Saudi Arabia is one of the preferred choices for expats living, working, and investing in countries in the Gulf region. Under Vision 2030, the Saudi government is continuously offering new opportunities to attract talented professionals and high-end inventors to the country. One of the greatest benefits is the premium residency, a long-term residency program, making the experience of moving to KSA more appealing for expats.
With Express Business Service, a trusted provider of premium residency visa services, you can secure long-term residency and enjoy all the benefits KSA offers for foreign nationals. You can secure several new opportunities in diverse sectors. You can enjoy a great financial advantage, as expats don’t need to pay income tax.
The Saudi Arabian government introduced the premium residency program in 2019, with the main focus on ending the reliance on the oil and gas sector for the nation’s stable economy. Attracting skilled professionals, visionary entrepreneurs, and high-end investors were other reasons to launch this special visa program.
Launched under the nation’s Vision 2030 plan, the Saudi Green Card allows eligible foreign nationals to live, work, start a business, and own property in the country without the need for a local sponsor. With this special Saudi Arabia visa program, the country made a significant effort to strengthen its position as an appealing destination for expats, especially global talents and investors, among other countries in the Gulf region.
How To Qualify For A Premium Residency Saudi Arabia
Minimum Age
Good Health
Clear Criminal History
Only applicants with a clear criminal record can apply, as expats with a history of serious offenses could risk public safety.
Financial Stability
Eligible Dependents for Saudi Premium Residency
- Spouse: Premium Residency holders in Saudi Arabia can sponsor their legally married spouses.
- Children: By securing a Saudi Green Card, you can sponsor visas for your children, but they must be unmarried and under 25.
- Parents: Premium Residents in KSA are also allowed to sponsor visas for their parents, but they need to provide proof of dependency.
Additionally, expats interested in this special visa program must note that the eligibility requirements for sponsoring family can vary for different types of Premium Residency visa options.
Saudi Premium Residency Products
The Premium Residency Saudi Arabia program offers seven different products or residency options for foreign nationals. If you meet eligibility requirements for any of these seven options, you can live, work, and invest in Saudi Arabia without a sponsor. Express Business Service provides assistance services for the application process of all seven residency products.
Special Talent Residency
This residency option is available for skilled professionals in various sectors, including healthcare, research, and others. This special-talent visa program offers 5-year legal residency to expats in KSA, and can be renewed for one more term if eligibility requirements are satisfied. If you still meet all the requirements, you can even apply for permanent residency in Saudi Arabia. Here is complete eligibility information:
Researchers
- A job contract from an approved employer in a priority field.
- A monthly salary of at least SAR 14,000.
- At least a bachelor’s degree.
- At least three years of work experience in the same field.
- A recommendation letter from your employer.
- At least three researchers work in the same field.
- Meeting the minimum points required in the points system.
Healthcare & Scientific Professionals
- A job contract from an approved employer in a priority field.
- A monthly salary of at least SAR 35,000.
- At least a bachelor’s degree.
- Meeting the minimum points required in the points system.
- A recommendation letter from your employer.
- At least three years of work experience in the same field.
- A job contract for executives at Level 1 or Level 2.
- A monthly salary of at least SAR 80,000.
- A recommendation letter from your employer (for Level 2).
Executives
- A job contract for executives at Level 1 or Level 2.
- A monthly salary of at least SAR 80,000.
- A recommendation letter from your employer (for Level 2).
Gifted Residency
First Category
- Nominated for or a winner of a recognized exceptional award.
- Recommendation from the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Sport, depending on your field.
- Meet the required financial criteria.
Second Category
- Meet the basic eligibility set by the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Sport.
- Recommendation from the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Sport, depending on your field.
- Meet the required financial criteria.
Investor Residency
- Have a valid investment license from the Ministry of Investment, with at least SAR 7,000,000 invested (your share) in business activities in Saudi Arabia.
- Have a valid Commercial Registration.
- Provide a Memorandum of Association showing your investor shares.
Entrepreneur Residency
First Category
- Have an entrepreneur license from the Ministry of Investment.
- Invest at least SAR 400,000 from an entity approved by the Ministry of Investment.
- Get a recommendation letter from your investment entity.
- Own at least 20% of the company.
Second Category
- Have an entrepreneur license from the Ministry of Investment.
- Invest at least SAR 15,000,000 from an entity approved by the Ministry of Investment.
- Get a recommendation letter from your investment entity.
- Own at least 10% of the start-up company.
- Create at least 10 jobs in the first year and 10 more in the second year.
Real Estate Owner Residency
- Own or hold beneficial ownership rights to real estate in Saudi Arabia worth at least SAR 4,000,000.
- The property must be free of any current or future mortgages.
- It must be residential property, not linked to real estate financing.
- The property must be fully developed, not unimproved land.
- A certified valuer from the Saudi Authority for Accredited Valuers must appraise the property.
Limited Duration Premium Residency
- You must have a valid reason for seeking temporary residency, such as employment, business ventures, education, or medical treatment.
- You must qualify under all the general eligibility conditions for Saudi Premium Residency.
