored status

    Every category is self-sponsored. You are not tied to an employer, and you can sponsor your own family and staff.

  • Different evidence, different risk

    Salary thresholds, capital commitments, award recognition and property value each carry their own documentary burden. We test all of them before filing.

Foundation categories

The original unlimited and limited grants

These two routes remain open and are still the simplest option for applicants whose case rests on financial standing rather than talent, capital deployment or property.

Unlimited-duration Premium Residency

Permanent residency for applicants whose case rests on financial standing, paid once with no renewal obligation.

Eligibility

  • Proof of the applicant's financial capability
  • No criminal record in Saudi Arabia or abroad
  • Medical fitness certificate and valid health insurance
  • Applicants inside the Kingdom must hold lawful status and settle all prior sponsorship obligations
Validity
Permanent residency, with no renewal requirement.
Route to permanence
Permanent from grant.
Government fee
SAR 800,000 one-off

Limited-duration Premium Residency

The same status issued for a fixed term of one to five years and renewable, for applicants who prefer an annual cost to the one-off permanent fee.

Eligibility

  • Proof of the applicant's financial capability
  • Same character, medical and insurance conditions as the unlimited route
Validity
Fixed term of one year up to five years, renewable.
Route to permanence
Can be converted to the unlimited grant later.
Government fee
SAR 100,000 for each year

The five newer categories

Special talent, gifted, investor, entrepreneur and real estate owner

Introduced to widen the programme beyond wealth alone, these categories reward skills, cultural and sporting achievement, capital deployment, start-up activity and property ownership. Each is set out in full below, with the current thresholds.

Special Talent Residency

For exceptional professionals in executive leadership, healthcare, science and research employed by whitelisted entities in priority specialisations.

Eligibility

  • Researchers: employment contract with a whitelisted entity, minimum monthly wage SAR 14,000, bachelor's degree or higher, 3+ years' relevant experience, minimum points-system score, employer recommendation and at least 3 published researches
  • Healthcare and scientific professionals: whitelisted employer, minimum monthly wage SAR 35,000, bachelor's degree or higher, 3+ years' relevant experience, minimum points-system score and employer recommendation
  • Executives: first- or second-level executive contract with a total minimum monthly wage of SAR 80,000, plus an employer recommendation letter
Validity
Five-year fixed term, renewable for one further term.
Route to permanence
Permanent residency on continued eligibility plus 30 months' residence within five consecutive or non-consecutive years.
Government fee
SAR 4,000 one-off
Saudization
The primary holder is exempt from the Nitaqat (Saudization) programme.

Gifted Residency

For sporting, cultural and artistic talents, integrating them into the Kingdom's cultural and professional fabric.

Eligibility

  • First category: nomination for — or receipt of — one of the specified exceptional awards
  • Second category: meeting the minimum criteria approved by the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Sports
  • Meeting the minimum financial capability to cover the cost of living in Saudi Arabia
  • A recommendation from the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Sports; the Premium Residency Center coordinates with the ministry on the applicant's behalf
Validity
Five-year fixed term, renewable once on continued eligibility and 30 months' residence within five consecutive or non-consecutive years.
Route to permanence
Permanent residency on continued eligibility, the 30-month residence record and a permanent-residency endorsement from the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports.
Government fee
SAR 4,000 one-off
Saudization
The primary holder is exempt from the Nitaqat (Saudization) programme.

Investor Residency

For investors conducting business in the Kingdom through a licensed and capitalised Saudi entity.

Eligibility

  • Valid investment licence(s) from the Ministry of Investment with a minimum value of SAR 7,000,000 as the applicant's ownership share
  • Valid commercial registration(s) issued by the Ministry of Commerce in the Kingdom
  • Memorandum of association and other documents proving the applicant's share of at least SAR 7,000,000
  • Proof of capital injection of at least SAR 7,000,000 for the applicant's share, via audited financial statements or a capital injection certificate
  • Proof of employing 10 employees within the applicant's ownership share, verified by GOSI certificate
Validity
Permanent residency, conditional on maintaining the SAR 7,000,000 investment and 10 employees through the first two years.
Route to permanence
Directly obtaining permanent residency.
Government fee
SAR 4,000 one-off

Entrepreneur Residency

For entrepreneurs and innovators developing sectors in the Kingdom, across two funding categories.

Eligibility

  • Both categories: an entrepreneur licence from the Ministry of Investment and a recommendation letter from the investment entity
  • First category: at least SAR 400,000 raised from an entity accredited by the Center, with the applicant holding no less than 20% of the company
  • Second category: at least SAR 15,000,000 raised from an accredited entity, applicant share no less than 10%, and at least 10 jobs created in year one plus 10 more in year two
Validity
First category: fixed-term residency on continued eligibility. Second category: permanent residency directly, conditional on the job-creation commitments.
Route to permanence
Second category obtains permanent residency directly.
Government fee
SAR 4,000 one-off
Saudization
The entity is exempt from Nitaqat for its first three operational years.
Additional benefits
The founder may nominate two staff members for Special Talent Residency and have them exempted from its criteria.

Real Estate Owner Residency

For owners — or usufruct holders — of qualifying Saudi residential property.

Eligibility

  • Category 1: ownership or usufruct of Saudi residential real estate worth at least SAR 4,000,000
  • Category 1: the property must be an existing residential unit, not a developed or undeveloped land plot, and must not be mortgaged now or later
  • Category 2: purchase of one residential unit off-plan worth at least SAR 4,000,000, from a developer approved by the Real Estate General Authority
  • Category 2: payment of at least SAR 1,000,000 or 10% of the property value, whichever is higher, with no mortgage financing
Validity
Category 1: valid while the ownership or usufruct of the existing unit continues. Category 2: valid while the purchase contract is maintained and ownership transfers within five years of purchase.
Route to permanence
Tied to continued ownership — a sale ends the basis for the permit.
Government fee
SAR 4,000 one-off

Fees, salary and investment thresholds and category conditions are set by the Premium Residency Center and revised from time to time. We confirm the current figures in writing at the start of every engagement. This page is general information, not legal advice.

General conditions

Requirements that apply to every category

  • Proof of the applicant's financial capability
  • No criminal record in the Kingdom or in any country of prior residence
  • Medical fitness certificate and valid health insurance in force
  • Applicants inside Saudi Arabia must hold legal status and clear every obligation under a previous residence visa, including contractual commitments
  • Valid passport with adequate remaining validity for the permit term
  • Category-specific evidence: employment contracts, licences, investment proof, awards or title deeds

Privileges

What the status gives you

  • Reside in Saudi Arabia with family members, including parents, spouses and children under 25
  • Flexibility to move from one establishment to another
  • Exemption from the fees imposed on expatriates and their dependents and companions
  • Exit and re-enter the Kingdom, with family members, without requiring a visa
  • Entitlement to obtain visit visas for relatives
  • Use the tracks dedicated to citizens and GCC nationals at airports
  • Spouse and dependents — including the dependents of sons and daughters — may work in the private sector and move between establishments
  • Conduct business under the guidelines of the Investment Law
  • Own and hold usufruct rights over real estate

Our role

How we manage an application

Eligibility and evidence

Documentary review, translation and attestation planning, plus medical, security and financial-standing checks before anything is filed.

Filing and liaison

Portal submission, fee scheduling and direct follow-up on requests for further information until a decision issues.

Post-grant obligations

Dependant registration, address and tenancy compliance, renewal calendars and change-of-circumstance notifications.

Request an eligibility review Property-linked applications