Unlimited Duration Premium Residency
- You may be required to invest a specific amount of capital or show your contribution to the Saudi economy through business ventures, investments, or other means.
- You must qualify under all the general eligibility conditions for Saudi Premium Residency.
Saudi Premium Residency Benefits
Business Opportunities
Premium residents can start a business in Saudi Arabia, offer job opportunities, and be actively involved in the economy’s growth. From investing in the Saudi capital market to owning a company and working in private organizations, without a local sponsor, with this program.
Secure Permanent Residency
Visa-Free Entry & Exit
Family Residency
Real Estate Ownership
Required Documents for Saudi Premium Residency Application
Whenever you apply for a premium residency Saudi Arabia, you need to provide the following documents:
- Passport copies: Clear copies of passport pages containing personal details and validity dates.
- Personal photos: Two recent, clear (within six months) passport-sized, color photographs with a white background.
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Proof of financial capacity :
- Certified proof of income (for employees)
- Certified copy of the company’s commercial registration (for investors)
- Audited and sealed financial statements from the last two years (for investors)
- Investment portfolio documents
- Bank statements from the last 12 months
- Medical Report: A medical record from a certified health provider confirming good health and absence of contagious diseases.
- Saudi Iqama number: If currently in Saudi Arabia or previously held an Iqama.
- Proof of Address: You can provide a utility bill for it.
- Previous visas: Copies of any Saudi visas issued in the last 15 years.
Additionally, it must be noted that if you are applying for any family member, then their passports, photographs, and medical reports must be provided. In such a case, the applicant needs to submit a family photo of themselves with the family member.
How to Apply for a Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia
To apply for a Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia, you need to follow the following steps:
- Firstly, you need to visit the official portal for this long-term residency program service and create an account using your login details.
- Next is to fill in the right details about your employment, background, and others in the application form.
- Scan all the documents you've prepared for this residency program based on your category and upload them to meet specific legal guidelines.
- After that, you need to complete the payment using an approved method.
- After paying the processing fee, recheck all the entered details and apply. Record your application number for later.
- After submitting your application, you will receive confirmation from the relevant authorities that it has been received and is under review, and the duration of processing varies based on the premium residency product.
- If you're requested, you need to book a biometric appointment at an authorised center to complete the verification.
- Lastly, the authority will send you a notification to inform you of the result of the application submitted. If your application secures approval, you need to complete the next steps to complete the premium residency procedure.
Saudi Premium Residency Fees
- Special Talent Residency: SAR 4,000.
- Gifted Residency: SAR 4,000.
- Investor Residency: SAR 4,000.
- Entrepreneur Residency: SAR 4,000.
- Real Estate Owner Residency: SAR 4,000.
- Limited Duration Premium Residency: SAR 100,000 per year (at a compounded yearly rate of 2% reduction)
- Unlimited Duration Premium Residency: SAR 800,000
Pros of Residency in Saudi Arabia
Not only in the Gulf region, but Saudi Arabia is also one of the most appealing destinations for expats in the world. Its government is actively investing in diversifying the nation’s economy to provide new and better job opportunities in diverse sectors, including oil and gas, finance, IT, and others. For startups and entrepreneurs with innovative projects, the Saudi government provides several lucrative incentives and initiatives.
Compared to other countries in the Gulf region and the West, the cost of living in KSA is affordable, which is another major benefit of securing a premium residency in Saudi Arabia. Expats don’t need to pay tax on their income, which offers a chance to secure a great financial advantage. Apart from this, the excellent education and medical facilities make KSA a preferred choice for foreign nationals planning to move with their family.
How Express Business Service Will Help You Get a Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia
- Customized Guidance: We provide customized guidance and services based on our clients’ backgrounds and goals to move to the KSA. We also help in identifying whether you’re eligible for a desired or a different premium residency option.
- Smooth Application Process: Our team prepares all the necessary documents for you to ensure accuracy and eliminate the risks of delays. Additionally, we guide our clients through the online application process, including translation and verification of documents.
- Navigating Legal and Financial Aspects: With us, you don’t need to manage background checks and medical tests on your own. Our team also provides financial and legal guidance so that you don’t need to handle the complexities related to the application process and Saudi Arabian laws.
- Faster Approval: We monitor the progress of our clients’ applications and keep them updated. If needed, we also provide support with a biometric appointment and completing the final steps to obtain the Saudi premium residency.
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Yes, the Premium Residency program is informally described as the Saudi Green Card. particularly in the media. This was launched under Vision 2030 to diversify the nation’s economy and reduce the reliance on the oil sector.
Even if your premium residency Saudi Arabia application is rejected, you can’t demand a refund of the application fees. You’ll be informed about the reasons for the rejection by the relevant authority, and after you know the reasons, you can reapply with the help of an immigration expert for a successful reapplication.
You can easily renew your Premium Residency by submitting a renewal request before your current residency expires. You need to pay the applicable renewal fees and Qualify under all the eligibility conditions. The renewal is applied through the official online portal and follows the same steps as you’ve followed when applying for this special visa for the first time.
